Advisory Committees – What Are They Good For?

Friday, March 25, 2:30-3 pm, PDT  at KPFA Radio

Christine Fitzgerald, Advisory Committees for VTA, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

Many nursing homes, transportation agencies, senior services, housing authorities and other groups that heavily impact people with disabilities have Advisory Committees. And, low income and disabled people are often asked to serve on them.

Are these committees just window dressing? Is a committee member like a wedding planner who’s only allowed to plan the reception centerpieces?

How can a disabled committee member make their committee more useful? Does committee work teach skills to influence governmental decisions? Do the people who sit on these committee end up doing staff work without getting paid for it?

Mr Aaron Morrow, Advisory Committees for VTA, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

In short, are Advisory Committees a valid route to positive change?

Today, we talk to four veteran Advisory Committee members with disabilities about their work on these committees. And, we air excerpts from Jacob Lesnor-Buxton’s article on this topic, “So The State of California Is Requiring Me to Listen to You People.”

Bonnie Elliott, Access Advisory Committee of the City of Santa Barbara

Our guests are:

Amanda Stahl from Kentucky’s Advisory Board for People with Developmental Disabilities and its Protection and Advocacy Board;

Christine Fitzgerald and Mr. Aaron Morrow from Advisory Committees for VTA, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority;

Bonnie Elliott from the Access Advisory Committee of the City of Santa Barbara; and

Dani Anderson, board member of the State-wide Independent Living Council

Dani Anderson from the board of the State-wide California Independent Living Council.

Program Production Team:
Jacob Lesnor-Buxton: Interviewer, lead producer, conception, writer.
Adrienne Lauby: Host, editing
Mark Romoser:  Voicing of article excerpts, editing
Sheela Gunn-Cushman:  Editing

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