Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee Summary Minutes – May 17, 2007

Purpose:  To review the statue of procedural matters and discuss two topics of interest regarding cultural and linguistic competency for potential recommendations to NCD.

Consistent with the Federal ACA provisions, Designated Federal Official (DFO), Dr. Gerrie Hawkins called the meeting to order at the appointed/announced time. After the roll call of CDAC members in attendance, the NCD Liaison to CDAC, Milton Aponte, JD., and gave the welcome and opening remarks about his perspective on the agency’s appreciation of the work and commitment demonstrated by the committee. He urged finding ways for even greater involvement in NCD’s priorities. He also underscored his ongoing support of addressing unmet needs for people with disabilities for diverse backgrounds. He looked forward to continuing work with the committee for whatever remaining period that his appointment lasts and informed the meeting participants about the recent successful renewal of the CDAC charter (at the NCD quarterly meeting),

Procedural Summary:
CDAC members were presented during roll call. Welcome was provided by Designated Federal Official, Dr. Gerrie Hawkins in the absence of the NCD Council Liaison.  She indicated that their Liaison presented the committee report at the April 2007 NCD quarterly meeting in Atlanta, GA (See Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee (CDAC) Report to the National Council on Disability (NCD) Quarterly Meeting Report (April 16-17, 2007). The April report included the CDAC paper on myths and diversity, Common Myths about Diversity, Cultural and Linguistic Competency - March 2007 (See http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/advisory/cultural/cdac_myths.htm); and Embracing Diversity [2]) Embracing Diversity (March 2007).

Policy Summary:
Presentations by two CDAC members, Mr. John Armendariz and Mr. Jerry Lang were followed by committee dialogue on the need to call attention and identify what seems to be working in two areas.

Mr. Jerry Lang, (Note: Mr. Lang’s livable communities panel presentation in the April NCD quarterly meeting in Atlanta, GA incorporated Council Liaison Milton Aponte’s suggestion on behalf of the committee to begin inclusion of CDAC members when areas of experience and location align with discussion topics for NCD quarterly meetings.) At the CDAC meeting, Mr. Lang shared concerns about Indian healthcare services and support needs. A suggestion is to have the necessary and appropriate resources and services available on reservation lands in order to help people with disabilities become successful. He indicated that while some tribal communities might be able to assist with funding, they are few in number among the more than 500 federally recognized tribes. Other grave and competing issues of daily survival service needs (e.g., general transportation, roads, water, unemployment, affordable housing and so forth for the overall population) are such that people with disabilities on tribal lands might not be so high on priority lists. Based on CDAC discussion, Mr. Lang also indicated that a challenge is to maintain/sustain funding, even where research and rehabilitation training centers doing capacity building or training such as the now closed AIDTAC center in Montana and the research program at the University of Arizona. The U.S. Department of Education did not choose to continue funding, although good work in Indian Country resulted. Perhaps, a recommendation for multiple connections might be considered such as tribal colleges and other nationally recognized organizations that serve all tribes so that outreach to people who are not seeking higher education might also become involved in well-trusted entities providing resources and information.

Mr. John Armendariz focused on calling attention to the need for cultural and linguistic competency (See http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/advisory/cultural/cdac_factsheet.htm). His work involves serving veterans, providing rehabilitation services to recent war veterans; the general system and workers are not prepared to address the cultural differences of people who are of diverse cultural backgrounds coming home in need of services. For example, 60,000 -70,000 military personnel are immigrants whose first language is not English, nor do that have access to or understand benefits. This has continued as a national challenge—to provide equal and adequate services to these veterans and their families. Once these veterans begin receiving referrals to their local community, the services/supports needs and additional challenges are unforeseen. ‘Yes’ was the response to a question: ‘Is this affecting veterans of all ages? The veterans are of all ages however, many are younger people with the average age of early 20s from the recent combat zones.  Mr. Armendariz had stated earlier that the Veteran’s Administration faces a future where the 60,000+ military personnel on active duty who are immigrants could be potentially eligible for services upon their discharge. (For veterans and families, without English as a first language). Yet, the VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program seems geared towards the past “typical” American soldier—middle class and English speaking. Reality rapidly changes because of the middle-eat war and pressure on recruitment. The Washington Post series on the problems at Walter Reed chronicled a Puerto Rican veterans families struggle to get information since they did not speak English and he had suffered a TBI. Additionally I think the VA and the military are oblivious to the impact that severe injuries have on individuals as they transition back to their communities and deal with cultural differences on how disability is viewed. Of more than 22 million veterans annually receiving benefits and services, about 1% are going to the VR program; Mr. Armendariz reported that there are 400,000+ claims backlogged the week prior to his May 17, 2007 presentation, so this is not a small issue; when veterans are not being served by the VA services, they will be seeking services elsewhere.  A potential recommendation from the discussion was that community organizations might partner or communicate with the VA services as to how to inform veterans better so they are fully aware of services, especially those who may be recent American citizens.  As NCD begins its work on a vocational rehabilitation study for fiscal year 2008, perhaps, some of CDAC’s concerns about unmet needs can be called to the NCD study team’s attention.

Announcements/Comments:  Prior to adjournment, the DFO stated that NCD’s next meeting is July 24-26, 2007 in Chicago, IL. CDAC and other members of the public who reside in the area of any NCD meetings are encouraged to attend.