Council Positions 1, 3 and 5 are up for election this November.
Position 1
Michael Flowers
No response submitted. Contact: miskamike@mac.comAdair Hawkins
Contact: Adairszasz@yahoo.com
Do you have any direct experience with disability?
Yes. My son has autism.
1. HOUSING: How would you make affordable housing available to people with developmental disabilities?
I volunteer with the Good Neighbor Fund. The fund raises money to help those in need with rent, camp sites, utility bills, gas money, food and child care. I see first hand how there are not enough money and services for those with disabilities. I help not only people with disabilities, but also a lot of working poor families who are trying to feed their kids while waiting for federal vouchers. I am a dental hygienist. I volunteer at free clinics and dental vans. There are 3 main groups whom need our services: 1. Elderly people with disabilities. 2. Homeless individuals with mental illness. 3. New immigrants. Giving free and low cost medical services should be a right to all.
2. SHELTER: How would you ensure people with developmental disabilities have a safe place to sleep and stay?
I have 4 little boys. One of my children did not have enough oxygen while in the uterus, causing brain damage. He is 8 Years old and has autism. We don’t know if he will ever be able to live on his own or not. Where ever we go, we bring ear muffs, soothing devices and try to prepare him for the “unexpected.” Most outings result in a melt down. With our constant support, he would end up in jail. My son misreads social cues and goes into aggression. I feel very deeply for those with autism who are homeless because there is no where for them to go.
3. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: How would you ensure people with developmental disabilities are receiving case management and the support needed to escape homelessness?
I am here to support those with not only physical disabilities, but also mental delays. Due to my son’s brain damage, I am a lead volunteer supporting children and families with mental delays and learning disabilities. It’s an uphill battle and most of the parents do not know how to advocate their kids in the school system or how to support these wonderful children as adults because there are not enough public resources.
4. SAFETY: How would you ensure the safety of people with developmental disabilities in police interactions?
I would support police de escalation training . With our education, police do not know how to interact with individuals with autism. The citizen could be belligerent and violent. Police training and education is the only way to stop tragedy.
5. SAFETY & JUSTICE: Would you support cross-training among professionals in the courtroom, police departments, victim assistance agencies and schools to prepare the justice community for situations involving people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities so they can receive equal justice?
I used to volunteer in the dental department at Echo Glen Juvenile. All of the children whom I worked with had a mental delay or learning disability. There has to be cross training between the justice system, social workers and families.
6 - ACCESS & ACCOMMODATIONS: How would you ensure access to straws in public areas?
I did not know about straws helping people with disabilities. I am so glad that I know now so that I can support legislation giving access to straws.
7. JOBS: What would you do to increase job prospects for people with developmental disabilities?
My cousin Angela is blind. She can not work at a job with tender (she can not tell a $20 bill from a $1.) She received training to do a job where she could listen and orally take notes on to a computer. The issue now is, how does she get to the job? She rides the bus 4 plus hours per day. There needs to not only be job training, but support from the local community and tax payers creating jobs for people with disabilities and then providing transportation.
8. SAFETY: How will you ensure Carnation's streets, sidewalks and intersections are safe and accessible to everyone?
Creating a walkable space is key to success. Please see above answer.
9. TRANSIT: Do you think Lyft, Uber and other ride-share companies should be required to include wheelchair accessible vehicles in their fleets?
Yes
10. TRANSIT: What will you do to expand transit service and improve reliability?
I am currently working with WOSDOT to help elderly people with disabilities get access to a bus in our very small town of Carnation. It’s going well! There is now a small bus that will take people from North Bend to Monroe where there is access to shopping and a drug store. Yay!
