July 2000
Dick A. Greco, Mayor
Tampa, Florida

UNTAPPED
LABOR POOL.

People with disabilities represent such an untapped pool. In Florida approximately one in every six individuals has a disability. Although thousands of people with disabilities work, two-thirds of this labor pool is untapped. It's not because they don't want to work: 60% of people with vision impairments in both eyes are either employed or seeking employment. 80% of those who are hearing impaired are either employed or seeking employment. There are more statistics out there regarding persons with disabilities who are looking for employment however let's get right down to it - if you are a human resources professional who is looking for a labor pool you've come to the right place. For more information on this untapped labor pool contact the Mayor's Alliance's Employment Committee Chairperson, Cindy Stephens at 984-6840.

CRUISE SHIPS REQUIRED TO MEET ADA.

A federal appeals court, in Atlanta, has ruled cruise ships registered abroad must follow the ADA and accommodate passengers who are disabled. Foreign-flag rules exempt cruise ships from some U.S. laws, but the ADA is not one of them, the ruling says. Public rooms on ships, which ranges from cabins to gifts shops and health spas, meet the law's definition of public accommodations, although other places, such as the bridge, crew quarters and the engine room, may not be, the court said. The Access Committee of the Mayor's Alliance will tour the Carnival Line's cruise ship "SENSATION" Sunday, July 16 to review the ship's accessibility. Eighty people will participate in this inspection aboard the ship at the invitation of the cruise line.

MAYOR'S ALLIANCE BOARD MEETS

2nd WEDNESDAY
EVERY MONTH, 2pm.
Freedman Tennis Complex
59 Columbus Dr. Davis Island.

EVERYBODY WELCOME.

ASSISTANCE TO REGISTER AND VOTE AVAILABLE
FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Pam Iorio, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, has again advised the Alliance of the following information that makes it easier for persons with disabilities to register and vote. If you wish to register to vote and have a problem because you are disabled call the supervisor's office at 272-5850. If you wish to vote and have a problem because of a disability the following may help you. State law permits a voter who requires assistance to bring the person of their choice to the polls or have the assistance of poll-workers to help them vote. The request for assistance can be made when registering to vote, at the polling place by signing an assistance form at the time of voting, or at the time

the disability arises by contacting the elections office at 272-5850. Additionally, a "large ball" stylus (for use of those with weak or impaired hand use) and ballot-sized magnifiers (for the vision impaired) are also available. If you are unable to go to your polling place without the assistance of another person you may vote by absentee ballot. An absentee ballot may be requested prior to the election. This can be done in person, by mail, by telephone, or by having someone bring your written and signed request to the Elections Office. When a request is made the ballot will be mailed to the voter. A qualified absentee voter (or person with a disability) may vote in person at office of the Supervisor of Elections during the two weeks prior to an election. The downtown office located at the County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 16th Floor, is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. If voting by absentee ballot your voted ballot must be received by 7:00 p.m. election day at one of the Supervisor of Elections' Offices. For more information about voting services available to persons with disabilities, or to order your absentee ballot, call the Supervisor of Elections' Office at 272-5850.

TORCH RUN TO COMMEMORATE
10TH YEAR OF ADA.

Self-Reliance of Tampa and Caring and Sharing of St. Petersburg are holding a community wide celebration of the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The celebration will begin Saturday, July 29, at 7p.m. with a torch run relay, over the Gandy Bridge Friendship Trail. The relay will show the unity of the Tampa Bay Area in support of the ADA. The celebration will continue at the parking lot of the Derby Lane Greyhound Track on Gandy Blvd. For more information call Ronda Hooi at (813) 975-6560 or Angel Watson at (727) 577-0065.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FLORIDA
YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM.

The Able Trust (Florida Governor's Alliance for the Employment of Disabled Citizens) will hold a Florida Youth Leadership Forum July 20th to 23rd in Tallahassee. The forum will consist of a leadership conference of high school juniors and seniors with disabilities. For more information contact Kristen Knapp at 888-8338-2253

DATES TO REMEMBER

2ND. MON. OF THE MONTH, 7pm, THE MAYOR'S HOUR, live cable telecast on CH-15 Time-Warner in Tampa and Hillsborough County and CH-17 on Adelphia cable. Your chance to ask Mayor Greco a question or express your concern, live in the studio or by phone. To call in a question to the Mayor call 274-8328. To be part of the studio audience call Mindy Snyder at 274-7033. Program repeats on Sundays pm, Mondays at 7pm and Fridays at 3pm.

1ST. MON. EVERY MONTH, 3pm, EMPLOYMENT & JOB FAIR COMMITTEE MEETING, Hilton Hotel Reservation Center, 7920 Woodland Center Blvd. for more info call Cindy Stephens at 984-6840 or KathyMcGlone at 243-7522.

3RD WED. EVERY MONTH, 2:00pm, ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE MEETING, Sandy Freedman Tennis Complex 59 Columbus Drive, Davis Island.

3RD TUES. EVERY MONTH, 7pm, FLORIDA COUNCIL FOR THE BLIND, GREATER TAMPA CHAPTER. USF Westside Conference Ctn. Section B.

3RD TUES. EVERY MONTH, 6:30pm, Tampa Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH) Group, Jefferson High School.

1ST THUR. EVERY MONTH, THERAPEUTIC FOCUS GROUP, All Peoples Life Center, call 744-5978 for more information.

4TH WED. EVERY MONTH, 2pm, COUNTY ALLIANCE MEETING, Tampa Lighthouse for The Blind, 1106 W. Platt St. For more information call Elizabeth Mueller at 273-3611 or Debra Guest at 871-7878.

3RD TUES. EVERY 3rd MONTH, 2pm, HARTLINE'S PARATRANSIT ADVISORY COUNCIL, Hartline Offices, 4305 East 21st Avenue. For more information contact Vasti Amaro at HARTLINE 623-5835, ext.1171.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Hillsborough County Information Line 272-5900;

Self Reliance Cross Disability Support Group, 975-6560, Bill Renje;

VA Spinal Cord 972-2000 ext 6388 Heather Mahoney;

Brain and Head Injury Support, 288-0225 Jenny Paloumpis or Lisa Lowe; Multiple Sclerosis Self Help Group 287-2939 or 800-922-0170;

Statewide Advocacy Network on Disabilities, Inc. (STAND) offering education and resource services to persons with disabilities. 258-5700 Patricia Miller

Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST) learn about assistive technology 251-7591;

Amputees Together, 870-3323;

Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), 935-6540 Ben Ritter; All People's Life Center 6105 East Sligh Avenue (east of 56th St.) fully accessible recreation center.Call Al Orr at 903-2248 for more information.

OFFICERS AND
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

Chairperson: Norman Mallory, (813) 988-4985
  Treasurer: Connie Hayden-McPeak, (813) 276-5555
  Secretary: Kelly Hickman, (813) 974-8927
  Past Chairperson: Chuck Porter, (813) 276-2029 ext 7659
  Advocacy and Accessibility Co-chairpersons: Norman Mallory, (813) 988-4985
  Bob Ellis, (813) 974-2002
  Employment Committee Chairperson: Cindy Stephens (813) 984-6840
  Awareness Committee Chairperson: Chuck Porter (813) 276-2029 ext 7659
  Mayor's Representative: Herb Gold, (813) 254-1111

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