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EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES[Commission on Disabilities on February 25, 2025.]
MEETING.TODAY'S DATE IS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH, 2025, AND THE CURRENT TIME IS 2:01 PM WE HAVE MET QUORUM AND THIS MEETING IS NOW BEING CALLED TO ORDER A FEW HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS TO BE MINDFUL OF PRIOR TO PROCEEDING WITH ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
FIRST, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE JOINING US REMOTELY, WE KINDLY ASK THAT YOU KEEP YOUR CAMERAS ON AT ALL TIMES IN ORDER TO BE COUNTED PRESENT.
SECOND, IF YOU WISH TO ASK A QUESTION OR MAKE A COMMENT, WE ASK THAT YOU STATE, WE ASK THAT YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND RESPECTIVE DISTRICT.
AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE LOST QUORUM, GIVEN THAT COMMISSIONER COUNCIL'S CAMERA IS OFF.
SO ONCE SHE COMES BACK ON, WE'LL BE ABLE TO RESUME.
I AM UNABLE TO GET THE CAMERA TO WORK RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE, SINCE WE ARE BACK IN QUORUM, WE'RE ABLE TO RESUME OUR MEETING AS PLANNED BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING ABOUT THE HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE JOINING US REMOTELY, ONCE AGAIN, WE DO KINDLY REQUEST THAT YOU KEEP YOUR CAMERAS ON AT ALL TIMES IN ORDER TO BE COUNTED PRESENT.
SECOND, IF YOU WISH TO ASK A QUESTION OR MAKE A COMMENT, WE ASK THAT YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND DISTRICT IN ORDER TO AVOID CONFUSION.
AND FINALLY, WE WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT WE KNOW THAT COMMISSIONERS IN THIS ROOM HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MANY COMMENTS THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.
WE HEAR YOU, BUT KINDLY REQUEST THAT YOU KEEP YOUR CAMERAS ON.
UH, WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP YOUR COMMENTS AS BRIEF AND CONCISE AS POSSIBLE.
THIS IS IN ORDER TO GIVE OTHERS IN THE ROOM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THEIR QUESTIONS AND VOICE THEIR CONCERNS.
WE ARE NOW BEGINNING WITH ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, STARTING WITH ROLL CALL.
PLEASE SIGNIFY YOUR ATTENDANCE BY SAYING, PRESENT WHEN YOUR NAME AND RESPECTIVE DISTRICT ARE CALLED, STARTING WITH COMMISSIONER GAY REY, DISTRICT ONE.
COMMISSIONER MELODY COUNCIL, DISTRICT TWO, MELODY COUNCIL, DISTRICT TWO.
UH, COMMISSIONER ROD H****R, DISTRICT THREE.
COMMISSIONER STARLET RAMIREZ, DISTRICT SIX, DISTRICT SEVEN IS VACANT.
COMMISSIONER BEVERLY WHITE, DISTRICT 10.
COMMISSIONER CHRISTOPHER BALLOU, DISTRICT 10 PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER STEVEN HUSKA, DISTRICT 13 PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER ASHLEY LINDSAY, DISTRICT 14 PRESENT.
AND THIS IS CHAIRMAN JOHN CAL CONLEY, MAYOR APPOINTEE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR MEETINGS AND SUPPORTING THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES AND ITS EFFORTS.
YOUR SUPPORT MEANS A LOT TO US IN ACHIEVING THE GOALS THAT WE HAVE SET AS OUR, AS A COMMISSION AND AS A BODY.
OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
TODAY WE ARE HUMBLED TO HAVE MR. TED HARPER, WHO WILL BE HERE REPRESENTING THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND.
HE WILL BE GIVING US AN OVERVIEW OF A CB AND DISCUSS ABOUT THE UPCOMING CONVENTION IN THE MONTH OF JULY.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. HARPER TO OFFER HIS COMMENTS.
AND MR. HARPER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO PROVIDE YOUR TESTIMONY.
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THANK YOU.WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
AS, UH, YOU JUST HEARD, MY NAME IS TED HARPER.
I AM THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE DALLAS AREA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND, WHICH IS A CHAPTER OF AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND.
AND MY GOALS TODAY ARE TWOFOLD.
ONE, TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE CHAPTER AND THE ORGANIZATION, AND TO, UH, MAKE YOU AWARE OF AN OPPORTUNITY AT AN UPCOMING CONVENTION THAT WILL BE HELD IN DALLAS.
NOW, IN OUR CHAPTER FORMED IN THE EARLY 1990S, AND OUR MISSION OR PURPOSE IS TO RAISE UP THOSE THAT ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED IN THE, IN OUR CASE, IN THE DALLAS AREA.
UH, AND WE, WE ACHIEVED THAT BY CREATING A FORUM FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO HAVE THEIR CONCERNS HEARD AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS.
AND WE DO THAT WITH, WE ALSO, THE OTHER PART OF OUR PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE, UH, INFORMATION ON ACCESSING EDUCATIONAL SERVICES OR, UH, TECHNOLOGICAL, UH, ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES.
AND SO, JUST SO THE INDIVIDUAL CAN NOT ONLY IDENTIFY THEIR, THEIR ABILITIES, BUT REALIZE THEIR POTENTIAL BASICALLY BECOMING A, UM, PRODUCTIVE, UH, PARTICIPANT IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
IN THE LAST SIX, IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, OUR CHAPTER HAS, UH, SPOKEN WITH FOUR DIFFERENT GROUPS, UM, SUCH AS TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION AND, UH, THE, UM, THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, UH, JUST AND, UM, WE HAVE RA DONATED $600 TO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVICE THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED COMMUNITY AND PROVIDED, UH, HOLIDAY MEALS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT, THAT, UH, ORDINARILY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO EASILY AFFORD, UH, A MEAL ON THEIR OWN.
EVERYONE LIKES TURKEY AT THANKSGIVING.
UH, OUR TWO SIGNATURE PROGRAMS ARE ONE, THE ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP.
WE OFFER FULL AND PART-TIME SCHOLARSHIPS AND TO OFF THE COLLEGE STUDENTS AND INCOMING COLLEGE STUDENTS.
AND WE HAVE A TECHNOLOGY GRANT, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE, UH, TECH, UH, ASSISTED TECHNOLOGY OR LINK THEM TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL HAS EXHAUSTED ALL THE, UH, USUAL MANNERS IN WHICH THEY ACCESS.
THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A PAIR OF LAST RESORT.
AND, UH, FOR OUR MEETING, WELL, WE'RE A LITTLE NOMADIC.
WE DO MEET MONTHLY AND THIRD SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS AT WHICH USUALLY PROVIDE FOOD.
UM, THE BEST WAY YOU CAN KEEP UP TO DATE WITH OUR MEETING LOCATIONS AND INFORMATION AND THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR OUR TWO PROGRAMS THROUGH VISITING OUR WEBSITE AT DALLAS ACD ORG.
AND THAT BRINGS ME TO THE SECOND TOPIC, UM, HERE, UM, THE AMER, THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE, OR THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF BLIND, WILL BE HELD HERE IN DALLAS, JULY 4TH THROUGH THE 11TH AT THE HYATT REGENCY HERE IN DOWNTOWN.
UM, ROUGHLY 700 PEOPLE ATTEND THESE NATIONAL CONFERENCES, UH, AND IT'S VERY EMPOWERING AS MOST CONFERENCES ARE THE, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INPUT.
UM, EXCUSE ME, PARDON ME FOR THE INTERRUPTION, MR. HARPER, BUT WE DID WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES IS OVER.
SO IF YOU WANT TO WRAP UP, YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO DO THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE SOMEONE FROM THE COMMISSION TO GIVE A WELCOME GREETING AT OUR CO DURING OUR GENERAL SESSIONS, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO, UH, HELP CONNECT YOU WITH THE CORRECT VERSION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. HARPER, FOR PROVIDING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND IT, IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE AN HONOR TO HAVE EITHER MYSELF OR SOMEONE FROM THE COMMISSION PROVIDE WELCOMING REMARKS AT THE, AT YOUR GENERAL SESSIONS.
I DID WANT TO HAVE, I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND THIS IS REGARDING, UM, THE, SO WITH WITH THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES, WE ARE ALL ABOUT PERFORMING PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATING, UH, WITH, WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES RELATED TO DISABILITIES.
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MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, IF WE WERE TO COLLABORATE TOGETHER, WHAT WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR YOU? HMM.RIGHT NOW IT'S WITH THE TE UM, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT RANGE OF, OF, UH, WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMISSION ARE OTHER THAN WHAT YOU JUST STATED.
UH, IT'S WITH THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE JUST TO BRING TOWARD, THERE'S CERTAIN FUNDING STREAMS AND DIFFERENT, UH, PARTS, UH, MOSTLY FUNDING STREAMS THAT START AT THE STATE LEVEL.
AND THEY REQUIRE THE STATE TO, UH, PARTIC OFFER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF, UH, THEY'RE PRESENTED WITH FEDERAL DOLLARS AND THEY HAVE TO CLAIM IT.
AND WE HAVE TO EN ENCOURAGE THEM TO CLAIM IT.
IF NOT, ASK FOR MORE, UH, SO WE CAN SUCCEED.
AND THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, MY GOAL, MY, MY FRAME OF, UH, EXCUSE ME, FRAME OF THOUGHT IS WHEN YOU MAKE THINGS ACCESSIBILITY, ACCESSIBLE TO ALL INDIVIDUALS, EVERYBODY WINS.
MR. HARPER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS.
AS A BODY, OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL ON BEST PRACTICES FOR DISABILITY INCLUSION.
SO WE'RE ALL ABOUT MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS AND, AND DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR MEMBERS OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.
SO THE, IF WE CAN STAY IN CONTACT, STAY IN TOUCH SOMEHOW, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IMMENSELY AND WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE.
THANKS AGAIN FOR PROVIDING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT SEGMENT OF OUR AGENDA.
ONCE AGAIN, WE WISH TO SINCERELY APPRECIATE MR. HARPER FOR COMING TO THIS MEETING AND SHARING WITH US INFORMATION ABOUT THE A CB AND THE UPCOMING CONVENTION THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN JULY.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND.
I ONCE AGAIN ENCOURAGE ALL COMMISSIONERS TO INVITE INDIVIDUALS THEY MAY KNOW IN THEIR CIRCLES TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ISSUES PERTAINING TO DISABILITIES AND DISABILITY JUSTICE.
THE MORE VOICES WE HEAR, THE STRONGER WE ARE AS A BODY.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE APPROVING THE MEETINGS OF JANUARY 28TH, 2025.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY MAKING SOME EDITS TO THE MEETING MINUTES.
THERE ARE CERTAIN PORTIONS WHERE IT READS CHAIR AND CERTAIN PORTIONS WHERE IT, IT READS.
CHAIRMAN, FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE MINUTES, WHEN WE GET TO THE APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 24TH OR 25TH, 20, 24 MINUTES, THERE'S A STATEMENT THAT READS, CHAIR CAL CONLEY MOVED THAT THE MINUTES OF OF NOVEMBER 25TH, 2024 BE APPROVED.
AND IN THE INTEREST OF MAINTAINING CONSISTENCY, I WOULD LIKE THAT STATEMENT TO READ.
CHAIRMAN CAL CONLEY MOVED THAT THE NOVEMBER 25TH, 2024 MEETING MINUTES BE APPROVED.
AND THEN UNDER BRIEFINGS THERE'S A STATEMENT THAT READS, THE COMMISSION WAS PROVIDED BRIEFED ON THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND AND THEIR ACTIVITIES.
THE CORRECT WAY THE STATEMENT SHOULD READ IS THE COMMISSION WAS BRIEFED ON THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND AND ITS ACTIVITIES.
THOSE ARE THE ONLY CORRECTIONS THAT I HAVE.
I WILL NOW TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY WISH TO MAKE CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES PRIOR TO APPROVING THEM, STARTING WITH COMMISSIONER REY DISTRICT ONE.
NOW WE ARE GOING TO COMMISSIONER WHITE DISTRICT NINE.
COMMISSIONER ISHKA, DISTRICT 13.
AND COMMISSIONER UM, COMMISSIONER LINDSAY, DISTRICT 14.
AND I DO WANT TO JUMP BACK BECAUSE WE REALIZED THAT WE FORGOT ABOUT COMMISSIONER COUNCIL FROM DISTRICT TWO.
DO YOU WISH TO MAKE EDITS TO THE MINUTES? SHE'S MUTED.
IN THIS CASE THEN I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE MINUTES BE ACCEPTED AS READ WITH EDITS.
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ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES.ALL OPPOSED? APPARENTLY THERE IS NOTHING THERE.
SO THE MOTION PASSES AND THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AS READ AND CORRECTED.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH ARE OFFICER'S REPORTS.
I WILL BEGIN BY PROVIDING THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING THE 2025 ANNUAL MEETING POSTED BY THE NORTH TEXAS DISABILITY CHAMBER, N-T-X-D-C, WHERE I SPOKE ABOUT THE CITY OF DALLAS COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES.
IT WAS A DISTINCT HONOR TO TALK ABOUT THE EFFORTS OF OUR COMMISSION AS WELL AS TO SHARE THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR, AS WELL AS HOW N-T-X-D-C CAN SUPPORT US MOVING FORWARD.
ALSO, ON FEBRUARY THE 14TH, I ATTENDED A MEETING AT DALLAS CITY HALL WHERE I MET WITH A GROUP OF VISITORS FROM GEORGIA WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM ASSOCIATED WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
TOGETHER, WE ENGAGED IN LIVELY DISCUSSIONS SURROUNDING THE ADVANCEMENT OF DISABILITY RIGHTS AND ACCESSIBILITY WITHIN A GLOBAL CONTEXT AND THE EFFORTS THEY ARE UNDERTAKING IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY.
OUR DISCUSSIONS SURROUNDING CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS HAS ALLOWED THEM TO LEARN EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES USED IN THE CITY SO THEY CAN TAKE BACK WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED.
WE MOST DEFINITELY SEE THIS MEETING AS THE STEPPING STONE TOWARD LONG LASTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION AND THE BUILDING OF INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS.
THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT FOR THIS MONTH.
AND I WILL NOW TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COMMISSIONERS WHO WISH TO PROVIDE REPORTS OF THEIR OWN, JUST LIKE IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
AND LIKE WE DO IN OTHER ASPECTS OF THE MEETING, WHEN YOUR NAME AND RESPECTIVE DISTRICT ARE CALLED YOUR WELCOME TO PROVIDE YOUR REPORTS.
CONVERSELY, IF YOU WISH NOT TO REPORT FOR THIS MONTH, YOU MAY INDICATE SO WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, WE'RE STARTING WITH COMMISSIONER REY DISTRICT ONE.
DO YOU WISH TO PROVIDE A REPORT FOR FEBRUARY? YES.
OKAY, EVERYBODY, THIS IS AN OFFICIAL NOTICE.
I WAS CONTACTED BY FOOTBALL CLUB DALLAS LAST WEEK.
THEY ARE PROVIDING FREE TICKETS TO ALL COMMISSIONERS AND OUR FAMILIES FOR A MATCH CALLED CELEBRATING OUR ABILITIES ON APRIL 19TH.
AND IT WILL BE HELD IN FRISCO.
UM, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE STAFF WHO IS PICKING UP THE COMMUNICATIONS ON THAT.
AND AS SOON AS WE HAVE ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT HOW YOU PICK UP YOUR ADMISSIONS FOR YOUR FAMILY, STAFF WILL LET YOU KNOW.
SO SIT, SIT TIGHT AND SAVE THE DATE.
THE SECOND THING I WANT TO SAY IS I APOLOGIZE TO STAFF.
I'VE BEEN BUGGING THEM FOR A CONTACT LIST.
I HAVE NO INFORMATION ON HOW TO CONTACT ANY OF YOU.
I FOUND OUT THAT I SHOULD HAVE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS LAST YEAR.
WE WERE PROVIDED A MEMO THAT SAID IF WE WANT TO SHARE OUR PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS WITH OTHER COMMISSION MEMBERS, WE TURN IT INTO MS. P.
CONTACT HER, LET HER KNOW YOUR PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS AND SHE WILL SHARE IT WITH OTHER COMMISSION MEMBERS.
IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE IN CONTACT WITH OTHER COMMISSION MEMBERS, WE'LL FEEL REAL BAD ABOUT THAT, BUT WE'LL RESPECT YOUR WISHES.
SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT HER.
AND I WILL BE PUTTING MY NAME ON THE LIST AND I APOLOGIZE TO STAFF.
I JUST DROPPED THE BALL ON THAT.
UM, THE THIRD E EFFORT I WANNA REPORT TO YOU ON IS, UH, WE ARE REALLY MAKING PROGRESS IN DEVELOPING A PROGRAM IN DALLAS TO ENFORCE AND ISSUE CITATIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO PARK ILLEGALLY IN HANDICAPPED PARKING SPOTS AROUND THE CITY.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR OVER A YEAR AND WE'RE REALLY GETTING CLOSE.
AND HERE'S JUST SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.
AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE, YOU CAN CERTAINLY EMAIL ME AND I'LL FILL YOU IN ON ANY OF THE DETAILS.
I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH, UH, HOUSTON AND WITH THE GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION.
AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT AT LEAST 12 MUNICIPALITIES IN DALLAS ARE NOW CITING PEOPLE FOR ILLEGAL PARKING IN HANDICAPPED PARKING SPOTS.
THIS ABILITY TO TICKET TO CITE WAS GRANTED
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BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.IT HAS GRANTED MUNICIPALITIES THE RIGHT TO ENFORCE NO PARKING IN HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACES THROUGH AN ACT.
AND IT ALSO SETS THE MINIMUM FINE FOR A FIRST TIME OFFENSE.
THE FIRST TIME OFFENSE IS $500.
THE SECOND OFFENSE IS $750 AND IT ONLY GOES UP FROM THERE.
SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS IS NOT A NEW GAME IN TOWN.
DE HOUSTON HAS HAD THIS PROGRAM SINCE 2004, SO WE ARE NOT BREAKING ANY NEW GROUND HERE.
WE JUST HAVE TO GET THIS BALL ROLLING.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, HOUSTON ISSUED 6,300 CITATIONS AT $500 EACH.
FOR THE FIRST DEFENSE, THAT'S ABOUT $3 MILLION TO THE CITY TREASURY.
THIS IS FINANCIALLY CERTAIN WORTH, CERTAINLY WORTH PURSUING.
ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOT DOING THIS FOR FINANCIAL REASONS.
UM, I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON OUR PROGRESS.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE LEARNED THIS WEEK, JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS.
IF SOMEBODY PULLS ILLEGALLY INTO A HANDICAP SPOT AND A TRAINED VOLUNTEER ISSUES A CITATION, THERE ARE NO EXCUSES.
NO, I WAS JUST THERE FOR THREE MINUTES.
AND NO, WELL, THIS IS, I HAD TO GO INTO THIS EMERGENCY ROOM AT THE HOSPITAL, SO I PARKED IN THE HANDICAP ZONE.
HOUSTON TRIED TO GRANT SOME EXCEPTIONS FOR SOME OF THOSE EXCUSES.
AND THE WORD I GOT FROM HOUSTON THIS WEEK WAS THE STATE SLAPPED OUR HANDS FOR GRANTING EXCEPTIONS.
THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS EXCEPT A PERSON WHO MAY HAVE HAD A HANDICAP PLACARD AND IT WASN'T VISIBLE.
SO I'LL DEFINITELY BE KEEPING YOU POSTED ON THAT.
I THINK IT'S EXCITING AND I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO SUCCEED IN DOING THIS IN THE COMING MONTHS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER REEVE FOR PROVIDING THIS DETAILED REPORT.
AND AS ALWAYS, WE COMMEND YOU ON YOUR EFFORTS IN NOT ONLY IN ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION, BUT ALSO IN A DA PARKING AS WELL.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US AND WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU IN TERMS OF UPDATES IN WHERE THIS PROGRAM IS GOING.
I AM VERY EXCITED THAT IT IS OFFICIALLY MAKING PROGRESS AND WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE POSITIVE IMPACTS IT WILL HAVE.
UM, BEFORE I GO TO OTHER COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER, COUNCIL, I BELIEVE YOU HAD A QUESTION.
I FIRST THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT IN YOUR EFFORTS AND I WAS WONDERING, IS PART OF THIS EFFORT GOING TO INCLUDE EDUCATION SURROUNDING THE IDENTIFICATION OF FAKE HANDICAP PLACARDS? 'CAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED AS ONE OF THE BIG ABUSE.
CAN YOU PLEASE REPEAT YOUR QUESTION AND, AND ASK IN A CLEAR WAY? 'CAUSE I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE? YES.
UM, IT IS PART OF THIS EFFORT, INCLUDING SOME SORT OF EDUCATION INITIATIVE ON IDENTIFYING FAKE HANDICAP PLACARDS OR PERMITS.
THE STATE REQUIRES EVERY MUNICIPALITY TO PROVIDE FOUR HOURS OF TRAINING TO THESE VOLUNTEERS.
NOW, THE VOLUNTEERS ALSO HAVE TO PASS BACKGROUND CHECKS TO THE USUAL, UM, JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS BEFORE THEY RECEIVE AN APPOINTMENT.
THE STATE STATE DOES NOT TELL US WHAT WE HAVE TO INCLUDE IN THIS TRAINING PROGRAM.
SO THAT'S CERTAINLY AN ITEM WE COULD INCLUDE IN THIS TRAINING PROGRAM.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE LEGITIMATE PLACARDS AND PLATES AND HOW TO LOOK FOR FAKES.
THANK YOU FOR THAT SUGGESTION.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER REI FOR CLARIFYING THIS POINT.
AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER COUNCIL FOR THAT QUESTION.
THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE MADE NOTE OF.
AND SPEAKING OF THAT, NOW SINCE WE ARE TALKING TO YOU, COMMISSIONER COUNCIL FROM DISTRICT TWO, DO YOU WISH TO PROVIDE A REPORT FOR FEBRUARY? UM, I DO NOT HAVE A REPORT.
AS YOU KNOW, I'M NEW TO THE COMMISSION.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S APPROPRIATE TO SAVE.
UM, BUT I AM, UH, I APOLOGIZE TO THE COMMISSION FOR MISSING THE LAST MEETING, BUT IT WILL NOT BE HAPPENING AGAIN.
AND I AM RAPIDLY LEARNING YOUR PLATFORMS, WHICH ARE DIFFERENT FROM SIX IUS FROM DALLAS ISD RIGHT NOW.
SO I WILL BE BETTER AT THE MUTING AND THE MUTING OF THE CAMERA BY THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER COUNCIL, AND WE ARE SO DELIGHTED IN YOU JOINING US AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU AND, AND LEARNING FROM YOU AND YOU
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SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS.NEXT WE HAVE COMMISSIONER WHITE, DISTRICT NINE.
DO YOU WISH TO PROVIDE A REPORT? JUST A SHORT ONE.
UH, FIRST I WANNA TAG ON COMMISSIONER TOWN.
YOU HAD A VERY GOOD REASON TO NOT BE HERE LAST TIME.
I WANNA STATE IT PUBLICLY, BUT IT WAS, IT WAS A VERY GOOD REASON.
AND TO TAG ONTO COMMISSIONER REY, I, UH, MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN IN AN UPROAR 'CAUSE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WALMART IS USING TOW TRUCKS.
SO I STOPPED AND SPOKE WITH THE MANAGER AND THE MANAGER THAT'S IN CHARGE OF THAT.
AND IT'S ALL, YOU KNOW, LEGAL AND FINE.
BUT SOME THINGS THEY TOLD ME THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF IF WE'RE GOING TO BE WRITING TICKETS IS THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD GUNS PULLED ON THEM.
WE'RE TELLING PEOPLE TO MOVE OUT OF HANDICAPPED PARKING AND ALSO THEIR PICKUP, YOU KNOW, ONLINE PICKUP.
BUT THEY HANDICAP, UH, THEY HAVE BEEN SPOKEN TO IN TERRIBLE MANNER.
UH, THE THING IS, DON'T PUT YOURSELF IN JEOPARDY.
THAT'S A PART OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM, HOW TO AVOID CONFRONTATION AND IT'S A PRIORITY.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WISH TO SHARE? COMMISSIONER REVY FOR YOUR REPORT OR IS THIS THE ONLY ONE? NO, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY.
AND COMMISSIONER WHITE, IS THIS ALL YOU HAVE FOR YOUR REPORT? THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY.
NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER, UM, COMMISSIONER BLU, DISTRICT 10.
DO YOU WISH TO PROVIDE A REPORT FOR FEBRUARY? I DO.
SO FIRST OF ALL, IN, UH, RESPON AND ADD ON TO, UH, COMMISSIONER REY'S COMMENT ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE COMMISSIONERS.
UM, WE HAVE THE EMAIL ADDRESS, BUT I UNFORTUNATELY DON'T READ THAT EMAIL VERY OFTEN.
SO ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAD REACHED OUT TO ME BACK IN JANUARY ASKING ME A QUESTION.
UM, SO WOULD LOVE TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, ON THAT EMAIL.
BUT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE BETTER, BECAUSE SEE, I HAVE SO MANY EMAIL ACCOUNTS.
THIS ONE JUST, I CAN'T GET IT ON MY PHONE, SO THEREFORE IT DOESN'T GET RE IT DOESN'T GET CHECKED A LOT, SO IT DOESN'T NOTIFY MY NORMAL EMAIL ACCOUNT.
SO I'LL DO BETTER AT, AT LOOKING AT THAT.
UM, AS FAR AS MY UH, REPORT, I JUST WANNA REPORT THAT ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT THIS WEEK I ATTENDED THE BELONG MINISTRY, WHICH IS PART OF THE HIGHLAND PARKING UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, UM, PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND, UH, UH, WITH IDD, INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, SORRY, WENT BLANK.
UM, PERFORMANCE OF A SELF WRITTEN, SELF COMPOSED MUSICAL.
UM, IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM IN THAT THEY STARTED SEPTEMBER.
THE PARTICIPANTS, WHICH ARE ALL, UM, ABOVE THE AGE, THEY'RE ALL ADULTS, COME IN AND THEY START BY TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE ON THEIR MIND, THINGS THAT ARE CONCERNING THEM, AND THEY USE THAT TO DEVELOP THE SCRIPT.
AND THEN THEY HAVE A COMPOSER WHO WORKS WITH THEM.
AND AS THEY SAY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE, OF THE MUSICAL, THE DIRECTOR SAYS HIS GOAL IN LIFE IS TO MAKE SURE THEY SOUND, UM, GOOD AT THEIR SINGING.
SO THE MUSIC IS COMPOSED TO KIND OF MATCH THE PARTICIPANTS AND THE ACTORS AND ACTRESSES SINGING STYLE.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE.
UH, VERY WELL DONE, VERY, VERY POIGNANT FOR WHAT WE GO THROUGH.
ONE, THEY HAD LITTLE, UM, QUY LITTLE SPEECHES INSIDE OF THE PLAY IN WHICH ONE PERSON TALKED ABOUT, AND THIS WAS A WOMAN WITH DOWN SYNDROME ABOUT HER BEING ROBBED AT A DART STATION.
AND THE TRAUMA THAT SHE WENT THROUGH ON THAT.
THEY, UH, SOMEONE ELSE TALKED ABOUT HOW HE IS BLIND AND AUTISTIC AND, YOU KNOW, THE COMMENT HE MADE WAS BLINDNESS I CAN DEAL WITH BECAUSE STEVIE WONDER AND, UH, RAY CHARLES WERE BOTH GREAT MUSICIANS AND AND WONDERFUL PEOPLE, IS THE AUTISM THAT HE STRUGGLES WITH.
ANOTHER ONE WITH DOWN SYNDROME TALKED ABOUT HOW SHE'S 37 YEARS OLD, BUT PEOPLE YOUNGER THAN HER TREAT HER LIKE A CHILD.
SO IT WAS A VERY, VERY WELL DONE, UM, PERFORMANCE.
THIS IS JUST PART OF THEIR MINISTRY.
THEY HAVE DATE CLASSES DURING THE WEEK.
THEY HAVE MONTHLY EXPLORERS, THEY HAVE BIBLE STUDY, THEY HAVE ALL SORTS OF WONDERFUL PROGRAMS, ALL 100% FREE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THEY STRESS THAT THERE'S NEVER ANY ASK OF PARENTS TO OR CAREGIVERS TO PROVIDE MONEY TO PRETEND THIS.
IT, UM, HAS BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL TO OUR FAMILY.
WE PARTICIPATED IN IT GOING WAY BACK UNTIL THE, UM, WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS BORN AND THEY HAD A PROGRAM CALLED NIGHT OWLS, WHICH IS NIGHT OUT WITH LOVING SITTERS, AND THEY BRING IN NURSES AND PEOPLE SO PEOPLE WITH BETTER FRAGILE KIDS CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING
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FOR A DINNER AND THEN COMING BACK KNOWING THEIR CHILD HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.SO, UM, I JUST CALL OUT THIS PROGRAM IN THE CITY OF DALLAS AND WHAT A WONDERFUL, UM, MINISTRY IT IS AND A WONDERFUL, UH, PROGRAM.
IT IS FOR ANYONE IN IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WISHES TO, TO UTILIZE IT.
THAT WAS A VERY INSIGHTFUL REPORT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER BOU FOR SHARING.
NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER HUSHKA, DISTRICT 13.
DO PROVIDE A REPORT, UH, NO REPORT THIS MONTH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER HUSHKA.
AND LASTLY, WE GO TO COMMISSIONER LINDSAY, DISTRICT 14.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NEW TO REPORT, BUT LIKE COMMISSIONER TOWNSVILLE, AS A NEW MEMBER, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO EVERYONE AND CONNECT OUTSIDE OF THESE MEETINGS TO MAKE SURE, UM, THERE AREN'T THINGS THAT I CAN BE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY WITH COMMUNITY EVENTS AND REPRESENTATION OF THE COMMISSION.
SO THANK YOU COMMISSIONER REVY REVY FOR YOUR, UM, SUGGESTION THERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH COMMISSIONER LINDSAY FOR THOSE POINTS.
AND WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO YOU, YOU JOINING US AND YOU STAYING WITH US AND LEARNING FROM YOU.
OUR NEXT ITEM WE GO TO ON THE AGENDA ARE, IS THE BRIEFINGS.
WE ARE VERY DELIGHTED TO HAVE TWO GUESTS WHO WILL BE PRESENTING TO US TODAY.
IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO INVITE THE FIRST PRESENTER, FOUNDER AND C FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT CYNTHIA PERLEY AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PETER PERLEY OF LGE FOUNDATION WILL PRESENT ON UNDERSTANDING THE FENTANYL CRISIS.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WOULD NOW LIKE TO WELCOME MS. PERLEY TO PROVIDE HER PRESENTATION.
WE PLAYED SOCCER IN HIGH SCHOOL.
HIS NAME WAS BRIAN AND HE WAS MY SON.
MY NAME IS CYNTHIA PERLEY AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF LITURGY.
PETER COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY, SO I APOLOGIZE.
UM, SO WE FOUNDED LITURGY, UH, TWO, TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO.
AND LIVE AGY MEANS STAYING ALIVE TOGETHER.
SYNERGY MEANS THE COMBINATION OF TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE.
AND WHAT WE DO IS WE GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, WE GO TO THE SCHOOLS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.
WE GO TO FRATERNITIES, SORORITIES, COLLEGES, UH, PUBLIC VENUES.
WE GO TO BARS, RESTAURANTS, TRAIN STAFF.
UM, AND NOW WE HAVE, UH, FREE, UH, WE HAVE, UH, VENDING MACHINES, WHICH SUPPLIES FREE NARCAN WITHIN THE DALLAS COMMUNITY.
AND IT, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THE FENTANYL EPIDEMIC IS SO MASSIVE, UH, NUMBER ONE KILLER, 18 TO 45 YEAR OLDS.
SO WE JUST DIDN'T WANNA STAND BY AND SEE THIS HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE.
SO THIS IS OUR, UM, SO WHAT WE DO, ACTUALLY, THIS IS WHEN WE WERE IN AUSTIN, UM, BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE HAS TO DIE.
UM, WE, SO, UH, THIS IS A SLIDE THAT SHOWS ONE OF OUR YOUTH AMBASSADORS IN FRONT, UH, IN AUSTIN HOLDING UP A SIGN THAT SAYS NO ONE ELSE HAS TO DIE.
AND WE WERE, IT WAS, UM, THE TRIP FEST IN AUSTIN WHEN WE WERE INVITED TO DISTRIBUTE NARCAN AND SPEAK WITH DIP DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES THROUGHOUT TEXAS.
SO WHAT DO, WHAT DO WE DO? OUR TRAINING GOALS ARE TO UNDERSTAND FENTANYL AND OPIOIDS.
WHAT IS NARCAN? AND IDENTIFYING THE SIGNS OF, OF AN OVERDOSE.
SO, AND WE ADAPT TO OUR AUDIENCE.
WE JUST MET, UM, WITH THE, UH, DENISON SCHOOL AND SPOKE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
NEXT WEEK WE'RE GOING TO A MIDDLE SCHOOL IN WILEY, CHANGE OUR AUDIENCE, CHANGE IT FOR THE, THE STAFF OF A BAR.
SO MAKE IT APPROPRIATE IN THE TRAINING.
SO THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO TAKE AWAY IT IS, UM, VERY, IS BECOME INCREASINGLY COMMON TO FIND FENTANYL MIXED WITH OTHER DRUGS OF RECREATION AND ABUSE, NOT JUST OPIOIDS.
SO WHAT WE HIGHLY DISCUSS AND TALK ABOUT IS THAT FENTANYL IS IN EVERYTHING NOW, AND IT'S IN COCAINE, IT'S IN MARIJUANA.
AND, AND ALSO THOUGH, WHAT THE BIG DEAL IS, IT'S IN CRUSHED PILLS.
THEY'RE PILLS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED AS SOMETHING ELSE, AS AN ADDERALL, AS A PERCOCET, AS A XANAX, BUT THEY'RE NOT.
BUT THEY ARE FAKE PILLS THAT ARE CREATED BY THE CARTEL, UM, OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHERE IT'S JUST A FILLER, LIKE A VITAMIN C, THROW FENTANYL IN IT, MIX IT UP, CRUSH IT, SO IT LOOKS LIKE THAT PILL.
AND THEN THE PERSON IS THE UNCONSENSUAL USER.
[00:35:01]
OR THAT, UH, DRUG DOES NOT KNOW THAT THERE'S FENTANYL IN THERE.YOU MAY NOT GET A PILL THAT KILLS.
YOU MAY HAVE JUST ONE GRAIN OF SALT OF GRAIN, UH, IT'S EQUIVALENT TO A GRAIN OF SALT LOOKING, BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF FENTANYL TO GET YOU ADDICTED.
BUT GUESS WHAT? NOW YOU'RE GONNA ASK FOR THAT AGAIN AND AGAIN.
AND I PROMISE YOU, GETTING OFF OF THE ADDICTION OF FENTANYL IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL, MISERABLE ADDICTIONS, AND IT'S A LOT OF SUFFERING AND PAIN.
SO WE JUST RECOMMEND AND WE TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT NOT EVER STARTING TO TAKE A PILL FROM SOMEONE ELSE.
IF IT'S NOT PRESCRIBED TO YOU FROM A PHYSICIAN OR YOUR PROVIDER, UM, THEN DO NOT TAKE THAT MEDICATION.
UM, AT ONE OF THE COLLEGES I WAS JUST AT, THE STUDENTS CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, WE DIDN'T KNOW.
WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT THAT ADDERALL THAT OUR BUDDY JUST GAVE US MAY NOT BE TRULY ADDERALL.
UM, AND ACTUALLY, AND THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND, THEY HAD TO USE NARCAN ON SOMEONE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SAVE THEIR LIFE.
UM, THIS SCREEN THAT IS NOW, UM, THE, THIS PART OF THE PRESENTATION IS JUST SIMPLY POINTING THOSE ITEMS OUT.
SO FENTANYL, AND I'LL BE QUICK ABOUT THIS.
UM, MOST PEOPLE ALREADY KNOW WHAT FENTANYL IS, UH, STARTED IN THE 1950S.
IF YOU'VE HAD SURGERY, YOU PROBABLY HAD FENTANYL, MICRODOSE, UM, VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE IT DURING SURGERY.
UH, 50 TIMES STRONGER THAN HEROIN AND A HUNDRED TIMES STRONGER THAN MORPHINE.
AND THIS IS A SCREEN THAT IS SHOWING, UH, TWO PILLS, A FAKE PILL AND A REAL PILL.
YOU CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE.
UM, AND THEN ALSO IT'S A PENCIL WITH JUST A LITTLE AMOUNT OF FENTANYL ON THE END, ENOUGH TO KILL YOU.
IF I HAD A PACKET OF SUGAR UP HERE TODAY, WHICH I USUALLY HAVE WITH ME, THAT THAT WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO KILL A FENTANYL IF THAT WAS FENTANYL, TO KILL 500 PEOPLE.
SO JUST TO HAVE AN IDEA HOW EASY THIS IS TO TRANSPORT, TO DISGUISE, TO HIDE, AND HOW POWERFUL IT IS.
UM, AND IT USUALLY COMES IN THE FORM OF A WHITE POWDER THAT IS MIXED WITH OTHER DRUGS AND SOLD AS IS AND FAKE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION LIKE PERCOCET.
UM, HAVE SEVEN, SEVEN OUTTA 10 CHANCES NOW OF CONTAINING FENTANYL IF IT'S PURCHASED ILLICITLY ON THE STREETS.
THIS IS JUST A SCREEN THAT SHOWS, IT'S A GRAPH THAT SHOWS HOW QUICKLY, UM, THE RISE OF FENTANYL POISONING HAS AND OPIOID POISONING HAS BECOME.
UM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER, 18 TO 45.
AND THE VERY SCARY FACT, AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE GETTING SO MUCH ATTENTION FROM HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS NOW, IS BECAUSE THE 12 TO 18-YEAR-OLD, THEY'RE ON THE CUSP OF IT BECOMING THEIR NUMBER ONE KILLER AS WELL.
SO THAT'S I THINK WHY WE'RE GETTING SUCH A, AN NOW THE ASK FOR US TO COME AND PRESENT.
UM, AND IT SHOWS, ESPECIALLY AFTER COVID, THE RAPID INCREASE.
YOU CAN PURCHASE AN ILLICIT PILL ON THE, ON, YOU KNOW, THROUGH AN EMOJI ON YOUR PHONE AND HAVE IT DELIVERED TO YOUR HOUSE WITHIN 15 MINUTES.
SO FROM, ESPECIALLY DURING COVID, THAT WAS THAT RAPID INCREASE OF FENTANYL POISONING.
SO, UM, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? YOU KNOW, PROBLEM IS THAT FENTANYL IS EVERYWHERE.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? SOLUTION IS EDUCATION, KNOWING THE SIGNS OF AN OVERDOSE AND WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY.
SO I'LL BRIEFLY GO THROUGH THIS.
UM, BASICALLY THE SIGNS OF AN OVERDOSE ARE, ARE VERY SIMPLE.
IF SOMEONE IS FALLING ASLEEP OR UNCONSCIOUS.
IF SOMEONE, IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR EYES AND THEIR CONSTRICTED PINPOINT, UM, PUPILS SLOW CHOKING, BREATHING, THAT SLOW, CHOKING BREATHING, SOME PEOPLE, UH, CONFUSE IT SOMETIMES WITH THEIR SNORING.
BUT WHAT IT IS, IT'S A GURGLING SOUND.
AND, AND IT'S, IT'S BASICALLY THE PERSON IS SUFFOCATING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T CATCH THEIR BREATH.
SO IT'S, SO A FENTANYL POISONING IS A SUFFOCATING POISONING.
NOT TO CONFUSE IT WITH JUST A SNORING, UH, CHOKING OR GURGLING, UH, A LIMP BODY AND PALE BLUE OR COLD SKIN.
THEIR LIPS, THEIR FINGERS ARE PALE AND BLUE.
SO, AND WHAT DO YOU DO? AND WHAT IF YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN OPIOID OVERDOSE? MAYBE THEY'VE HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK.
MAYBE THEY HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF, AND THEY, YOU FEEL THAT MAYBE THEY'RE A DIABETIC AND SOMETHING IS HAPPENING OR SO.
BUT YOU NEVER HAVE TO BE AFRAID TO USE NARCAN RIGHT HERE.
UM, BECAUSE IT ONLY HAS ONE PURPOSE, AND THAT IS TO REVERSE THE, AN OPIOID OVERDOSE.
'CAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS THE FENTANYL SETTLES IN THE RECEPTORS OF YOUR BRAIN THAT THEY, IT SETTLES THERE AND STOPS YOUR BREATHING.
BASICALLY, THE FENTANYL SAYS TO YOUR, TO YOUR BODY, STOP RIGHT NOW.
IT ONLY TAKES FIVE MINUTES TO JUST TO GO INTO A COMA AND TO PA AND TO PASS.
SO IT'S VERY QUICKLY THAT THIS HAPPENS.
[00:40:01]
20 MINUTES LATER WITH, WITH THE, AFTER THE INGESTION OF FENTANYL, IF THERE'S ENOUGH TO KILL YOU, IT ONLY TAKES FIVE MINUTES.SO WHAT HAPPENS THEN IS YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, WELL, I DON'T WANNA USE IT BECAUSE I MAY HURT THEM.
UM, YOU'RE ALSO PROTECTED BY THE GOOD SAMARITAN LAW.
BUT WHAT WE DO IS WE ALWAYS EDUCATE AND TELL PEOPLE TO JUST USE THEIR NARCAN.
THERE ARE TWO DOSES OF NARCAN IN EVERY BOX.
UM, WE DISTRIBUTE THIS FOR FREE BECAUSE WE RECEIVE IT FOR FREE, UM, AS PART OF OUR NONPROFIT AND WHAT WE DO.
SO WE DISTRIBUTE THIS, YES, YOU CAN PURCHASE IT AT WALGREENS, UM, FOR $48 OR CBS.
UH, I HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH HERE IF ANYONE NEEDS ANY.
SO, UM, SO WHAT IT IS, IS, UH, NARCAN IS JUST A NO NOPR, THAT'S ALL IT IS.
OKAY? AND THERE'S ONLY ONE DOSE IN EACH ONE.
SO WE ALWAYS, WHEN WE TRAIN TO HELP PEOPLE, IT'S NOT LIKE THE FLONASE THAT I DID NOT USE THIS MORNING AND SHOULD HAVE, UM, WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU TEST IT OUT BEFORE YOU DON'T TEST IT, OKAY? BECAUSE IT'S THE REAL, IT'S THE REAL THING.
SO ONCE ALL YOU HAVE TO DO, FIRST I RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS SOMEONE IS, AND I'M GONNA LAY THEM ON THE GROUND, OKAY? SO, AND I'M GONNA CALL, UM, I'M GONNA CALL THEIR NAME.
I'M GONNA SAY, SCOTT, WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UP.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, IF YOU ARE ALONE, PUT IT ON SPEAKER AND JUST, YOU KNOW, TALK INTO THE PHONE.
'CAUSE YOU'RE GONNA NEED YOUR HANDS.
IF THERE IS SOMEONE ELSE WITH YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DELEGATE THEM.
CALL 9 1 1 SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS NOW CALLING.
AND WHAT YOU WANNA SAY ON THE PHONE? I AM SUSPECT OF AN OVERDOSE.
I HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS NOT RESPONSIVE.
THAT KINDA HELPS THE TRIAGING A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE NOW EMS KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON.
THEY HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S NOT RESPONSIVE, LET'S GO.
WELL, THEY'RE GONNA GO ANYWAY.
BUT THAT JUST HELPS IN THAT PROCESS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
SO NOW SOMEONE HAS CALLED 9 1 1.
I CARRY IT WITH ME AT ALL TIMES.
I'VE USED IT ON THE STREETS OF DALLAS ON, ON A WOMAN THAT WAS UNCONSCIOUS OF THE STREET.
SO YOU JUST GRAB IT, OPEN IT UP, AND HERE YOU GO.
THIS IS, UM, AND WHO, AND I'M JUST GONNA DESCRIBE WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.
JUST LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE NOSE SPRAY, OKAY? AND ALL IT DOES IS YOU JUST PUT IT BETWEEN YOUR FINGERS AND THEN YOU ADMINISTER IT UP SOMEONE'S NOSE.
YOU'RE GONNA LAY THEM ON THE, ON THE GROUND.
WHAT WE LIKE TO SAY IS LAY SPRAY STAY.
SO YOU'RE GONNA LAY THE PERSON ON THE GROUND, YOU'RE GOING TO SPRAY THE NOSE, SPRAY IN, INTO THEIR NOSTRIL, AND YOU'RE GONNA STAY WITH THE PERSON.
OKAY? SO SCOTT IS NOT, IT'S NOT RESPONDING.
GRAB MY NARCAN, PUT IT BETWEEN MY FINGERS, ADMINISTER IT UP HIS NOSTRIL.
YOU CAN LIFT THEIR NECK A LITTLE BIT, UM, JUST TO OPEN THE PASSAGEWAY.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO IS LET PUT IT ALL THE WAY UP INTO THEIR, NOT INTO THEIR NOSE.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO SPRAY AND IT'S GONNA ONLY HAVE ONE DOSE IN THERE.
AND THEN IT CLICKS INTO PLACE.
AND THEY HAVE SENT ME SOME THAT I CAN USE TO SHOW YOU.
UM, BUT BASICALLY I'M GONNA JUST SPRAY IT RIGHT NOW.
OKAY? SO THEN NOW YOU KNOW, YOU'VE ADMINISTERED AND YOU WAIT A MINUTE AND A MINUTE AND A HALF, HOPEFULLY SCOTT IS NOW RESPONDING TO YOU.
BUT LET'S SAY HE ISN'T, OKAY, STILL NO RESPONSE, STILL ISN'T BREATHING.
YOU'RE GONNA GRAB YOUR OTHER ONE, YOU GRAB YOUR OTHER NARCAN, YOU'RE GONNA ADMINISTER IT IN THE OTHER NOSTRIL, OKAY? SO, BECAUSE YOU CAN USE AS MUCH NARCAN AS YOU HAVE ON YOU IF YOU HAD TO USE IT 10 TIMES, I KNOW OF STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED WHERE THEY'VE USED IT 12 AND 14 TIMES BECAUSE IT'S NOT GONNA DO ANY DAMAGE OTHER TO REVERSE THE OVERDOSE OF THE FENTANYL IN THE BRAIN.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS SCOTT IS STARTING TO RESPOND BECAUSE THE NARCAN WAS ABLE TO GO INTO THE RECEPTORS OF THIS BRAIN, KICK OUT THE FENTANYL AND, AND NOW RESUMING BREATHING.
OKAY? SO SCOTT'S COMING AROUND A LITTLE BIT.
YOU'RE GONNA PUT THE PERSON ON THEIR SIDE IN WHAT'S CALLED THE RECOVERY POSITION, GOOD CHANCE THEY'RE GONNA VOMIT.
SO WE DON'T WANT THEM VOMITING, YOU KNOW, ON THEIR, ON THEIR BACK.
SO WE'RE GONNA PUT THEM ON THEIR SIDE, KINDA LIFT THEIR LEG A LITTLE BIT TO THE SIDE TO SECURE THEM AND SLOWLY LET THEM KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, BECAUSE THE PERSON'S GONNA BE CONFUSED.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
THEY, YOU KNOW, I HAD A GREAT HIGH, I DIDN'T WANT, YOU KNOW, I, I DIDN'T WANT THAT.
OR SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE CONFUSED WHAT HAPPENED.
I JUST TOOK, YOU KNOW, A, A PILL FROM MY FRIEND I DIDN'T KNOW.
SO THEN JUST, YOU KNOW, RUB THEIR BACK CALMLY, SPEAK TO THEM IF THEY BECOME AGITATED, DON'T PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION OF HARM.
UM, HOPEFULLY 9 1 1 IS NOW ON THEIR WAY.
UM, BUT JUST TRY TO EXPLAIN HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THEM TO GO WITH 9 1 1 WITH E BECAUSE THEY CAN RESUME INTO AN OVERDOSE STATUS.
AGAIN, THIS IS, THIS IS A BANDAID.
UM, HOPEFULLY THEY WILL NOT GO INTO AN OVERDOSE STATE
[00:45:01]
AGAIN, BUT THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT WILL HAPPEN.SO YOU WANT THEM TO GO WITH THE MS. 'CAUSE THEN NOW YOU KNOW, THEY CAN TREAT THE PERSON ACCORDINGLY.
SO IF THEY WILL GO, PLEASE ADVISE THEM THAT THAT IS THE SAFEST WAY AND THAT IS THE BEST THING FOR THEM TO DO.
ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT? OKAY, SO THE NEXT SCREEN, PLEASE.
UM, I JUST WENT, THIS IS A SCREEN SHOWING, UM, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS AND THEN WHAT TO DO IN THE EMERGENCY.
UM, AGAIN, CONSTRICTED, PINPOINTED, PUPILS FALLING ASLEEP, SLOW, SHALLOW BREATHING, LIMB, BODY, PALE, BLUE, OR COLD SKIN.
AND I'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THIS ONE, I APOLOGIZE.
UM, HOW DO YOU USE NARCAN? UM, THIS NEXT PICTURE.
UM, SO EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN, EVALUATE YOUR SITUATION.
THIS IS JUST DESCRIBING WHAT TO DO, EVALUATE YOUR SITUATION.
YOU'RE ADMINISTERING N UH, NALOXONE OR NARCAN.
UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU COULD DO RESCUE BREATHS AND CPR AS WELL.
AND, UM, IF SOMEONE IN THAT, IN THAT PROCESS, YOU CAN DO THAT AS WELL.
STAY WITH THE PATIENT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA BE LIKELY CONFUSED OF WHAT HAPPENED AND YOU WANT THEM TO GO WITH 9 1 1.
AND THIS IS, UM, THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
THIS WAS, UM, UH, WE DID A BAND CRAWL AGAINST FENTANYL.
UM, THAT WAS A PICTURE OF, UH, THE ANGEL GARDEN THAT WE HAD THERE.
UM, JUST TO SHOW SOME OF THE, UM, THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF ALL PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WHO HAD PASSED AWAY, AND FAMILIES WHO HAD BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS.
UM, WE AND NOW ARE NOW, DON'T WE ALL, WE DISTRIBUTE THESE.
AND WHAT I'M HOLDING UP RIGHT NOW IS IT'S A MODULAR DISPENSER THAT WE GIVE TO THE BARS WITH, I'M SORRY, BARS, RESTAURANT SCHOOLS, UM, PUBLIC VENUES.
AND THEY PUT THIS ON THE WALL.
IT'S LIGHTWEIGHT AND IT HAS TWO NARCAN IN THERE, SO AT LEAST.
AND THEN USUALLY WE PUT THIS INSTRUCTIONS IN SPANISH HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE IN ENGLISH ON THE BACK.
BUT NOW WE'VE STARTED PUTTING THREE NARCAN IN THERE AND JUST TAPING THE INSTRUCTIONS IN SPANISH ON THERE AS WELL.
UM, OUR NEXT BOXES WILL HAVE, UM, SPANISH AND ENGLISH ON, UM, ON THE BACK.
SO, UM, AND WE HAND THESE OUT BECAUSE THESE WORK, UM, I, I DID A PILOT PROGRAM WHEN I STARTED.
I WENT TO ALL THESE BARS, WELL, NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT I WENT TO 10 AND I GAVE THEM NARCAN.
THEY SAID, YEAH, YEAH, WE NEED IT, WE NEED IT.
I WENT BACK THREE WEEKS LATER AND SAID, HEY, FOLLOWING UP, WHERE'S YOUR NARCAN? OH, IT'S HERE SOMEWHERE.
OR IT'S IN THE MANAGER'S OFFICE, OR IT'S IN THAT DRAWER AND THE MANAGER'S OFFICE IS LOCKED.
SO THAT'S WHEN WE CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA, BECAUSE NOW THEY PUT IT OUTSIDE, BEHIND THE, OR, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE THE MANAGER'S DOOR OR BEHIND THE BAR.
EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE IT IS AND THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO.
SO, UM, SO, AND THEN NOW WE'VE GONE INTO THE, UM, VENDING MACHINES AS WELL, BECAUSE WE WANNA INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY TO, TO NARCAN AND BASED, WHAT WE DID, IT'S BEEN KIND OF IN AN INTERESTING, IS WE, UM, WE'RE USING OLD VENDING MACHINES THAT HAD NO LIFE ANYMORE.
LIKE THE OLD, UH, NYLON VENDING MACHINES.
THE SPOTS FITS PERFECTLY IN THAT.
UM, SO WHAT WE DID IS WE REFURBISHED THEM AND WE HAVE LOCAL ARTISTS, ESPECIALLY FROM THE DEEP BEUM COMMUNITY WHO HAVE, UH, WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED AND PAINTED THEM FOR US, WHICH OFFERS JUST LIKE LIFE TO A MACHINE AND LIFE TO ANOTHER PERSON.
SO THIS THURSDAY WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING AN EVENT AT THE DEEP EL COMMUNITY CENTER WITH ALL 30 OF OUR MACHINES WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE DISTRIBUTING THEM, UM, ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, SO THAT'S KIND OF OUR LAUNCH OF THAT.
WE ALREADY HAVE SIX ACTUALLY OUT IN PLACE.
AND, UM, WE'VE SAVED ABOUT 12 LIVES THAT I KNOW OF SO FAR.
UM, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REPORT THEM.
AND, UH, BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID TO, TO TELL YOU OR TO REPORT WHAT HAPPENED.
BUT THOSE THAT HAVE REPORTED TO US, AND THE BIGGEST THING IS YOU DON'T KNOW WHO YOU'RE GONNA TOUCH.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S LISTENING.
LIKE WHEN WE TALKED TO ALL, YOU KNOW, 500 KIDS THE OTHER DAY, MY ONLY HOPE IS THAT ONE OF 'EM HEARD, RIGHT? AND BECAUSE THEN THEY TELL SOMEONE ELSE AND THEY KNOW, WOW, THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS.
SO THAT IS OUR GOAL, IS TO EDUCATE, DISTRIBUTE NARCAN, UM, TO EVERYONE THAT WE CAN.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRAINING AND HOW TO USE NARCAN? MS. BURLEY? YES.
[00:50:01]
FOR NOW, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOU FOR SUCH AN INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION AND YOUR EFFORTS OF SPREADING NARCAN AND EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE, THE DANGERS AND THE IMPACTS OF THE FENTANYL CRISIS ARE ESSENTIAL AND COMMENDABLE.UM, THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE SPECIFICALLY IS I'M WONDERING ABOUT ANY RESOURCES THAT YOU KNOW, UH, THAT HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN OVERCOMING ADDICTION.
'CAUSE ADDICTION SADLY IMPACTS EVERYONE.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO RECOVERING FROM ADDICTION, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THEY MAY NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE RESOURCES TO HELP THEM IN THEIR PATH TO RECOVERY, OR THEY MAY NOT EVEN BE AWARE.
SO WHAT ARE SOME TIPS YOU HAVE OR ANY RESOURCES YOU MAY BE AWARE OF? THERE IS A NEW WEBSITE AND, AND I CAN PASS IT ON TO KELSEY WHERE THEY, YOU CAN GO, WE JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT AND YOU PUT YOUR ZIP CODE IN AND IT OFFERS ALL THE ADDICTION SERVICES IN THAT AREA.
SO IT'S AN INCREDIBLE, UM, SOURCE OF INFORMATION WHERE YOU CAN PUT THAT ZIP IN AND IT'LL TELL YOU WHERE TO GO.
WE DO WORK WITH A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CARE DALLAS AND OTHER ONES, UM, WHERE THEY, WE WILL DIRECT SOMEONE IF SOMEONE COMES TO US AND SAYS, I NEED HELP.
SO WE HAVE SOME RESOURCES, UM, THAT WE DIRECT PEOPLE TO, BUT NOW WE'RE GONNA START DIRECTING THEM TO THAT WEBSITE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT IS SO VITAL.
BECAUSE I PROMISE YOU, IF WHEN SOMEONE WANTS HELP, THEY WANT IT NOW, THEY DON'T WANNA WAIT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU, AND YOU'RE GONNA CALL A LOCATION AND IT SAYS, OH, I COULD TALK TO YOU IN TWO WEEKS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WHEN IT COMES TO ADDICTION, YOU NEED, AND SOMEONE SAYS, I NEED HELP NOW WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THOSE RESOURCES.
SO IN OUR VENDING MACHINE, AND NOT ALL, ALL, ALL OF OUR MATERIAL, WE'RE GONNA BE INCLUDING THAT SITE WHERE YOU CAN JUST GO PLUG IN YOUR ZIP CODE AND GET ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOU NEED, UM, WITH, UM, FOR ADDICTION.
AND I THINK THAT'LL BE THE EASIEST ROUTE.
I HAVE A COMMENT THE QUICKEST WAY.
UM, MS. LEY FOR THAT POINT, AND, UM, I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER WHITE FROM DISTRICT NINE HAS A COMMENT.
THEN I WILL GO TO OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO MAY WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS OR PROVIDE COMMENTS.
THIS IS JUST A COMMENT TO WHAT YOU SAID.
UH, A DA RECOGNIZES ADDICTION AS A DISABILITY.
SO IT'S NOT JUST, IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE THAT DI WITH DISABILITIES THAT HAVE ADDICTION.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT POINT.
I DID ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS THAT UNDER TITLE ONE, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE IN A RECOVERY PROGRAM RESULTING FROM ADDICTION ARE ALSO COVERED.
UM, I WOULD NOW LIKE TO GO TO COM.
START WITH COMMISSIONER REEDY, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
WE HAVE, I HAVE READ A LOT ABOUT IT, BUT THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR SOMEBODY SHOWING ME HOW TO USE THE NARCAN.
I'M GOING TO A BAR THIS EVENING.
NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO COMMISSIONER WHITE FROM DISTRICT NINE.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MS? I DO.
UM, MS. PERSONALLY, AND I KNOW EACH OTHER
I SAW MY OWN SON NEED THREE NARCAN TO SURVIVE.
ER DIDN'T THINK HE WAS GOING TO MAKE IT AND IT WAS NOT THE PILL HE THOUGHT HE WAS TAKING.
UM, HE'S NOW TWO YEARS CLEAN FROM FENTANYL.
WHEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS FENTANYL, I JUST LOOKED HIM IN THE FACE.
I SAID, SO YOU LIKE RUSSIAN ROULETTE? DO YOU HAD HE JUST LOOKED LIKE I'D SLAPPED HIM.
AND I COULD USE SOME NARCAN, BY THE WAY.
UM, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE NARCAN THAT DAY WITH HIM.
AND, UM, MOST FRIGHTENING THING I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED IN MY LIFE.
ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU.
UM, BECAUSE YOU LIVED IT, YOU FELT THE FEAR AND YOU'RE SPREADING THE MESSAGE AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO TALK ABOUT IT.
UM, BECAUSE THAT STIGMA, WE, WE OFTEN SAY, OH, THAT STIGMA IS GOING AWAY.
IT'S NOT, NO, IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.
UM, PEOPLE FEEL, OH, THAT'S SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN TAKEN DRUGS.
YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S A PERSON BEHIND THERE.
[00:55:01]
THAT'S AN ARTIST.THAT'S A LOVELY, THAT'S JUST A PERSON WHO DESERVES YOUR TIME, YOUR ATTENTION, UM, YOUR LOVE.
SO THANK YOU BECAUSE TALKING ABOUT IT HELPS DISSOLVE THAT.
ONE MORE THING, I'M A DEEP EL ARTIST BY THE WAY.
UM, AND WE STILL HAVE THREE MACHINES THAT NEED PAINTINGS, SO YOU MAY HAVE TO, THERE YOU GO.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER WHITE FOR YOUR QUESTION.
UM, NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO COMMISSIONER COUNCIL FROM DISTRICT TWO.
DO YOU WISH TO ASK QUESTIONS? YOU'RE ON MUTE.
I'M NOT SURE I KEEP GOING ON MUTE AND I'M NOT SURE HOW I'M DOING IT.
UM, NO, I JUST WANTED, I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY THANKS AND FOR THOSE THAT WANTING AND NEEDING A NARCAN SUPPLY QUICKLY THAT AREN'T IN THE ROOM WITH OUR PRESENTER, I KNOW THAT, UH, MICHAEL WYATT AT FULL CITY ROOSTER AND THE CEDARS ON OXFORD HAS A LARGE SUPPLY AND IS ONE LEADER ING NARCAN IN THE CEDARS IN DISTRICT.
ALRIGHT, TH THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER.
NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO COMMISSIONER H****R.
PARDON ME? COMMISSIONER H****R.
COMMISSIONER BALLOU, DISTRICT 10.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTER? YES, I DO.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, UH, INFORMATIVE AS THE PARENT OF A SOPHOMORE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS.
UM, BUT THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS, DO YOU HAVE A STAT ON THE NUMBER OF FIRST TIME, UM, USERS OR GHOST OR WHATEVER OF PEOPLE WHO DIE? I KNOW IT'S A, IT'S A BIG NUMBER, BUT I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THAT IS.
LIKE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE TOOK THAT ADDERALL, FAKE ADDERALL PILL OR SOMETHING THAT HAVE DIED FROM JUST ONE USAGE OF FENTANYL.
SO WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE? SO WHAT THE NUMBER IS, OR NOT PERCENTAGE LIKE NUMBERS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF STAT, WHATEVER, HOWEVER YOU HAVE IT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF STAT ON THAT? YOU KNOW, OR MAYBE LIKE, OKAY, I CAN GET BACK WITH YOU AN EXACT NUMBER.
I, BECAUSE I, I CAN ASK THE DEA BUT THE SITUATION IS THAT EIGHT OF THE OUT OF THE 10 PILLS HAVE FENTANYL.
SO WE CAN KIND OF WALK BACKWARDS INTO THIS.
EIGHT OUT OF 10 HAVE FENTANYL AND OUT OF THOSE ONE PERSON DIES AND THE REST OKAY.
HAVE ENOUGH TO GET THEM HIGH IN ADDICTION.
SO ONE OUT OF 10 KINDA SITUATION IF THAT HELPS YOU.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER BALLOU FOR THIS.
NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER HUSHKA, DISTRICT 13 DE DO YOU NO QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE SAID.
AND, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR INSIGHTFUL PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER HUSHKA.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE GO TO COMMISSIONER LINDSAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
UM, IF WE NEEDED, IF WE WANTED TO VOLUNTEER, HELP YOU DISTRIBUTE PLACES THAT WE ATTEND AND GO, WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST AVENUE TO DO THAT IS TO GO TO OUR WEBSITE, WHICH IS JE.ORG AND YOU CAN SEND US A MESSAGE AND WE RESPOND THE SAME DAY.
AND WE JUST STARTED A CALENDAR WHERE WE'RE PUTTING LIKE, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL SO THAT YOU COULD JUST SIGN UP AND THEN I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR HELP
THANK YOU SO MUCH COMMISSIONER LINDSAY FOR YOUR QUESTION.
AND WE SINCERELY WISH TO APPRECIATE YOU, MS. PERLEY, FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BRIEF US ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT CRISIS AND FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE AND DOING ALL YOU CAN TO SAVE THESE LIVES.
'CAUSE EVERY HUMAN BEING IS PRECIOUS AND WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT BEING ABLE TO LIVE A LIFE WITH DIGNITY IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME.
WE ARE NOW MOVING TO THE NEXT PRESENTER IN THE BRIEFING PORTION OF OUR AGENDA.
IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO WELCOME THE PRESIDENT AND CEO MS. CARRIE M STITT.
SHE WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF YOUTH 180, AN INNOVATIVE LEADER HELPING YOUTH AND FAMILIES NAVIGATE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES THROUGH PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND CLINICAL PROGRAMS. MS. DIT, THE FLOOR IS NOW YOURS.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK, UM, COMMISSIONER WHITE FOR INVITING ME, UM, TO PRESENT TO YOU ALL TODAY.
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I DID NOT REALIZE THAT I WAS GOING TO BE GOING AFTER MS. CYNTHIA PERLEY, AND SO I HOPE THAT, UH, I CAN LOOK UP TO HER STANDARD.SHE IS AN INCREDIBLE PERFORMER AND LIVEE IS DOING INCREDIBLE WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO I WANNA TALK TO YOU GUYS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS SMART OR THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT YOUTH 180 AND WHAT WE DO.
UM, SO AS UH, PREVIOUSLY STATED, WE ARE AN INNOVATIVE LEADER HELPING YOUTH AND FAMILIES NAVIGATE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES THROUGH PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND CLINICAL PROGRAMS. UM, NEXT SLIDE.
I'LL START WITH OUR PREVENTION PROGRAM FIRST.
UM, OR ACTUALLY LET ME TALK ABOUT THE, UM, THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL OF OUR, UH, INNER SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ACES, PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN AN INDIVIDUAL'S, UM, DEVELOPMENT, NOT ONLY AS A CHILD, BUT THEIR FUTURE AS ADULTS.
AS ACES HAVE THE, UM, CAPACITY TO PREDISPOSE ADULTS TO VARIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS AS WELL AS, UM, SUBSTANCE USE, MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, UH, OF THAT NATURE.
SO 86% OF OUR SERVICES, UM, WERE DEDICATED TO BLACK AND LATINO FAMILIES, AND 91% OF OUR FAMILIES SERVED BY YOUTH 180 TREATMENT SERVICES WERE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED IN OUR 2024 FISCAL YEAR.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT OUR SERVICES IS THAT WE'RE MADE UP OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM IN THAT SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH CAN BE TREATED BY BOTH OF OUR, BY OUR CLINICIANS AT THE SAME TIME.
TRADITIONALLY, WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU WILL HAVE TO GO TO ONE, UM, TREATMENT PROVIDER FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS AND ANOTHER PROVIDER FOR YOUR SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT.
UM, OUR CLINICIANS ARE DULY LICENSED AND ABLE TO HANDLE BOTH OF THOSE, UM, ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR TWO DIFFERENT THERAPISTS OR TREATMENT, UM, PROVIDERS.
UM, SO WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN AROUND SINCE 1984.
UM, WE ORIGINALLY WERE FOUNDED, UM, AND WERE CALLED DALLAS CHALLENGE AT THE TIME.
UM, WE WERE FOUNDED TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE RISING TIDE OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IN ADOLESCENCE.
UM, AT THAT TIME IN 1984, MARIJUANA WAS THE BIG CONCERN.
NOW FOLLOWING MS. ALLY'S UM, UH, PRESENTATION, WE NOW KNOW THAT THERE ARE MUCH DEADLIER DRUGS OUT THERE THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON SERVING ANYONE AND EVERYONE, MEANING OUR CLINICIANS ARE BILINGUAL.
UM, AND MOST OF OUR STAFF THAT IS IN OUR PREVENTION PROGRAM AND IN OUR INTERVENTION PROGRAMS ARE ALSO BILINGUAL.
UM, WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT YOUR SERVICES OR YOUR QUALITY OF SERVICES SHOULD NOT BE DICTATED BY YOUR ABILITY OR INABILITY TO PAY.
HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF OUR CLIENTS, AS I'VE PREVIOUSLY STATED, UM, FALL BELOW WELL BELOW FEDERAL PE POVERTY, UM, LEVEL GUIDELINES.
SO OUR PREVENTION SERVICES IS OUR WIDEST NET, UM, THAT I LIKE TO CALL IT.
UM, WE ARE ACROSS FOUR COUNTIES IN NORTH TEXAS, AND THAT'S DALLAS HUNT, KAUFMAN AND ROCKWELL COUNTIES.
UM, ALL OF OUR PREVENTION SERVICES ARE FREE AND THEY ARE GENERALLY EMBEDDED IN THE COMMUNITY IN PLACES LIKE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
UM, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, WE WORK WITH DALLAS HOUSING AUTHORITY.
UM, AND SO NOT ONLY DO WE PROVIDE PREVENTION SERVICES TO, UH, YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT WE ALSO INCORPORATE THEM, UH, THEIR FAMILIES INTO THOSE SERVICES.
SO, OUR NEWEST PROGRAM THAT, UH, WE RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE WHAT WE NOTICED WAS THAT ONE KIDS PASSED, OR ONCE KIDS, UM, MOVE PAST THE POINT OF PREVENTION SERVICES, THEIR NEXT STEP WAS TREATMENT.
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IF THEY DIDN'T MEET THE FULL CRITERIA FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, THEY COULD NOT THEN QUALIFY FOR TREATMENT.SO BASICALLY WE HAD TO WAIT TILL EITHER THEY HOPEFULLY RESOLVED AND STOPPED USING SUBSTANCES, OR THEY STARTED TO DEVELOP, UM, THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER OR THEY GOT WORSE.
SO OUR INTERVENTION PROGRAM IS, UM, SOMEWHAT OF THE STOP GAP FOR OUR LAST STOP GAP FOR ENTERING INTO TREATMENT SERVICES.
THESE, UM, SERVICES MIRROR OUR PREVENTION SERVICES, MEANING THAT THEY ARE ALSO EMBEDDED IN THE COMMUNITY, IN THE SCHOOLS' AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. UM, HOUSING AUTHORITIES, THEY'RE MOSTLY GEARED PRIMARILY FOR, UM, GRADE SEVEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE, UM, BECAUSE THAT'S THE AGE THAT WE START TO SEE MORE EXPERIMENTATION WITH SUBSTANCES.
UM, AND WE ALSO INCORPORATE THE FAMILY INTO THOSE SERVICES AS WELL.
AND THEN LASTLY, UM, YOU CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE IS OUR CLINICAL TREATMENT SERVICES.
RIGHT NOW, UM, OUR SERVICES WE'RE LICENSED TO SERVE 13 TO 17 YEAR OLDS, AND WE ARE ALSO LICENSED TO SERVE ADULTS.
HOWEVER, WE ARE ONLY GOING TO BE SERVING MALES, UM, BECAUSE NEXUS, UH, FAMILY RECOVERY CENTER, UM, SERVES THE FEMALE POPULATION.
AND, UM, WE ARE ONLY GOING TO BE SERVING THE LATER PHASES OF ADOLESCENTS.
SO ADOLESCENTS RUNS FROM 13 TO 24, SO OUR ADULT SERVICES ARE GOING TO BE FOR MALES AGES 18 TO 24.
UM, WE ARE CURRENTLY ON ALL MEDICAID PANELS AND WE ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SERVE UNINSURED, UM, INDIVIDUALS.
AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE, OUR SERVICES ARE, UM, PROVIDED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
UM, AND WE ALSO SEE CLIENTS FROM DALLAS, ELLIS HUNT, KAUFMAN, NAVARRO, AND ROCKWELL COUNTIES.
UM, WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THE TREATMENT CLIMATE IN DALLAS SPECIFICALLY FOR ADOLESCENTS IS THERE ARE CURRENTLY ZERO INPATIENT TREATMENT SERVICES FOR ADOLESCENTS WHO ARE EITHER UNINSURED OR INSURED BY MEDICAID.
WITH TEXAS RANKING NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTRY FOR THE NUMBER OF UNINSURED CHILDREN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A LARGE NUMBER OF KIDS THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO TREATMENT SERVICES.
PICKING BACKING A LITTLE BIT OFF OF MS. PERLEY, UM, PRESENTATION WITH FENTANYL, BEING NOW IN THE STREETS AND READILY AVAILABLE TO OUR YOUTH INPATIENT, NOT HAVING INPATIENT RESOURCES IS A HUGE GAP IN OUR, UM, IN OUR RESPONSE.
SO WHAT WE DO IS WE TRY TO PROVIDE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE OUTPATIENT SERVICES THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS THAT WE'RE TAKING KIDS ON THAT ACTUALLY REALLY NEED INPATIENT SERVICES, BUT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO REFER THEM, OUR CLINICIANS NOW ARE SEEING THEM ON A DAILY BASIS AS OPPOSED TO A TRADITIONAL OUTPATIENT WHERE YOU MAY BE SEEING, UM, THREE TIMES A WEEK.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ALSO BRINGING ONLINE IS MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT FOR ADOLESCENTS.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS, THINK OF IT LIKE, UM, AFTER YOU HAVE FOUND A, A YOUNG PERSON WHO'S MAYBE OVERDOSED, UM, AND MS. PERLEY, UM, NARCAN THAT SHE HAS DISTRIBUTED HAS BROUGHT THIS PERSON BACK.
THIS PERSON TYPICALLY NEEDS, UM, INPATIENT TREATMENT SERVICES AND GENERALLY WHAT THEY WILL ALSO RECEIVE IS MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT.
HOWEVER, THE INPATIENT IS NOT AVAILABLE, BUT WE ARE BRINGING ON THE MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT.
WHAT THAT DOES IS, UM, WE USE A, UH, MEDICATION CALLED BUPRENORPHINE.
UM, IT IS A PARTIAL AGONIST, IT'S NOT A FULL OPIOID.
UM, AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT ESSENTIALLY ELIMINATES THE YOUNG PERSON'S CRAVINGS, DESIRES, DREAMS TO USE THE OPIOIDS, WHILE ALSO ELIMINATING
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THE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS. WHAT THAT ALLOWS US TO DO IS NOW WE'VE ELIMINATED THE BIGGEST BARRIER, WHICH IS SOMEBODY'S, UM, CRAVINGS, DESIRES, DREAMS TO UTILIZE.NOW WE'RE ABLE TO COME IN AND PROVIDE TREATMENT SERVICES AND REALLY ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THEIR SUBSTANCE USE, WHICH IN OUR EXPERIENCE WITH ADOLESCENTS, IT IS GENERALLY A RESULT OF UNTREATED TRAUMA ASSOCIATED WITH ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES.
ADDITIONALLY, WHAT IS ALSO MISUNDERSTOOD ABOUT BUPRENORPHINE IS THAT IT DRASTICALLY REDUCES THAT PERSON'S ABILITY TO OVERDOSE.
SO WHILE YES, THEY TECHNICALLY CAN STILL BE ON BUPRENORPHINE AND STILL USE FENTANYL, WE DO NOT PRESCRIBE BUPRENORPHINE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE ENGAGED IN A TREATMENT UM, PROGRAM.
AND THEY MUST ALSO CONTINUE TO DRUG TEST.
SO IT'S A LIFESAVING, UM, IT'S A LIFESAVING MEDICATION, UM, AND GENERALLY ONE THAT WOULD NOT BE, UM, AVAILABLE TO ADOLESCENTS.
SO THAT IS, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE COMING ON LINE, UM, TO TRY TO CREATE THE MOST ROBUST, UM, RESPONSE SYSTEM TO THE OPIOID AND SUBSTANCE USE EPIDEMIC THAT WE'RE SEEING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT OFF OF MS. PERCY'S PRESENTATION AS WELL, IN WHICH WE HAVE KIDS WHO, WHEN THEY COME IN, WE DRUG TEST THEM AND MANY OF THEM ARE USING PILLS OFF THE STREET.
THEY'RE THINKING THAT THEY'RE TAKING A BAR OR A XANAX OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND DON'T REALIZE, UM, WHEN THEY COME BACK POSITIVE FOR FENTANYL THAT THEY'VE ACTUALLY TAKEN FENTANYL.
UM, BUT IT'S MUCH EASIER AND CHEAPER TO GET ILLICIT PILLS OFF THE STREET THAN IT IS FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED FOR THEIR FAMILIES TO TAKE TIME OFF OF WORK TO TAKE THEM TO THE DOCTOR TO BE SEEN.
UM, AND MOST OF THE TIME WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN OUR EXPERIENCE IS THAT THE YOUNG PERSON IS GOING TO HAVE THE FEELINGS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THEY'RE GONNA TALK TO THEIR FAMILY, OR NOT THEIR FAMILY, I'M SORRY, THEIR FRIENDS FIRST BEFORE THEY TALK WITH THEIR FAMILY.
AND SO THE KID THAT IS ALSO ALREADY DEALING WITH THE SAME THING AND MAY HAVE AN OLDER BROTHER WHO HAS A CONNECTION TO, UM, THESE PILLS THAT HAVE MADE, YOU KNOW, LITTLE SCOTTY WHO WE JUST TALKED ABOUT WHO HAD AN OVERDOSE FEEL BETTER, UM, HE'S NOW TELLING HIS FRIEND JOHNNY THAT, HEY, I TAKE THESE PILLS AND THEY MAKE ME FEEL BETTER.
THAT IS WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO COMBAT HERE, IS, UM, WE WANT KIDS TO HAVE AS MUCH INTERVENTION AS POSSIBLE AND AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, THE MORE WE CAN INTERVENE IN A CHILD'S LIFE AND GET THEM THE APPROPRIATE CARE AND SERVICES, THE BETTER OFF IT IS IN THE LONG TERM OR IN THE LIFESPAN OF THAT PERSON.
SO HERE IS OUR CONTACT INFORMATION.
UM, AS CYNTHIA UH, ALSO STATED, WE TRY TO GET PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
UM, SUBSTANCE USE AND TREATMENT IS A MINUTE, IS A ISSUE OF MINUTES AND SECONDS.
UM, ONCE ONE, ONCE SOMEBODY IS OPEN TO RECEIVING SERVICES, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO SERVICES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
UM, UM, SO WE TRY TO STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS AS MUCH AS WE CAN AS WELL.
UM, ON THE SCREEN OR, UM, BEFORE YOU ARE THE VARIOUS CONTACT, UM, INFORMATION FOR OUR EITHER MANAGERS OF OUR INTERVENTION PROGRAM, WHICH IS LAURA MENDOZA, UM, FOR OUR PREVENTION PROGRAM IS LAKEISHA JONES HILL.
AND THEN FOR OUR TREATMENT SERVICES, UM, WE UTILIZE OUR ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR WHO WILL HELP EXPEDITE AND STREAMLINE INDIVIDUALS GETTING INTO TREATMENT SERVICES, UM, SHOULD THEY QUALIFY
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FOR THEM.UM, SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR HEAR ANY FEEDBACK THAT YOU MAY HAVE FOR ME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. STIFF, FOR SUCH AN INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION.
AND WE ARE GREAT FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THIS, THESE YOUTH AND HE THEIR FAMILIES.
I DO NOT HAVE A QUESTION AT THIS POINT, BUT I DO WANT TO KNOW ABOUT ANY RESOURCES THAT YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF THAT HELPS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
UM, SO WE UTILIZE, UM, ALL OF OUR SERVICES THAT WE HAVE HERE ARE A DA COMPLIANT AND OUR TREATMENT CENTER, UM, AT 2 0 1, UH, SOUTH TYLER STREET IS COMPLETELY A DA COMPLIANT.
UM, SO WE ARE ABLE TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
UM, OUTSIDE OF THAT IT, I MEAN, I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU ALSO TALKING WITH METROCARE, UM, FOR TREATMENT SERVICES FOR ADOLESCENTS.
THERE JUST AREN'T VERY MANY OPTIONS OUT THERE, UM, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE INSURED BY MEDICAID OR WHO DO NOT HAVE ANY INSURANCE WHATSOEVER.
SO FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, YOU DO NOT TAKE CARE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COVERED BY MEDICAID? NO, WE DO.
BUT THERE AREN'T VERY MANY OPTIONS OUT THERE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MEDICAID OR WHO DON'T HAVE INSURANCE.
SO OUTSIDE OF US FOR ADOLESCENT TREATMENT, METRO CARE, UM, IS THE ONLY OTHER ONE THAT I KNOW OF.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT, MS. MST.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO START BY ASKING COMMISSIONERS IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS STARTING WITH COMMISSIONER REEDY DISTRICT ONE, JUST A GENERAL QUESTION AND WHOEVER WANTS TO ANSWER IT CAN DO ALL EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND SQUAD CARS IN DALLAS CARRY NARCAN? YES, THEY DO.
POLICE DON'T NECESSARILY CARRY NARCAN.
UM, MA'AM, IF YOU CAN BE SO KIND TO GO TO THE MIC TO MAKE YOUR COMMENT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO HEAR YOU CLEARLY.
WOULD I NOT ALL VEHICLE OR NOT ALL? CAN WE TURN THE MICROPHONE ON PLEASE? I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
UM, WHAT I'VE BEEN NOTIFIED IS THAT, UM, NOT ALL POLICE HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND IT'S NOT ON ALL VEHICLES.
UM, I DO KNOW THAT DART DOES NOT HAVE, UM, NARCAN, UM, AS WELL.
YOU MEAN DART SECURITY OFFICERS DON'T CARRY IT.
OH, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER REVY FOR YOUR QUESTION.
NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER TOL, DISTRICT TWO.
UM, I DO, AM I I'M, I DO NOT HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I AM, UM, WANTING TO A THANK YOU AND, UH, AS A DALLAS ISD TEACHER, I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE SERVICES THAT YOU OFFER.
UM, BUT I WAS GOING TO POINT TO POINT OUT ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES WITH THE NARCAN, SOME OF OUR OFFICIAL PROGRAMS IN DALLAS IS THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIABILITY ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH USING IT.
SO I THINK THAT'S AN AREA FOR EDUCATION FOR ALL OF US, THAT IT DOES NO HARM EXCEPT FOR REVERSING THE DRUG.
AND A LOT OF TIMES, I KNOW DART INDICATED TO ME AT ONE POINT ON THE PHONE THAT THEY WOULD NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT LIABILITY ISSUES.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT POINT.
COMMISSIONER COUNCIL, NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER WHITE DISTRICT NINE.
HI CARRIE, NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT ANDREW TOOK ME TO THE MEETING THAT DAY TO MEET YOU.
UM, COUPLE OF THINGS, UM, THAT I GET FROM MY SON WHEN THEY'RE ON B BUPRENORPHINE, UH, THEY CAN'T GET THE HIGH LIKE THEY WANT TO GET.
HE WAS VERY FRUSTRATED WITH HIS RELAPSE.
UM, AND IN MY CASE, MY SON WAS BRUTALLY MOLESTED BY A PASTOR AND HE DID WHEN IT WAS 10 TO 12, AND HE DID
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FIND THROUGH THE TRIAL UNTIL THEY RELEASED HIM, THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS RELEASED HIM ON, ON A TECHNICALITY AND THAT'S WHEN HE FOUND DRUGS.SO, AND OF COURSE YOU WERE AT PROMISE HOUSE AT ONE TIME AND HE WAS TOO.
UM, SO WE GO BACK WAYS, WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW IT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT ALL THOSE STEPS ARE, OR HOW MY SON IS SOBER NOW.
IT TOOK ALL OF IT TOGETHER, SO THANKS FOR COMING.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WHITE FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER BLUE DISTRICT 10.
I HAVE NO COMMENTS, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY.
AND NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER HUKA, DISTRICT 13.
UH, NO QUESTIONS, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, COMMISSIONER LINDSAY DISTRICT 14.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER LINDSAY.
AND WE SINCERELY WISH TO ONCE AGAIN, APPRECIATE YOU MS. DIT, FOR TAKING THE TIME OF YOUR DAY TO COME AND BRIEF US ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT AND SHARE WITH US THE, THE WORK YOU'RE DOING TO SAVE E LIVES OF THESE YOUTH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ANNOUNCEMENTS.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MR. CHRIS GRAVES, OUR HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER TO MAKE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT BUSINESS CARDS FOR COMMISSIONERS.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT SHERIFF AL CONLEY.
SO JUST A VERY BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT.
WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS ON ORDERING BUSINESS CARDS FOR THE COMMISSION.
WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE A VERY SHORT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE HAD SENT PROOFS TO ALL THE COMMISSION MEMBERS WITH THE CONTACT INFORMATION YOU'VE ASKED US TO INCLUDE.
IF YOU CAN JUST PLEASE TAKE A SECOND TO REVIEW THAT EMAIL, LET US KNOW THAT THE EMAIL ADDRESS AND IF YOU WANT YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER ON THERE AS WELL, IF THAT'S CORRECT AS WELL.
IF YOU COULD LET US KNOW BY THURSDAY, THAT WOULD BE GREAT SO THAT WAY WE COULD GO AHEAD AND PLACE THE ORDER.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO US.
THANK YOU MR. GRAVES, FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING UPDATES FROM YOU WITH REGARDS TO THIS.
I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN MY BY MAKING ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THIS MONTH IN THE INTEREST OF MAINTAINING TRANSPARENCY.
I WANTED TO DISCUSS ABOUT OUR MEETINGS, ABOUT HOW OUR MEETINGS RUN AS A BODY.
SEVERAL COMMISSIONERS HAVE REQUESTED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PLANNING STAGES, AND A SUGGESTION WAS BROUGHT UP TO BRING UP TWO POSSIBLE TOPICS OF INTEREST TO THE CHAIR AND DISCUSS WITH COMMISSIONERS TO IDENTIFY SHARED GOALS AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
KINDLY BE ADVISED THAT THIS SUGGESTION IS ALREADY BEING FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH CONVERSATIONS TAKING PLACE AT EACH YEAR'S.
FIRST MEETINGS, JUST LIKE LAST MONTH.
THIS INCLUDES DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE ANNUAL REPORTS AND ITEMS COMMISSIONERS REQUEST TO BE INCLUDED.
ON THAT NOTE, COMMISSIONERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO SHARE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRESENTERS THEY ARE INTERESTED IN FOR FUTURE MEETINGS, WHICH WILL HELP US IN PLANNING THE FORECAST.
YOUR INSIGHTS ARE ALWAYS VALUED AND APPRECIATED.
I ALSO WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO AN IMPORTANT ISSUE REGARDING THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
IN SEPTEMBER, 2024, 17 STATES, INCLUDING TEXAS, BROUGHT UPON A COURT CASE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEEMING SECTION 5 0 4 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973 UNCONSTITUTIONAL UNDER THE SPENDING CLAUSE.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, SECTION 5 0 4 IS A CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION THAT DEFINES DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION AND CREATES A FRAMEWORK FOR ITS PREVENTION.
THIS LAW STATES THAT ENTITIES RECEIVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF ABILITY WHEN PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WITH THIS COURT CASE KNOWN AS TEXAS VERSUS BERO SERO ATTORNEY GENERALS WANT TO CHALLENGE PORTIONS OF THE REGULATIONS THAT RELATE TO COMMUNITY INTEGRATION AND THE OLMSTED DECISION, WHICH REQUIRES STATES TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE MOST INTEGRATED SETTING POSSIBLE.
THE INTEGRATION REGULATION PROTECTS OUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE
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IN OUR COMMUNITIES WITH SUPPORT AND NOT BE SEGREGATED IN SEPARATE INSTITUTIONS AND CLASSROOMS. THIS LAWSUIT IS VERY CONCERNING IN THAT THE ELIMINATION OF SECTION 5 0 4 MEANS THERE WILL BE NO CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, WHICH COULD ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT ON OTHER LAWS, INCLUDING THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.COMMISSIONERS ON THEIR PART ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO ADVOCATE IN THEIR OWN WAYS AS THESE LAWS ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY TO LIVE PRODUCTIVE AND INDEPENDENT LIVES.
THIS CONCLUDES MY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO OPEN THE FLOOR TO COMMISSIONERS THAT MAY WISH TO ANNOUNCE STARTING WITH COMMISSIONER REY DISTRICT ONE.
NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER TOWNSVILLE, DISTRICT TWO.
NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER WHITE, DISTRICT NINE.
NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER BALLOU, DISTRICT 10.
YES, I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT, UM, DALLAS HAS THE HONOR OF HOSTING THE NATIONAL DOWN SYNDROME CONGRESS CONVENTION IN JULY OF THIS YEAR AT THE HILTON ANOL.
IT'LL TAKE PLACE FROM JULY 24TH TO 27TH.
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE DOWN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME IN THEIR FAMILY OR THEIR COMMUNITY THAT THEY HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO ATTEND.
BUT THE TRAVEL AND HOTEL MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
BUT THIS, UH, THIS IS GOING ON HERE IN OUR HOMETOWN, THE REGISTRATION FEES ARE NICE AND THERE'S LOTS OF GREAT INFORMATION AROUND, UM, DOWN SYNDROME, AROUND PEOP, YOU KNOW, HELPING PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY AND HOW, INCLUDING LIVING SITUATIONS, BUDGETARY, HOW TO CREATE INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR PEOPLE WITH IDD.
SO IT'S AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE IN DALLAS AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER BLUE FOR INFORMING US ABOUT THIS.
WE'LL CERTAINLY BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR INFORMATION AS TIME GETS CLOSER.
NEXT WE GO TO COMMISSIONER HUSKA, DISTRICT 13.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE GO TO COMMISSIONER LINDSAY, DISTRICT 14.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER LINDSAY.
AT THIS POINT, IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED, I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED.
OKAY, I SECOND, SECOND, SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR? ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ALL OPPOSED? APPARENTLY THERE ARE NO OPPOSITIONS IN THAT CASE.
THE MEETING HAS BEEN ADJOURNED.
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 3:29 PM THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES, AND WE MOST DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT MONTH.