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[*A portion of this video is without audio* ]

[Dallas Commission on Disabilities on September 26, 2023. ]

[00:00:06]

MA, BUT I'LL SEE YOU THIS ONE UP AT THE FRONT BY THE SCREEN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, WE DO HAVE ROBERT MOLLARD HERE, WHO IS A DIRECTOR OF BRIDGES FROM SCHOOL TO WORK, SINCE ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES IS EMPLOYMENTS.

GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSION.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.

YES.

AND MY NAME IS ROB MILLARD.

EXCUSE ME.

I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE DALLAS FORT WORTH BRIDGES FROM SCHOOL WORK PROGRAM.

THAT'S MY BIG JOB.

UH, BUT, UH, TODAY I'M HERE IN CAPACITY OF THE BOARD MEMBER OF EMPLOYABILITY.

UH, EMPLOYABILITY WAS ONCE KNOWN AS THE DALLAS MAYOR COMMITTEE FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

THAT WAS TOO MUCH OF A MOUTHFUL.

SO WE SHORTENED IT TO EMPLOYABILITY.

UH, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY DIRECT AFFILIATION WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

UH, THERE IS A PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE, A GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND THEN MAYOR'S OFFICES ACROSS THE NATION.

WE ARE JUST ONE OF THEM.

AT ANY RATE, THE THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU IS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR EMPLOYABILITY JOB FAIR COMING UP, UH, IN OCTOBER 23RD.

UH, WE'LL BE HAVING HERE AT THE, UH, CONVENTION CENTER.

SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, MS. JACKSON FOR HELPING US OUT, UH, SECURING THAT LOCATION.

WE ARE, WE'LL HAVE, WE HAVEN'T DONE THIS IN A COUPLE YEARS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THE EMPLOYABILITY JOB FAIR ONCE AGAIN.

UH, THIS YEAR WE ARE EXPECTING ABOUT 50 EMPLOYERS TO ATTEND, UH, ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF EMPLOYERS FROM ENTRY LEVEL TO, UH, MANAGEMENT POSITIONS.

UH, IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD ABOUT 500 JOB SEEKERS WITH DISABILITIES ATTEND.

UH, THIS YEAR WE'RE UNSURE OF HOW MANY JOBS SEEKERS WILL ATTEND, BUT WE'RE HOPING AROUND TWO, TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY, THREE HUNDRED.

SO ANYBODY CAN HELP US GET THE WORD OUT.

WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT I'M HAPPY TO SEND YOU SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE JOB FAIR.

UH, FOR OUR JOB SEEKERS, UH, NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE A JOB FAIR, BUT WE WILL ALSO HAVE A, UH, RESOURCE, UH, SLASH VENDOR AREA.

WE ALSO HAVE MOCK INTERVIEWS AND WE ALSO HAVE A RESUME REVIEW SECTION.

SO, UH, WE'RE EXCITED TO, AGAIN, TO HAVE THE 12TH ANNUAL EMPLOYABILITY JOB FAIR ON OCTOBER 23RD AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.

THAT'S ALL.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, FOR NUMBER ONE, BEING HERE AND SPEAKING AND, UM, REAL QUICKLY, UM, 'CAUSE I, I TRY AS THE CHAIRWOMAN TO MAKE SURE THAT IN, IN ANY REALM IN OUR CITY FOR DISABILITIES, THAT WE ARE PUTTING OUT THE AWARENESS, EDUCATION, AND INFORMATION.

I WILL BE ATTENDING, UH, THE EMPLOYABILITY FAIR.

I BELIEVE IT'S FROM 9:00 AM TO 2:00 PM OR LONGER.

YES, MA'AM.

UM, I'M GONNA ALSO REQUEST AND, AND ASK, UH, TWO COMMISSIONERS WOULD JOIN ME.

AND TO ADD TO THAT, WE WILL HAVE A TABLE THERE WITH OUR TABLECLOTH.

WE HAD A TABLECLOTH.

WE'LL ALSO HAVE A LITERATURE.

SO PRESENTATION AND REPRESENTATION MATTERS.

UM, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, WHERE THE K BAILEY HUTCHINSON CONVENTION CENTER, IS IT AT SIX 50 SOUTH GRIFFIN STREET, DALLAS, TEXAS 7 5 2 0.

ARE THERE ANY COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MR. MALLARD? NO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GREAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

OH, REAL QUICKLY, I DO APOLOGIZE.

NO PROBLEMS. COMMISSIONER SHAW HAS A QUESTION.

UM, IF WE DO HAVE, IF WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GET THAT WORD OUT, IF WE DO HAVE, UH, JOB SEEKERS, UM, THAT WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION FROM YOU, HOW WOULD THEY CONTACT YOU? WOULD THEY JUST LOOK UP YOUR WEBSITE? YEAH, SO ON OUR WEBSITE, ON THE EMPLOYABILITY WEBSITE, UH, WHICH IS WWW.EMPLOYABILITYDALLAS.ORG, IF YOU GO TO THE EVENT SECTION OF THAT WEBSITE, UH, THERE IS A QR CODE THERE THAT THEY CAN SCAN AND REGISTER FOR JOB SEEKERS.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

GREAT, THANK YOU.

WE DO HAVE A, UM, QUESTION.

I SEE HER HAND IS RAISED.

COMMISSIONER WHITE HAS A QUESTION.

UH, I WOULD LIKE SOME INFORMATION.

UM, WHAT YOU, WHAT KIND OF EMPLOYERS YOU MIGHT LIKE TO HAVE THERE? MY EMPLOYERS? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION IS, UM, I'VE GOT A LIST OF GO AHEAD SIR.

AND I'M DISABLED.

GOTCHA.

SO, UM, ALL EMPLOYERS ARE WELCOME.

IT IS FREE FOR JOB SEEKERS AND EMPLOYERS TO ATTEND.

UM, BUT OUR CURRENT LIST OF IT, WE'VE GOT 32 CURRENT EMPLOYERS, UH, REGISTERED SO FAR.

UM, SO WE'VE GOT ALBERTSONS, TAN THUMB, UNIVER, UN, EXCUSE ME, UNIFIED SECURITY, AMAZON, AMERICAN AIRLINES, ATMOS, ENERGY BANK OF AMERICA, BAYLOR SCOTT AND WHITE HEALTH, BELL FLIGHT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, THE CITY OF DALLAS, UM, DALLAS DART.

SO THANK YOU CHRIS.

UH, DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY, D H L, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLAS, FEDEX, HILTON HOTELS, HYATT

[00:05:01]

HOTELS, KROGER, LENNOX INTERNATIONAL, MARRIOTT HOTELS, MICHAELS OMNI HOTELS, PEPSICO, REMINGTON HOTELS, SABRE, TEXAS INSTRUMENTS, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS OF DALLAS, UT MEDICAL CENTER, WALGREENS, WALMART, AND WELLS FARGO.

UM, THOSE ARE ALL THE ONES THAT HAVE CONFIRMED OFFICIALLY.

I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF VERBAL CON CONFIRMATIONS, BUT UNTIL I HAVE THEIR REGISTRATION IN HAND, THEY DO NOT COUNT IN MY BOOK .

UH, SO HOPEFULLY WE'VE ALSO GOT, UH, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES COMING, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, WHO ELSE WAS TELLING ME THEY'RE COMING.

I FORGET THE OTHER PERSON.

BUT ANYWAY, WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF EMPLOYERS SO FAR.

WE ARE EXPECTING, WE'RE HOPING TO GET AROUND 50 EMPLOYERS TO ATTEND AGAIN.

BUT IF YOU'VE HAD OTHER EMPLOYERS IN MIND, PLEASE HAVE THEM CONTACT ME DIRECTLY.

UM, AND WOULD LOVE TO SEND THEM A REGISTRATION FORM AND HAVE THEM REGISTER FOR THE JOB FAIR.

UM, HOW WOULD I CONTACT YOU? BEST WAY TO CONTACT ME IS EMAIL.

SO MY EMAIL IS ROBERT DOT MILLARD AND THAT'S M O L L A R D AT BRIDGES, B R I D G E S TWO T O WORK, W O R K ALL ONE THING.ORG.

AND THAT IS MY, UH, BUSINESS ADDRESS.

AND SORRY, WE DON'T HAVE AN EMPLOYABILITY EMAIL ADDRESS.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER WHITE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

DO WE HAVE, AND UM, I WANNA ALSO OPEN IT IF THERE'S A QUESTION FROM OUR TECHNICAL RESOURCE PANEL.

DOES ANYONE HAVE A QUESTION? I DON'T SEE ANYONE.

ALRIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT INFORMATION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING THERE IN OCTOBER.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, HELPING US, UH, MOVE THE NEEDLE HERE ON DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT ISSUES IN DALLAS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND YOU'RE WELCOME.

APPRECIATE IT.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

NOW WE'RE ON TO COMMISSION REPORTS.

I KNOW SOMETIMES WE GET, UM, WE QUESTION WHAT THAT MEANS.

SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S AN ANNOUNCEMENT, UM, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES REPORTS ARE WITH DATA AND INFORMATION.

UM, AS HE READS OFFICER'S REPORTS ON OUR AGENDA.

I WILL BEGIN AND THEN I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE VICE CHAIRMAN CALLED CONNIE TO SHARE UPDATES, THEN FOLLOWED BY THE REMAINING COMMISSIONER MEMBERS.

UM, ON AUGUST THE SIXTH AND AUGUST 13TH, I DID MEET WITH DALLAS, I S D, UM, IN REFERENCE TO EMPLOYMENT FOR THEIR 18 PLUS FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES, THEY WILL BE COMING AT A LATER TIME.

ON AUGUST THE 25TH, WE HAD A SITE VISIT WITH ARTS AND CULTURE AT THE MAJESTIC THEATER DOWNTOWN ON AUGUST THE 26TH.

UM, I ATTENDED A COMMUNITY EVENT IN MY DISTRICT, DISTRICT EIGHT OVER AT THE SENIOR HILLS REC CENTER ON AUGUST 29TH.

UM, WE MET WITH DART DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT.

AND ON AUGUST THE 30TH, I DID MEET WITH THE DIRECTOR OVER SOCIAL SECURITY AT THE CLIFF CREEK CROSSING, UM, LOCATION IN DISTRICT EIGHT.

AND I WILL GO AHEAD AND ACKNOWLEDGE VICE CHAIR.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR BRIEF AND INFORMATIVE REPORT.

CHAIRWOMAN PLAY.

UM, THIS MONTH I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS OF DALLAS, SPECIFICALLY FACILITATING DISCUSSIONS WITH STUDENTS UNDER BOTH UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE ABOUT DISABILITY RELATED ISSUES.

UM, MY NEXT GOAL IS TO, UH, BE MEETING WITH THE GRADUATE ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS, WHICH IS, UH, A STUDENT, UH, REPRESENTATIVE ORGANIZATION OF THE HARRY W BASE JUNIOR SCHOOL OF ARTS, HUMANITIES AND TECHNOLOGY, WHERE I'LL BE DISCUSSING WITH COLLEAGUES AND OTHER GRADUATE STUDENTS WHO ARE INVOLVED TO INTRODUCE ABOUT THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES AND THE WORK THAT WE DO, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS INCLUDED AND SUCCESSFUL IN WHATEVER PATH THEY CHOOSE.

THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT FOR THIS MONTH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

THANK YOU, VICE CHAIRMAN.

DO WE HAVE ANY, UM, OTHER COMMISSIONERS OR EVEN COMMISSIONS ON OUR SUBCOMMITTEES? UM, WE DID CREATE SUBCOMMITTEES AT OUR RETREAT IN JULY, AND I KNOW WE'RE STILL NAVIGATING, UM, THROUGH THAT.

WE WILL BE MAKING SOME CHANGES IN OCTOBER AS WE ARE, UM, HOPEFUL FOR SOME NEW APPOINTMENTS, UM, HOPEFULLY TO HAVE A FULL BODY.

ARE THERE ANY COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO, UM, DISCUSS IN REFERENCE TO, UM, ANY, UM, EVENTS THAT THEY ATTENDED IN THEIR DISTRICT? UM, ANY INFORMATION ON DISABILITIES IN REFERENCE TO THE CITY OF DALLAS AND OR ANY INFORMATION FOR OUR SUBCOMMITTEES? YES, MA'AM.

COMMISSIONER SHAW, UM, I, EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER SHAW, DISTRICT 12.

I REACHED OUT.

I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH, UH, WITH MY COUNCIL PERSON AND THEIR OFFICE, UM, ABOUT

[00:10:01]

A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN DISTRICT 12.

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

UM, A LOT OF GOOD THINGS.

BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY, THIS ISSUE IS, UH, OR THIS IDEA, THIS KIND OF DREAM THAT I HAVE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO REPRESENTING THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES AND, UM, PARTNERING WITH OUR, UH, THE ARTS TO SEE IF WE CAN PARTNER TOGETHER.

I HAVE, I MADE A FRIENDSHIP LAST SUMMER, UM, AT A CONFERENCE WITH A GENTLEMAN, UH, NAMED, UH, I CAN'T SPEAK RICK GUIDI.

AND HE IS, UM, AN AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHER.

HE HAS A NONPROFIT CALLED POSITIVE EXPOSURE.

UM, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU GOOGLE IT.

IT IS A, HE WAS A, A FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER AND, UM, FELT VERY UNFULFILLED ABOUT BEING TOLD WHAT BEAUTY WAS.

UM, AND HE HAD STARTED THIS NONPROFIT, IT'S BEEN, GOSH, PROBABLY 15, 20 YEARS AGO.

UM, AND HE WENT FROM PHOTOGRAPHING CINDY CRAWFORD TO PHOTOGRAPHING INDIVIDUALS WITH VARYING KINDS OF DISABILITIES AND RARE DISEASES AND SHOWING THE BEAUTY IN ALL.

AND HE'S, IT'S JUST AN AMAZING PROGRAM, BUT HIS PHOTOGRAPHY IS INCREDIBLE AS WELL.

HE HAS QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THAT HE WORKS WITH.

UM, HE'LL ACTUALLY BE COMING TO MY ORGANIZATION NEXT FALL, BUT, UH, HE DOES, UM, HE HAS HIS OWN ART GALLERY, BUT HE ACTUALLY DOES, UM, OH MY GOODNESS, MY BRAIN IS NOT WORKING TODAY, .

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIM COME HERE TO DALLAS AND DO A SHOW, HAVE A SHOWING HERE AND HAVE REPRESENTATION, UM, AND REALLY, AND REALLY PUSH THAT OUT AND INVITE THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY TO COME AND JOIN.

UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE A LOVELY, A LOVELY WAY TO, TO REALLY GET OUR CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES OUT THERE.

UM, AND RECOGNIZE FOR THEIR VALUE AND THEIR TRUE BEAUTY.

IT'S JUST A LOVELY WAY.

AND BESIDES RICK IS JUST THE GREATEST PERSON THAT YOU'D EVER MEET, AND HE MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON ON THE PLANET.

UM, SO I AM DEFINITELY WILLING TO WORK WITH SOMEONE ON THAT, WITH THAT RELATIONSHIP.

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO PARTNER, I'M ENCOURAGED LITTLE EMOTIONAL, UM, BECAUSE WE ALL LOVE ARTS AND CULTURE, WHETHER IT'S, UM, VISUAL ARTS, PERFORMING ARTS, AND EVEN ON CANVAS OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF ART.

I THINK WE ALL TOOK AN ART CLASS POSSIBLY WHEN WE WERE IN SCHOOL.

THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING, UH, I'M GONNA SAY YES, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, GET WITH COMMISSIONER SHAW AND HER CONTACT AND SET UP A MEETING, UM, WITH OUR CULTURE SO THAT WE CAN DETERMINE, UM, BEST PRACTICE IN A WAY TO PLAN THAT.

UM, IT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, UM, INDIVIDUALS, WHICH BY THE WAY, WE DO HAVE THAT ART COMPETITION COMING UP.

LEX FREEMAN IN 2024 HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.

SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

IS THERE ANYONE, ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER WHO, UM, WANTS TO SPEAK AND OR SHARE? YES, WE HAVE COMMISSIONER REVY.

GO AHEAD.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

THIS IS COMMISSIONER REVY FROM DISTRICT ONE.

COMMISSIONER OLSSON AND I HAVE BEEN CONFERRING AND I HAVE ALSO CONFERRED WITH MY CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE.

WE ARE DETERMINED TO MOVE AHEAD.

WE, WE HAVE SHORT-TERM PLANS, INTERMEDIATE PLANS, AND LONG-TERM PLANS.

OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS FOR IN DALLAS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

AND I'LL BE SHARING THOSE AS WE MOVE ALONG.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AS YOU CAN TELL, WE HAVE SOME FIRECRACKERS THAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE.

UM, AND PLEASE, I WANT ALL COMMISSIONERS TO, UH, KNOW THAT WE DO NOT SHY AWAY FROM SPEAKING UP AND, AND COLLABORATING TOGETHER, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT ACCOMMODATIONS ARE IN PLACE AND THAT THE RIGHTS AND THE NEEDS OR PRIVILEGES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE NOT JUST HEARD IN VALUE, BUT THAT WE ALSO CONTINUE TO PROGRESS, IMPLEMENT, PLAN OF ACTION, UM, TO DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS FOR SOLUTION.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO HAVE SOMETHING THEY WANNA SHARE? I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS UP ON THE SCREEN.

IS THAT EVERYONE? WELL, THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR THAT.

I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU SHARING NOW FOR OLD BUSINESS.

UM, OUR MEETING WAS CUT SHORT LAST MONTH DUE TO SOME TIME RESTRAINTS AND SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES LAST MONTH.

I WAS ACTUALLY PREPARED TO PRESENT THE COMMISSIONERS WITH A BOOK THAT I RECEIVED FROM A MEETING THAT I HAD AT ENVISION DALLAS.

MR. BLAKE LINDSAY, WHO WILL BE SPEAKING TODAY, HERE SHORTLY, IS AN AMBASSADOR FOR ENVISION DALLAS.

AND HE WROTE A BOOK

[00:15:01]

ON LEADING WITH COMPETENCE TO GET ACTIONARY, UM, EXCUSE ME, UH, EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS.

SO THIS IS THE BOOK THAT I ENSURE THAT EACH COMMISSIONER WILL RECEIVE.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD THIS, AND IT'S A GREAT READ.

UM, I AM REQUESTING THAT STAFF HAVE THEM AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO PICK UP HERE AT THE END OF OUR MEETING.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ATTENDING VIRTUALLY, PLEASE LET STAFF KNOW, UM, IF YOU'RE GONNA COME DOWN TO CITY HALL TO PICK IT UP OR WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE MAILED.

SO, UH, I I GREATLY APPRECIATE, UH, THIS GIFT FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT WE WILL HAVE BRIEFINGS.

THERE ARE A FEW ORGANIZATIONS HERE, UM, THAT WERE BRIEFED THE COMMISSION ON SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT THEY OFFER TO RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS WITH DISABILITIES.

I'M GOING TO ASK IF PRESENTERS COULD KEEP THEIR PRESENTATIONS THROUGH THE PREUSS, UH, LIMITS IF THEY, UM, HAVE FORGOTTEN.

'CAUSE WE'VE ALL FLIPPED SINCE THEN.

ENVISION DALLAS DOES HAVE 10 MINUTES.

UM, MOBILITY MANAGEMENT SERVICES WITH DART HAS 15 MINUTES AND SOCIAL SECURITY HAS 20 MINUTES.

OKAY.

FIRST WE HAVE BLAKE LINDSAY, WHO IS THE OUTREACH MANAGER FOR ENVISION DALLAS.

YES, WE HAVE A HAND UP.

YES, MA'AM.

COMMISSIONER WHITE.

I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

YOU HEAR MICROPHONE ON.

I APOLOGIZE ON THE AGENDA.

IT HAD ME DOWN BEFORE OLD BUSINESS.

IS THAT GONNA COME LATER? OH, WHEN I ASKED FOR A COMMISSIONER, DID THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO SPEAK? I DIDN'T HAVE A COMMENT FROM YOU.

THAT WAS YOUR TIME TO SPEAK.

I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK NOW? I GUESS NOT.

YES, MA'AM.

BECAUSE WE HAVE BLAKE WAITING.

I DON'T WANT HIM.

IS IT, UH, IS IT? HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? DO YOU? I SAID I GUESS NOT.

YOU WANT? YES, NOT OR YOU.

OKAY.

SO, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER WHITE.

SO, UM, DURING THE TIME WHEN I ASK IF COMMISSIONERS HAVE A REPORT OR SOMETHING TO SHARE, THAT WOULD BE YOUR TIME TO SHARE.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S MOVE FORWARD.

WE'RE GONNA GET MR. VALEN SET UP AND LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY.

I'M READY.

ALL RIGHTY, LET'S GO.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE, EVERYBODY.

WHAT A MEETING.

I'M REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE.

AND, UH, I LOVE HOW SMOOTH YOUR YOUR MEETINGS GO AND HOW PRODUCTIVE YOU ARE.

THAT IS SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS.

YOU KNOW, WE NEVER KNOW FROM DAY TO DAY WHAT OBSTACLE MIGHT BE COMING OUR WAY, BUT WE KNOW THAT OCCASIONALLY THAT CERTAINLY DOES HAPPEN, AND WE SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR IT IN KNOWING THAT AT SOME POINT YOU'RE GONNA FIND A SOLUTION.

YOU'RE GONNA LEARN A LIFE LESSON.

BOY, THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT OBSTACLES.

I ALWAYS LEARN A LIFE LESSON, BUT THE NEXT TIME I HAVE AN OBSTACLE, IN FACT, I CAN REALLY LOOK BACK IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND I CAN REMEMBER THE TIME THAT I OVERCAME ANOTHER OBSTACLE.

AND IT GIVES ME STRENGTH THAT I CAN REALLY DRAW FROM THAT.

AND I, I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU ON THAT NOTE TODAY, UH, THAT WE ALL HAVE OBSTACLES.

I DON'T THINK THAT MINOR ANY BIGGER OR OR WORSE THAN YOURS, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE ALL TREATED PRETTY EQUALLY AND WE GOTTA GET THROUGH THOSE OBSTACLES TOGETHER.

I LOVED WRITING THE BOOK, OVERCOMING OBSTACLES AND GETTING EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS.

IT'S KIND OF A BUSINESS BOOK, BUT I THINK YOU'RE GONNA REALLY LIKE THE LIGHT STORIES.

UH, THERE ARE, THERE ARE TRUE LIFE STORIES THAT I LIVED AND LEARNED A LOT FROM BUSINESS AND THE ENDEAVORS THAT I'VE HAD IN MY LIFE.

I WAS A BROADCASTER FOR MANY YEARS, AS YOU KNOW, AND A BANKER, BANK OF AMERICA WORKED AT DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT.

SO IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE MY FRIENDS AT MOBILITY MANAGEMENT.

BUT I'VE, I'VE HAD SOME GOOD RELATIONSHIPS AND NOW I GET TO WORK WITH ENVISION DALLAS AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY.

AND I'M SO GLAD THAT THEY, UH, OFFERED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE AWAY SOME BOOKS TO YOU ALL.

AND YOU CAN ALSO GO TO MY WEBSITE, BLAKE LINDSAY.COM FOR A FREE AUDIO VERSION OR A FREE P D F VERSION.

SO IF YOU WANT TO SHARE IT, YOU CAN GO TO BLAKE LINDSAY.COM AND THERE'S A FREE LINK RIGHT THERE THAT'LL, UM, PUT THAT RIGHT IN YOUR, YOUR EARS OR YOUR YOUR EYES.

IF YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, WITH A, AND IT'S, IT'S VERY, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR YOU OJO IT WOULD BE VERY READABLE WITH YOUR DISPLAY IF YOU GOT A BRAILLE DISPLAY IF YOU WANT TO PULL UP THE P D F.

BUT I WANNA TALK ABOUT ENVISION DALLAS.

WE GOT SOME EXCITING THINGS GOING ON AND YOUR CHAIRMAN CAN CERTAINLY, UH, VOUCH FOR THAT.

BUT WE ARE CURRENTLY IN A BUILDING THAT WE'VE BEEN IN SINCE THE SIXTIES AND IT REALLY GOT FIXED UP NICE.

THREE YEARS AGO WE THOUGHT, MAN, THIS IS THE BEST THIS BUILDING HAS EVER BEEN, AND NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO ANOTHER BUILDING.

UH, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS WE'VE REALLY OUTGROWN OUR SPACE.

IT ENVISIONED DALLAS WITH A FACILITY ON CAPITOL AVENUE, AND IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT FOR

[00:20:01]

US THE ENTIRE TIME.

WE'VE GOT 87,000 SQUARE FEET THERE.

AND SO WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON, BUT THE NEW PLACE HAS ABOUT 210,000 SQUARE FEET.

SO WE'RE GONNA BE GROWING INTO THAT.

WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO UTILIZE THAT ENTIRE FACILITY FOR A WHILE.

UH, BUT WE'RE GROWING INTO IT AND WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO BRING FORWARD THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT MORE EMPLOYMENT THAN WE'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME.

UH, YOU KNOW, BRAND NEW CONTRACTS.

AND SO WE ALMOST HAVE TO SUBSIDE THAT TEMPORARILY UNTIL APRIL WHEN WE CAN ACTUALLY MOVE INTO THE NEW FACILITIES WHERE WE'RE GONNA ACTUALLY HAVE A, UH, CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING BLIND KIDDOS WITH SIGHTED KIDDOS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO, UH, BE FROM OH AGE ONE MONTH TO, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS OLD BASICALLY.

AND, UH, WE WE'RE GONNA MAX OUT AT 60 SO THAT WE CAN REALLY GIVE SPECIAL CARE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL.

IT'S NOT JUST A DAYCARE, BUT THERE'S GONNA JUST BE A LOT OF, A LOT OF, UH, GOOD GOING ON THERE.

AND I THINK PARENTS ARE GONNA REALIZE THAT THEIR KIDS ARE REALLY GONNA BE SOMETHING SPECIAL.

AND WE, WE HAVE A WAY OF EDUCATING THE PARENTS AND THE KIDDOS TO REALLY PREPARE THEM FOR THE FUTURE.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT 'CAUSE WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A ROOM FOR IT RIGHT NOW.

UH, BUT OUR, OUR FOLKS IN WICHITA, THAT'S OUR PARENT COMPANY AT ENVISION WICHITA, THEY HAVE DONE THIS FOR YEARS.

AND SO WE GET TO FOLLOW THEIR PATTERN.

IT'S BEEN DONE VERY SUCCESSFULLY.

AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT OPPORTUNITY.

UH, AND WE'RE GONNA BE MOVING, LIKE I MENTIONED, APRIL ONE IS THE FIRST DAY EVERYTHING'S ON SCHEDULE SO FAR.

AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT'LL BE THE CASE ALL ALONG.

AND THEN BY MAY 15TH, WE SHOULD HAVE ALL OF OUR, EVERYTHING MOVED OVER.

WE GET SOME HUGE MACHINES.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE ALL EVER SEEN WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH, BUT THERE'S, UH, SOME MACHINES THAT WEIGH TONS.

AND SO WE'LL HAVE QUITE A LITTLE EXPEDITION MOVING EVERYTHING OVER.

BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

UH, WE'RE RAISING A BUNCH OF MONEY RIGHT NOW SO THAT WE CAN COMPLETE THE RENOVATIONS.

AND IT'S IN FARMER'S BRANCH.

IT'S, UH, RIGHT UNDER THE WATER TOWER.

SO A NICE SYMBOL THERE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW PEOPLE WHERE WE'RE AT.

IT'S 6 35, NEAR 35 AND ONE 90.

SO WE GOT THREE HIGHWAYS AROUND US ENABLING PEOPLE TO REALLY BE ABLE TO GET AROUND THE METROPLEX.

AND PRETTY MUCH 25 MINUTES FROM EVERY CORNER, YOU KNOW.

AND IN OUR IMMEDIATE METROPLEX, WE SERVE 11 COUNTIES AND, UH, WE'LL STILL BE IN DALLAS COUNTY.

AND SO THE, THE DARTS, UH, WILL, WILL STILL WORK VERY WELL.

WE'RE CLOSE TO THE FARMER'S BRANCH LIGHT RAIL STATION.

UH, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME BUS LINES THAT ARE FAIRLY CLOSE BY.

AND IT'S A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD.

LOTS OF NICE HOMES.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RESTAURANTS NEAR US, UH, BUT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF NICE HOMES AND CONDOMINIUMS AND, UH, BUSINESSES AROUND US THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF.

AND THE CITY OF FARMERS BRANCH HAS BEEN BEEN VERY WELCOMING WITH OUR CHAMBER AND THE MAYOR AND THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO COMMUNICATE WITH ON THAT.

SO WE HAVE WHITE CANE DAY COMING UP ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14TH.

THIS YEAR IT'S GONNA BE AT ENVISION AND WE'RE EXCITED 'CAUSE WE GOT FREE PARKING.

IT'S GONNA BE FROM 10 TO 1230, WANT YOU TO COME AND BRING THAT WHITE CANE AND JUST REALLY BE PROUD OF THE DAY AND OUR CELEBRATION.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A GOOD TIME ON THAT.

WE GOT A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS, BUT REALLY MORE THAN ANYTHING THIS YEAR IT'S GONNA BE EXHIBITORS AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF GREAT INFO, UH, TABLES OUT THERE THAT ARE GONNA INTEREST YOU.

AND SO WE JUST FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT IT THIS YEAR.

KIND OF A CHANGE IN FORMAT AND CERTAINLY IN THE VENUE.

UM, CITY HALL WAS A GREAT PLACE FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS TO HAVE THIS EVENT.

AND, UH, THERE'S A, A CAP NOW WITH A FIRE CODE OF A HUNDRED PEOPLE MAXIMUM.

AND SO WE HOPE TO GO OVER THAT.

WE USUALLY DO.

AND SO WE DIDN'T WANNA PRESS THAT, UH, DIDN'T WANT TO PRESS OUR LUCK ON THAT, UH, CAPACITY RESTRICTION.

AND SO THAT, UH, ENABLED US TO MOVE TO ENVISION DALLAS.

AND NEXT YEAR WE'RE GONNA HAVE A HUGE PLACE TO HAVE IT.

SO WE'RE REALLY GONNA BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU THE GOODS NEXT YEAR, UH, WITH A BRAND NEW ENVISION DALLAS AND FARMERS BRAND.

SO GET EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE'VE GOT OUR LOW VISION CLINIC.

NOW, A LOT OF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE LOW VISION CLINIC, BUT WE'VE HAD FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE GOT A BRAND NEW DOCTOR COMING IN TO REPLACE DR.

CAROLYN CARMEN, A GOOD FRIEND OF OURS WHO WAS ABLE TO MOVE ON AND GET A WONDERFUL PROMOTION, UH, MANAGING A HUNDRED DIFFERENT OPTOMETRISTS.

AND SO WE'RE EXCITED THAT THEY TAKE TIME AND REALLY DO IT RIGHT WITH MAXIMIZING PEOPLE'S LOW VISION.

THIS LOW VISION CLINIC HAS REALLY ASSISTED PEOPLE IN BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN SOME OF THAT SITE THAT THEY STILL HAVE AND, UH, BE ABLE TO ENHANCE IT JUST A LITTLE BIT.

AND SO IT'S BEEN REALLY GOOD AND THEY TAKE TIME.

AND REALLY, YOU KNOW HOW PEOPLE, I THINK OPTOMETRISTS USUALLY GO THROUGH 15 PATIENTS A DAY AND WE GO THROUGH ABOUT THREE, THREE OR FOUR BECAUSE WE TAKE THE TIME AND WE CARE.

AND OUR, OUR, UH, OPTOMETRISTS JUST REALLY KNOW A LOT ABOUT LOW VISION SOLUTIONS AND RESOURCES FOR YOU.

SO THEY TAKE TIME AND THEN REALLY, UH, DO THAT WELL.

WE'VE GOT AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST FULL-TIME ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY FULL-TIME.

AND OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOT THE NEW APARTMENT CALLED ESTHER PLACE THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH FROM A F B AND THEY BLESSED US WITH IT.

SO WE'VE HAD THAT NOW FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS TO BE ABLE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY ONES THAT LOSE THEIR SIGHT LATER IN LIFE.

AND THEY CAN COME

[00:25:01]

IN AND SEE ALL THE VARIOUS SOLUTIONS AND THEY CAN PURCHASE MOST OF THOSE SOLUTIONS IN OUR EVERYDAY STORE RIGHT THERE IN THE LOBBY.

SO IT'S NICE AND CONVENIENT AND I'M TRYING TO THINK OF ANYTHING I MIGHT'VE LEFT OUT.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF EMPLOYMENT ON THE WAY.

IF YOU WANT TO GO TO ENVISION US.COM, THAT'S GONNA ENABLE YOU TO FIND OUT WHERE THE JOBS ARE.

AND, UH, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THEM AVAILABLE.

THE CALL CENTER IS GONNA GROW, UH, AS WE MOVE OVER TO A HUNDRED SEAT CALL CENTER.

SO WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR THAT IF YOU'VE GOT GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND, UH, JUST A LOT OF NEAT THINGS GOING ON.

I'VE BEEN THERE 14 YEARS ALREADY, BUT I GOTTA ADMIT THAT THE LAST FIVE HAVE BEEN, UH, JUST THE MOST REWARDING FOR ME BY FAR, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN ACTUAL PROGRESS AND WE KINDA LOST OUR WAY FOR A MOMENT AND WE'RE BACK AND, UH, IN A SPECIAL WAY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED ALL OVER THE D F W METROPLEX.

AND SO WE'RE GLAD ABOUT THAT.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.

INFORMATIVE.

I THINK, UM, NO WAIT, DON'T LEAVE YET.

OKAY.

WE ARE GONNA HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, UM, LOT OF INFORMATION TO DIGEST, BUT I AM, UH, GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE.

'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ENVISION DALLAS.

UM, AND, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING AND, AND LISTENING, I HOPE THAT THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE SERVICES.

UM, WE DO HAVE A QUESTION FROM VICE CHAIR OJA.

YES.

UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING, BLAKE.

UH, I REALLY FOUND YOUR PRESENTATION INFORMATIVE AND ENGAGING, AND YOU BRING A SMILE TO THE FACE OF MANY INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO.

UM, SINCE WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME, AND I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH VISION DALLAS SINCE I'VE, UH, BEEN INVOLVED WITH IT FOR MANY YEARS.

AND I TOOK A TOUR OF THE FACILITY A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND I HOPE TO COME AND EXPLORE THE NEW ONE WHEN IT BECOMES, WHEN IT'S OPEN.

UM, MY QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR YOU SPECIFICALLY IS NOT, NOT NOT NECESSARILY A QUESTION, BUT A SUGGESTION THAT I HAVE FOR YOU.

OKAY.

UM, HAVE YOU POSSIBLY CONSIDERED OFFERING COURSES FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BECOME LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CERTIFIED BRAILLE TRANSCRIBERS, BECAUSE ESPECIALLY IN THE EDUCATION WORLD, UM, BRAILLE IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY MUCH NEEDED.

A LOT OF CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO BOOKS, UH, AND NOT EVERY ONE OF THEM CAN AFFORD THE TECHNOLOGY NECESSARY TO, UH, USE IT, UTILIZE THESE RESOURCES.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I HIGHLY SUGGEST AS I THINK THAT ALTERNATIVES IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL AS, UH, ENRICHING AND GROWING, UH, BRAILLE LITERACY AROUND OUR COUNTY.

THANK YOU.

ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH, I, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

WE'VE GOT, UH, A LOT OF CURRENT WORKSHOPS RIGHT NOW.

FOR EXAMPLE, THIS THURSDAY WE'VE GOT ONE ON HOW TO REALLY ORGANIZE YOUR PANTRY, BUT, UH, I LOVE BRAILLE AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN REALLY ENGAGE IN, IN ALL THE, AND WE, WE EVEN HAVE BRAILLE CLASS ONCE A MONTH OR ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO TAKE IT.

BUT YEAH, BEING ABLE TO, UH, TRANSCRIBE AND BEING ABLE, ABLE TO DO WHAT BRAND HASLEY DOES AND YOU KNOW HER, YOU KNOW, SHE IS CONSTANTLY PROOFREADING BRAILLE.

YES.

UH, GOT HER, YOU KNOW, CERTIFICATION WITH THAT.

SO THAT'S ALWAYS AVAILABLE.

AND SO ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU.

GOOD SUGGESTION.

THANK YOU.

YES.

SO, UM, I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON AN N L S CERTIFICATION AND TRANSCRIBING AND HOPEFULLY, I'M SORRY, I DO HAVE TO INTERRUPT REAL QUICKLY.

WE HAVE TO STAY IN QUORUM.

UM, SO PARDONING THE INTERRUPTION.

UM, COMMISSIONER W YOUR CAMERA IS NOT ON.

SHE MAY BE HAVING SOME TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING TOMA AND OPEN ACTS AND ALL THE BYLAWS WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE FOR THOSE COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE JOINING THOSE VIRTUALLY, THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEIR CAMERAS ON AT ALL TIMES.

SO LET'S GIVE IT, UM, A FEW SECONDS.

IS SHE BACK? UM, GIVE US JUST A FEW MINUTES BECAUSE, UH, WE DON'T STAY IN QUORUM.

WE CANNOT CONTINUE OUR MEETING.

UM, GIMME JUST ONE MOMENT,

[00:30:41]

.

AND WHILE WE'RE WAITING, UH, REAL BRIEFLY, WHEN THERE IS A COMMISSIONER WHO MAY NEED LIKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALL SLEPT SINCE THEN, BUT IN OUR TRAINING, UM, WE CAN TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NEEDING TO GO, UM, TO THE LADIES' ROOM OR THE MEN'S ROOM.

SO, BUT PLEASE LET US KNOW IN ADVANCE.

UM, SO VIRTUALLY YOU CAN ALWAYS SEND IN A MESSAGE AND HEAR, UM, WHEN WE'RE PHYSICALLY PRESENT, THEY CAN RAISE YOUR HAND AND THEN WE CAN HALT THE MEETING.

BUT, UM, DO APOLOGIZE.

SO WHILE WE'RE IN A BRIEF RECESS, IF ANY OF YOU NEED TO, UM, GO TO THE LADIES' ROOM OR THE MEN'S ROOM, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO AND STAY TUNED.

THANK YOU FOR WAITING, MR. LINDSAY.

UM, I, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY RESTAURANTS NEARBY.

UM, YOU MIGHT WANNA THINK ABOUT OPENING A CAFETERIA.

I'M IN.

THANK YOU .

[00:55:01]

[00:55:03]

GOOD

[00:55:03]

AFTERNOON.

[00:55:04]

SO

[00:55:04]

I WANT TO, IT IS 3:07 PM UM, FOR WHATEVER THOSE REASONS ARE, WE, UM, HAVE TO REMAIN IN QUORUM IN ORDER TO HAVE A MEETING TO ABIDE BY, UM, THE BYLAWS.

UM, I HAVE A DEBRIEF WITH OUR, UH, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

UM, I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY A REQUEST TO CALL A, UM, SPECIAL MEETING.

UM, SHE'S, WHO'S BACK? SHE'S BACK.

IS SHE BACK? HOLD ON ONE MOMENT.

.

WE'RE TRYING NOT TO HAVE TO END THIS MEETING, BUT WE CANNOT FINISH IT.

AND WE WORKED REALLY HARD FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO BE HERE TODAY.

I DID JUST SEE HER AND I, I THINK IT IS A TECHNIC TECHNICAL ISSUE.

UH, , I WORK REALLY HARD TO GET DARK HAIR AND SOCIAL SECURITY HERE, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THIS MEETING RUNS SMOOTHLY, .

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES THINGS HAVE TO BE ON OUR CONTROL, WHICH IS WHY WE MAKE FOR SURE, FOR ME PERSONALLY, TO EXTEND GRACE, UM, TO INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE I WANNA RESPECT THEIR TIME AND OURS.

SO, ONE MORE BRIEF.

UM, YOU ALL HAVE WATER? GREAT.

ONE MORE BRIEF MOMENT.

I DID SEE HER JUST POP UP.

SO LET'S TRY TO GET THIS FIXED , UM, COMMISSIONER WHITE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.

IF SHE DOES NOT LOG BACK ON BECAUSE, UM, FOR TIME PURPOSES WE WILL HAVE TO, UM, END THE MEETING AND CALL A SPECIAL MEETING, WHICH WHAT I HOW THAT WORKS IS I COMMUNICATE, UM, WITH BOTH THE ORGANIZATIONS FOR TIME THAT THEY CAN COME BACK.

UM, AND JUST IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, WHEN WE CALL A SPECIAL MEETING, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE AGENDA 72 HOURS BEFORE WE HAVE THE MEETING.

UM, I KNOW THAT EVERYONE'S SCHEDULE GETS FILLED UP AS AS AS MINE.

IF WE, UM, DO HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING, UH, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO HAVE IT THE FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER, TOWARDS THE END OF OCTOBER.

IF THE ORGANIZATIONS CANNOT BE HERE, UH, PHYSICALLY PRESENT, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO JOIN US VIRTUALLY.

WE WILL KEEP YOUR SAME PRESENTATION 'CAUSE I READ THROUGH THEM .

UM, SO IN ABOUT FOUR MINUTES AT THREE 15, UM, WE WILL EITHER CONTINUE THE MEETING OR, UM, CLOSE OUT IN AJO.

AND SO BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WANT TO, UM, EXTEND AN APOLOGY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF DALLAS AND ALSO THE COMMISSIONAL DISABILITIES.

UM, THINGS LIKE THIS DO UNFORTUNATELY DO HAPPEN.

I'M JUST GLAD I DIDN'T HAVE IT 'CAUSE THERE'S A STORM OUTSIDE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THINGS DO GET DISCONNECTED.

UM, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MAKE THESE

[01:00:01]

DECISIONS? I SEE SOME SMILES, WHICH IS GOOD, .

AND I ALSO WANNA THANK REALLY QUICKLY, UM, START MEETING WITH ME.

UM, WE, I WAS LATE TO THAT MEETING DUE TO SOME THINGS BEYOND MY CONTROL.

AND Y'ALL KNOW, I CAME IN AND SAID, LET ME ADDRESS THAT, RIGHT? I, I'D LIKE TO BE TRANSPARENT AND WITH SOCIAL SECURITY, LISTEN, THAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT MEETING, UM, TO TRY TO OBTAIN.

AND SO I PUT ON MY FLATS AND I SAID WHERE I NEED TO BE.

SO I MET WITH THE DIRECTOR OVER AT CLEAR CREEK CROSSING, AND MS. MS. , WE SPOKE ON THE PHONE SEVERAL TIMES.

I'M VERY EXCITED BECAUSE THIS INFORMATION IS DEFINITELY NEEDED.

UM, SO WHILE WE'RE WAITING NOW TWO MINUTES, UM, NOT MEETING QUORUM MEANS WE CANNOT DISCUSS CITY BUSINESS.

SO JUST GIVE US TWO MORE MINUTES.

THANK YOU ALL.

AGAIN MEETING FOR THE SITUATION OF NOT MEETING QUORUM, UM, THAT IS NECESSARY AND MANDATORY TO CONDUCT OUR MONTH MEETINGS WITH THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITY.

IT'S AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR TIME HERE.

I WANT AND STAFF WILL BE IN TOUCH TO SO THEY, WE CAN CORRELATE, UM, A SPECIAL MEETING FOR YOU ALL TO COME BACK.

IF YOU CAN'T, AGAIN, COME AND BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT.

VIRTUAL IS DEFINITELY, UM, AVAILABLE TO YOU.

I WANNA ALSO, UM, KEEP THOSE TIME LIMITS AS WELL THAT YOU WERE GIVEN.

UM, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING? I SO MOVE.

AND SECOND, PLEASE.

UH, VICE CHAIRMAN, CALL CONLEY.

I SECOND.

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN.

THE MOTION HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED.

AND SECOND TO ADJOIN, THE SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023 COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MEETING AT 3:17 PM ALL IN FAVOR, SAY YAY.

YAY.

YAY.

MEETING.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.