WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.330 --> 00:00:01.860 Hello, my name is Jimmy Russell 2 00:00:01.860 --> 00:00:03.640 and I'm a disability rights advocate 3 00:00:03.640 --> 00:00:06.180 for the Ability Center of Greater Toledo. 4 00:00:06.180 --> 00:00:07.900 line:15% Well, as a disability rights advocate, 5 00:00:07.900 --> 00:00:09.760 line:15% I do a lot of research. 6 00:00:09.760 --> 00:00:11.660 line:15% That research is then compiled 7 00:00:11.660 --> 00:00:13.450 line:15% into one pages and things like that 8 00:00:13.450 --> 00:00:16.300 line:15% that we can distribute to state legislators, 9 00:00:16.300 --> 00:00:19.290 line:15% business owners, developers and the regents 10 00:00:19.290 --> 00:00:20.700 that we can then work with them 11 00:00:20.700 --> 00:00:22.640 to make sure that they come into compliance 12 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:24.480 with accessibility rights, 13 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:26.960 line:15% and make sure that all of those companies 14 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:29.020 line:15% are completely compliant with all the regulations 15 00:00:29.020 --> 00:00:30.250 line:15% that the government puts forth. 16 00:00:30.250 --> 00:00:31.930 line:15% And even beyond that to make sure 17 00:00:31.930 --> 00:00:33.380 line:15% they're as accessible as possible 18 00:00:33.380 --> 00:00:35.130 line:15% for people with disabilities. 19 00:00:35.130 --> 00:00:37.850 So one of recent projects that we worked on 20 00:00:37.850 --> 00:00:39.490 was with the Toledo Zoo. 21 00:00:39.490 --> 00:00:40.880 They asked us to actually come in 22 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:44.020 and basically do a survey of their accessibility. 23 00:00:44.020 --> 00:00:45.250 What we do is we come in, 24 00:00:45.250 --> 00:00:46.540 we take a bunch of measurements, 25 00:00:46.540 --> 00:00:48.480 and we compare them to our notes 26 00:00:48.480 --> 00:00:49.810 and what the requirements are, 27 00:00:49.810 --> 00:00:51.390 and then we write up a report 28 00:00:51.390 --> 00:00:52.290 and give it back to them 29 00:00:52.290 --> 00:00:54.510 stating you're not compliant here, 30 00:00:54.510 --> 00:00:56.790 you're doing above and beyond, a great job over here, 31 00:00:56.790 --> 00:00:59.220 and make sure that they do everything 32 00:00:59.220 --> 00:01:02.520 that they need to do to be within the rights of the law. 33 00:01:02.520 --> 00:01:04.993 line:15% So I actually have a pretty flexible schedule. 34 00:01:06.690 --> 00:01:08.070 line:15% I do a lot of time in the office 35 00:01:08.070 --> 00:01:11.410 line:15% because all of that fun stuff of meeting with legislators, 36 00:01:11.410 --> 00:01:14.270 line:15% meeting with community leaders and groups like that, 37 00:01:14.270 --> 00:01:17.300 line:15% only comes after hours upon hours of research. 38 00:01:17.300 --> 00:01:18.870 So a large chunk of my job 39 00:01:18.870 --> 00:01:21.480 is sitting at my desk and reading up on reports, 40 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:24.380 reading up on court cases that are coming down 41 00:01:24.380 --> 00:01:26.620 to make sure that we are as up to date as possible 42 00:01:26.620 --> 00:01:28.640 on the compliancy rules. 43 00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:30.280 After that happens, we then schedule 44 00:01:30.280 --> 00:01:32.650 large meetings with community members 45 00:01:32.650 --> 00:01:34.590 and community groups to try and get 46 00:01:34.590 --> 00:01:36.630 some grassroots advocacy going together, 47 00:01:36.630 --> 00:01:38.330 depending on the size of the project, 48 00:01:38.330 --> 00:01:39.750 or maybe we'll just go straight ahead 49 00:01:39.750 --> 00:01:41.130 and meet with the business leaders 50 00:01:41.130 --> 00:01:42.840 and just have a conversation with them 51 00:01:42.840 --> 00:01:44.840 to make sure that they become compliant. 52 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:48.320 Right now I think I'm working on about 53 00:01:48.320 --> 00:01:51.320 six different projects all at the same time. 54 00:01:51.320 --> 00:01:53.420 line:15% It is kind of cool because we have a lot of freedom 55 00:01:53.420 --> 00:01:55.580 line:15% to kind of discover our own projects, 56 00:01:55.580 --> 00:01:56.680 line:15% so if there's something you're really, 57 00:01:56.680 --> 00:01:59.160 line:15% really passionate about within the region or the area, 58 00:01:59.160 --> 00:02:00.980 line:15% then you can kind of focus in 59 00:02:00.980 --> 00:02:02.500 on that project for a little bit. 60 00:02:02.500 --> 00:02:07.083 But, disability covers a large span of area.