Innovate Memphis One Call, One Click Design Workshop 1
Innovate Memphis with the Consilience Group, held the first Workshop in their design of the new Memphis One Call, One Click program.
OBJECTIVE: Mobility management to better connect seniors and citizens with disabilities to transportation choices to access healthcare and other wellness services.
Innovate Memphis has used a “Human Services Value Curve” to make connections and collaborate with agencies. The mission of the group will be to integrate services to be more efficient and effective. The two end goals of the human services value curve are efficiency a one pole, and effectiveness at the other. The overall idea is to move from intervention into problems with solutions to preventing problems from occurring.
There were 15 people at the workshop from a variety of Memphis agencies. Kevin and Laura from the Memphis Fire Department. Meredith of Consilience along with Jenessa and Sarah-Beth. Natalia Logan-Robinson and Susan Carlson of Innovate Memphis were the hosts. Cynthia McKinney joined via video from Chattanooga.
Innovate Memphis and the Consilience Group will design a program, create a partner network with a letter of understanding and create a sustainable solution to non-emergency medical transportation in Memphis. They will create a solution that is:
- Person Centered
- Research based
- Collaborative and
- Results focused
Jenessa pointed out that Atlanta and San Diego both have a on call, one click system now. She pointed out that in researching that MCIL had provided a “really wonderful,” focus group.
The problem is most chronic in the overuse of Emergency Medical Services. Their figures show that 14% of users have disabilities and that 20% of the calls are not emergencies. Jenessa also found that 23% of 211 calls were for medical transportation and that most of those needs are not met.
Some other problems are that door-to-door services have a long wait, that drivers do not provide needed services along with transportation and that transportation is necessary for non-medical to prevent isolation, socialization and to prevent poor health.
Kevin of the MFD pointed out that he has a list of 370 people who call 911 more than three times a week. Their major need is transportation to primary care. There are also needs for transportation, mental health and substance abuse.
One call, one click sees the general need as 1. Information and referral of all local transportation resources. 2. Trip planning pointed at the individual that needs the service. 3. Scheduling and payment for the trip. 4. Brokerage to coordinate the resources and payment.
The target for a pilot program is February 2019.
The next design session will be Workshop 2 on September 12, and the Final Deliverables meeting on October 31.
Spread the word!
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis’
next Aging in Place program call-in application period
Thursday, August 23, 2018 starting at 9 a.m.
To apply, applicants must call 901-322-3500 starting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, August 23 and leave a message with their name, address and phone number to receive a call back. We will call applicants back to complete applications over the phone. At that time, applicants must have all documentation required to complete their application. Applicants will be accepted on a first-qualified, first-served basis.
So spread the word to your contacts in our community! The services provided through this program are in great need to help local seniors continue to live in their own homes safely and with the dignity and respect they deserve.
You can find more information about the program on our website, www.memphishabitat.com. If you have any questions about the program, feel free to contact Shannon Morgan, Senior Program Manager, at 901-322-3510 or smorgan@memphishabitat.com.
Thank you for working with us and helping spread the word about this program!
P.S. Following the August 23 application date, we do not know when the next application period will be. We will update the Aging in Place hotline (901-322-3500), Habitat website (www.memphishabitat.com) and social media (Facebook and Twitter) once we determine the next application date.
** The funding for this project was provided through a grant awarded by the Davidson County Chancery Court, Part III from the SeniorTrust/ElderTrust settlement (Case No. 11-1548-III) and through a contract administered by the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability. The Aging in Place program receives additional financial support from a variety of sources, including The City of Memphis, Division of Housing and Community Development; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and The Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati.
Disability Rights Law was signed July 26, 1990
Today is the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. At the Benjamin Hooks Public Library in Memphis Tennessee the Memphis center for Independent Living, Disability Rights Tennessee, Clovernook and the Arc of the Mid-South got together to celebrate the disability rights law.
Carlene Leaper of the Arc Welcomed everyone. She reminded us about life in 1989, life before the American with Disabilities Act. Carlene mentioned people who could be told to leave a restaurant because they had a service animal and people that could not get into many places in their neighborhood. But today we have in America with Disabilities Act and many of those places are open to all of us today.
But, Ms. Leaper recognized that there still was work to be done.
Christina Clift asked the crowd how the ADA had help people get to the celebration today. The audience responded with MATAplus, parking and the accessible door. Christina went on to explain the ADA and tell us about what the different titles covered in our civil rights.
Christina also told about her experience going to Kroger. She would call Uber get the ride and she used an app to have the groceries she wanted selected and bagged before she arrived. Christina said she wasn't an expert on the ADA, but, her main point was that we must continue to fight for our civil rights.
Tim Redd, a former staff member at the Memphis Center for Independent Living told about his life and a little about his journey as a person with a disability.
“If I could have a shot,” said Tim, “anytime someone said I was an inspiration or motivation for them, I would be really, really drunk.”
Tim told about the day at doctor told him that he had type 2 diabetes. The doctor thought he would have to take insulin the rest of his life. But Tim didn't tell the doctor when he read about diabetes diet and he went to a gym. Tim said at the gym it was the first time the trainer had never worked with a person who used a wheelchair. Tim exercised and change how he ate. Tim professed everyone he had lost 40 pounds and then he no longer has diabetes.
Tim told about barriers that are still in the community. He told about his experience joining ADAPT and working for civil rights for people with disabilities. Tim talked about his introduction to disability rights activists using non-violence and civil disobedience to raise hell in Washington DC. He told everybody why they should support the Disability Integration Act.
There were also speakers who spoke about working with a disability, living with a disability, playing with a disability and faith groups. Carlene leaper followed by telling a personal story and suggesting that 28 years from now we all will note the progress of the ADA.
The celebration closed with a lunch for everyone and cake.
Live, work and play in Memphis
By Christina Clift
On Wednesday, July 18, 2018 members of the Memphis Advisory Council for Citizens with Disabilities met at city hall to discuss how to make Memphis a better place for people with disabilities to live. During the meeting reports were given by the council’s four committees which include transportation, education and employment, housing and community access, and disability awareness. Each committee provided an update on their progress towards meeting the strategic goals which the council set in August 2017.
The Transportation committee is chaired by Deborah Carter. She is a public transit rider and understands the need for improving transportation services as well as its impact on the lives of people with disabilities. The committee is currently working on ensuring that the Memphis Area Transit Authority complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in regards to making stop announcements on the fixed route. They are also working on shortening the recertification process for MATA’s paratransit riders. Finally, they are monitoring the community’s complaints regarding the continued capacity constraints when scheduling rides with MATAPlus.
The Disability Awareness committee chaired by Carlene Leaper, Executive Director of the Arc Midsouth, is working on organizing the 2018 disability awareness summit. The summit will focus on assistive technology, sports and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities. Demonstrations. A resource fair will provide a variety of venders for attendees to meet and learn about what services they provide. The summit is scheduled for Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 3030 Poplar from 10-1:00. This is an event open to the public and light refreshments will be available.
The education and employment committee is being co-chaired by Tashara Tolbert with UT Knoxville, Lynn Tune, Executive Director at Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Lou Conley a grad student at the U of M and long-time advocate for people with disabilities. The education and employment committee is working on providing ADA training to local employers and encouraging them to hire more people with disabilities. It also works with programs such as Tiger Life, Project Search, Shelby County Schools, and other educational programs that provide services to students with disabilities.
The housing committee is chaired by Gary Smith. He worked for the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation. The committee is focusing on inventorying the resources available to assist Memphians with home modifications to make their homes more accessible. There has also been discussion about how to make homeless shelters accessible for all, so that individuals with disabilities aren’t left out in the heat and cold simply because they are blind or use a mobility device.
Finally, Paula Polite with the city of Memphis stated that money had been set aside in the 2018-19 budget to improve ADA access to 10 local libraries. Funds have also once again been allocated to complete the city’s ADA transition plan. The ADA transition plan will examine and evaluate all city divisions for ADA access compliance. This has been done through gathering community input and meeting with each city division. The evaluation covers not only physical access but also programmatic access. When the data has been gathered, it will be prioritized and a recommendation to fix identified issues will be made. These recommendations will be drawn up and written into the final ADA transition plan which will be presented to the Mayor and City Council.
If you’d like more information about the MACCD or are interested in joining a committee or council, you can contact Ms. Polite at (901) 636-6746 or via e-mail at:
paula.polite@memphistn.gov.
The MACCD needs dedicated individuals with and without disabilities to help us make Memphis a city of choice where people with disabilities can live, work, and play to their fullest potential.
