Ridgewood Access Committee Meeting Minutes 20170615

Ridgewood’s ACCESS Committee
Revised Meeting Minutes June 15, 2017

The meeting was opened at 7:40pm.                                                                                                                                 

Present: Robin Ritter, Martha Megill Salta, Erica Dunckley, Debi Glennon, Jesse Schwartzman, Gail Tamirian-Mandeli, Amy Stoller, Anne Burton Walsh, Lesley Linker, Ines Bunza, Joanne Van Sant, Jack Dean,Paul Aronsohn

Item 1: Welcome                                                                                                                                                                Ines welcomed everyone to the meeting.                                                                                                      

Action Item: Approval of the May 2017 Meeting Minutes

Item 2: Housing                                                                                                                                                        

Action Item follow-up: Robin Ritter reported on look into the Support for Shared Housing (SHA) as a resource from which we might adapt our own survey.   Based on the information she brought to the group it was decided this was not a good resource for us at this time.        

Discussion continued regarding the importance of knowing the status of residents in Ridgewood who need supportive housing now and into the future. Identify the status of residents; determine methodology to advocate for housing and focus a plan of support.

June Action Items:
Amy Stoller to follow up with the Home and School Association to see if the Directors can provide an estimate of potential housing needs.   The target is children who are in school now whose parents hope to remain in Ridgewood and seek housing for their children.    

Robin Ritter will reach out to Gail in the Ridgewood School system to gather statistics as well particularly middle school to high school.                                                                                                                        

Item 3: Employment                                                                                                                                                           The Access Committee continues to discuss strategies to engage the community business leadership for meaningful work opportunities. The discussion focused on how to bring the community together to talk about the business benefits for employing people with disabilities.

Action Items
Robin Ritter and Paul Aronsohn will research the information that provides tax benefits to businesses that provide employment to people with developmental disabilities.

Joanne Van Sant will follow up on the possibility of a meeting either in person, or online with the committee and Dr Carter. Dr. Erik Carter has designed and implemented a successful community development “world café” as well as some strategies for the Faith Community to advocate and provide opportunities for meaningful employment. Joanne will work with Robin to set up a meeting at the library in order to use the video conferencing technology.

Item 4: New Business

Gail Tamirian-Mandeli announced that LOU will be hosting the Club LOU 17 dance night on July 28 2017, 7-11pm. The event will be held at the Park West Loft 30 Oak Street in Ridgewood. The event is open to all adults with developmental disabilities.                                                                                                                                                       

Item 5: Old Business The ACCESS Committee decided it will meet throughout the summer.

Minutes respectively submitted by Joanne Van Sant

The Next Meeting is July 20, 2017 in first floor Senior’s Lounge Village Hall 7:30pm