The COVID-19 Pandemic has caused many of our service providers to pivot to working in new and different ways, many of which involve online virtual meetings, trainings and webinars. How well do the platforms being used meet the needs of people with disabilities and what can we do to better plan for and accommodate access needs?
Join us for this interactive discussion and sharing of tools and resources that you can embrace and use to make your meetings, programs and trainings more accessible and inclusive.
Our panel of disability advocates and experts will present information on why accessibility is important and what meeting protocols to consider when planning and hosting virtual online sessions, some of the more popular tools and apps currently being used, what's at stake and how to ensure whole community access to this new way of working.
Objectives of the session are to provide a forum for nonprofits and community programs to learn about tools and resources available to increase accessibility for meetings, forums and trainings being offered in virtual online work environments
Speakers include:
This session provided thanks to CARES Act funding through the City of San José.
Luis “Vance” Taylor is the Chief of the Office of Access and Functional Needs at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Vance is responsible for ensuring the needs of individuals with disabilities and persons with access or functional needs are identified before, during and after disasters and integrated into the State’s emergency management systems.
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Vance was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy as a child and uses a power wheelchair. He has worked in Washington, D.C. as an advisor for two different members of Congress, directed security policy at a national water association and been a principal at a top-ranked homeland security and emergency management consulting firm. Vance is a nationally recognized public speaker and advocate for individuals with disabilities.
Roxann Crawford serves as the Disability Integration Specialist for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region IX. Before working in the region, Roxann was the Disability Integration Advisor on the National Incident Management Assistance Team - West.
Sheri Burns is a San Jose native and has worked in independent living/disability services for over thirty-five years, with twenty years of experience as an executive or deputy executive director. Ms. Burns holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy, is a Registered Occupational Therapist, and obtained a certificate in non-profit management from the United Way, Silicon Valley. She also has extensive training in disability rights and laws, ADA access standards, and disaster services focusing on Access and Functional Needs.
Ms. Burns has been the Executive Director at Silicon Valley Center for Independent Living (SVILC) in San Jose, CA since July, 2015. Prior to that, she was the Executive Director for more than eight years at Community Resources for Independent Living (CRIL) in Hayward, CA. SVILC is a disability justice and service organization that provides peer support, independent living skills training, assistive technology referral, housing search assistance, personal assistance/home care worker referrals, nursing facility transition services, and self-advocacy training to increase the independence of persons with disabilities in their personal and/or professional life.
Christine has been active in the disability community since birth. She was born with cerebral palsy and the glaucoma showed up later on in life. Christine earned a bachelor of arts in English from San Jose State University and has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years. Christine has worked for the Silicon Valley Independent Living Center as a Community Advocate for the last four years. Her goal is to make as much of the world accessible for all people with disabilities in as many ways as can be done!
Ron Halog has been in the non-profit world for over 35 years, assisting and supporting people with disabilities and the community. For the last 15 years, he has served as the Executive Director of 2 non-profit organizations in the bay area. Mr. Halog has been a trainer / instructor for over 30 years for the American Red Cross and other Center Based Organizations; training First Aid, CPR, Water Safety Instruction, Lifeguarding and Emergency Preparedness. He has also been a speaker / presenter at local, state and national trainings; such as the National Council on Independent Living Training in Washington DC and the Diversity, Disability, Intersectionality Training in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mr. Halog currently serves as the President of Alameda County’s Developmental Disabilities Council and the Vice-Chair of ALCO VOAD (Alameda County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters). He is also a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) member, a FAST (Functional Assessment Service Team) Member and a Ham Radio Technician Operator (KM6LBG). Mr. Halog is currently employed with ILRSCC (Independent Living Resources of Solano and Contra Costa Counties) as their Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, where he has been supporting people during PSPS (Public Safety Power Shut-off) events
Hi I am anna. I am 24 years old I am originally from new york! I now live in California and I have ADHD. I work at a cafe in Palo Alto, California. I love dogs and I love music
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CADRE + SVCN strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully in the session. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility for this session, please email Anna Swardenski at [email protected] no later than noon on Thursday December 17, 2020.
