Catching up
I’m playing a bit of catch-up here. I’ve been a bit busy, but thought I’d tell about our trip to Albany for the MISCC (Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council) meeting, along with a report from Arlene about the community meeting that I hosted the following day.
The MISCC Meeting
On Monday, April 10th, bright and early, we headed out. I was picked up by Dean, and taken to the office, where we piled into Chris’s car — Chris, Dean, I, and the Taggart twins, Pam and Pat. We headed over to another ADAPT member’s house where we were met by Arlene, who got everyone else into the RCIL van, and after getting some gas, off we went.
The ride was uneventful. I found that Chris and I shared some musical tastes, namely, Rock and Metal. We made a bathroom stop, and strangely, another gas stop for the van. Despite our best efforts, we got there 30 minutes late, but I heard later that the meeting had started late, so we didn’t miss much. When we got there, we were met by Bruce, and were ushered into the room. I couldn’t help but notice that the commissioners were especially nice to us. This was the first meeting under the Spitzer Administration, and our chance to meet the new commissioners, and ask questions of them.
As we entered the room, the commissioners were discussing the future plans of the MISCC. A couple of subcommittees were formed, including one on housing, which Chris and Bruce joined. After that session, the floor was opened up for the audience to ask questions and make statements. Pam Taggart asked the Commissioners to help her get her brother, Billy, out of adult housing, and into his own place with supports. Anthony Griggs spoke of the need for more affordable housing for people with disabilities, and how he had to sleep in his parent’s dining room until he found a place of his own. I asked what the MISCC was doing about accessible public transportation, especially in rural areas. Arlene asked what could be done about our transit authority, which is notorious for its poor service to passengers with disabilities. After the meeting, we met with several of the commissioners, including the Chair. Some of us had a photo op with the Chair. Afterwards, we asked he if she would consider pushing the meeting back an hour or so, to accommodate those of us who must leave our homes at 5:00 am to get to themeetings on time. She graciously agreed to this.
Bruce later told me some interesting things about this meeting. He said that the tone of the meeting definitely changed when we (ADAPT) entered the room. He said that when the meeting began, the Chair entered the room, and saw that the tables were arranged in a way that seemed to shut out the audience. She publicly stated her dissatisfaction with the table arrangement, and began moving the tables into a configuration that was more open and welcoming of the public. Bruce also told me of two important rules changes: audience members would be allowed to speak, and advocates could now serve on subcommittees. I am hopeful that this MISCC can and will roll up their sleeves and do some real work this year.
After the meeting, we visited the offices of Senators Joe Robach, and Mike Nozzolio to ask their support of equal funding of Independent Living Centers in New York. The senators could get equal funding put into the budget if they pushed the issue, and we were asking them to do just that. According to their staff, they will look into it, and get back to us.
We then headed home. Though our ride was uneventful, the van filled up on gas twice more! Some of us suspected a fuel leak, but we couldn’t see any leakage. Some in the van did smell gas, and we later discovered that there was indeed a fuel leak; the gas was leaking onto the exhaust pipe. Thank goodness we all were safe, though I still shudder to think of what could have happened! The van was sent to the shop for repairs, and will be ready for our next trip to Albany on the 23rd.