1 From: Jennifer Griffin <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2023 2:28 PM
To: Web-City Clerk
Subject: For Public Comment - City Council Meeting
*** EXTERNAL EMAIL: Please use caution when opening links or attachments.*** I submit the following Public Comment for the City Council meeting of 04/04/2023:
Mayor Patino and Council Members:
I am writing to encourage you to support the Independent Living Resource Center with your discretionary funds.
My name is Jennifer Griffin, I am the Executive Director of the Independent Living Resource Center, Inc. I am sorry I could not be here tonight to speak in person.
For the past 35 plus years in Santa Maria we have worked hard to ensure that all people with disabilities are included, respected, and heard as members of our communities. We take pride in helping our consumers to realize that their independence goals are in fact within reach.
The services we provide are critical in getting our consumers on a path to independence, or often, staying independent. We work as a team with our consumers to ensure their engagement in their goals.
79% of our staff are individuals with disabilities themselves who have gone through many of the same experiences as our consumers. ILRC is a safe place for people with disabilities to be open about their goals and challenges knowing that they are talking to someone that can truly understand. We are the only peer run disability organization in Santa Maria.
Beyond the work we do with our consumers we also support local businesses and employers so that they can become or remain accessible to their customers. We assist the community in becoming more responsive to and inclusive of people with disabilities. We provide disability awareness and sensitivity training to businesses, schools, and various organizations to encourage hiring and serving those individuals with disabilities.
We remind employers consistently that people with disabilities have the skills, they are not more expensive to hire, and they bring a needed and important perspective to business.
You have been so supportive of the work we do and we value the tough decisions the committee has to make each year. We hope that you will again consider ILRC when choosing who your discretionary funds will support.
Thank you,
Jennifer