| 1. WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU
HAVE WITH ISSUES RELATED TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND HOW HAVE THESE EXPERIENCES
PREPARED YOU TO SERVE My brother,
Jacob, was wounded in Korea and my nephew, Walter,suffered due to a deficiency of
education training at home in his early years. Both had personal problems which provided
me with direct experience of people suffering with disabilities. Also, another brother,
Tim, and my sister could not properly develop their academic skills due to the poor
schools in San Francisco, in the 1950s. Unable to 'cope and focus' on their learning, they
quit school. They suffered and their children were 'mentally retarded' in their early
years. . . as their brain(s) were not geared for success.
Personally, I failed the second grade...and
was motivated by sports to overcome my poor academic home environment. I went on to work
on 'odd jobs' from my sophomore year in high school . . . up to the time I graduated with
a Master of Business Administration. I was unable to learn in my early years . . . and
'social promotions' did not help.
I have conducted tutoring programs at
SPINGARN HIGH SCHOOL and at FORT LINCOLN SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOL. I have run Toastmasters
International YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS throughout Ward Five with special emphasis in FORT
LINCOLN. These programs helped the YOUTH develop confidence in their skills . . . to the
point where they were neither mentally retarded (slow learner) nor mentally deprived.
These experiences have prepared me to serve as an elected official by realizing that
'everyone hears a different drummer'. It has taught me patience and a keen ability to
understand the communication skills and leadership traits in other persons.
As the Ward 5 Member of the Council I will
work with the School Board to assure the success of our citizens and community. I will
introduce legislation to accomplish the following:
- RESTORE FUNDS CUT FROM ADULT EDUCATION
PARTICULARLY FUNDS 'EARMARKED' FOR TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH LEARNING
DISABILITIES
- RESTORE FULL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR PERFORMANCE
OF TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS. THIS INCLUDES THE USE OF A SENIORITY SYSTEM WHICH CREDITS
YEARS OF SERVICE AND ACHIEVEMENT. "It is unfair to put teachers off the bus . . .
because they get not get a PhD but had to stay home nights fulfilling their roles as
'mother and father' in those circumstances where they were 'PARENTS WITHOUT PARTNERS'.
- PROVIDE GREATER INCENTIVE PAY FOR TEACHERS
AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO USE OUR SCHOOLS IN THE EVENING AND ON WEEKENDS. This will change
the concept of 'School is for Children' to one which I support that "Schools (are
for) everyone and every community".
2. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE
AND APPROPRIATE SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA
WOLTERBEEK will conduct a
precinct-by-precinct Master Plan to assure that persons with disabilities have been
provided adequate and appropriate services and support within 75 days of his election as
WARD 5 COUNCIL MEMBER. Ward 5 has many places where people with disabilities are not
provide adequate services and needed support.
These deficiencies include.
A. POOR SIDEWALKS AND WALKING PATHS.
WOLTERBEEK will work with the DC
Department of Recreation to assure deficiencies are corrected and facilities are restored
to safe conditions "PLAY AT YOUR OWN RISK" is unacceptable to WOLTERBEEK.
The Department of Public Works is the
responsibility of the current Ward 5 Council member. Because of funding, it has failed to
fulfill its mission . . . potholes in streets cause costly damage to Ward 5 resident when
they drive. Many sidewalks (some on Bladensburg Road) are in such poor condition that
youth and adults feel safer by becoming 'street walkers'. WOLTERBEEK shares disrepair
conditions data with the DPW and the Ward 5 Council Member . . . yet Mr. Thomas listens
but does not 'hear' the serious of the problem.
B. POOR ACCESS TO SHOPPING MALLS.
WOLTERBEEK plans include work with METRO
to assure people with disabilities and Senior Citizens have better access to shopping
malls and its stores. Hechinger Mall lacks adequate parking and good walkways to serve and
support people with disabilities. Redstone Mall is another disability-focus problem area.
WOLTERBEEK WILL INTRODUCE CHANGES TO THE
WARD 5 COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENTAL COMMISSION TO ASSURE RESIDENTS OF IMPROVED ACCESS TO
MALLS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO 'LOW INTEREST LOANS' FOR REAL
ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITs) COMPANIES. The funds will be used for capital
improvements which will bring more shoppers.
C. INADEQUATE LEARNING FACILITIES.
WOLTERBEEK plans to meet with major
foundations (including the Fannie Mae Foundation) and Federal Agencies (such as:
the U.S Department of Housing and Urban
Development and the U.S. Department of Education) to expand the capacity of Ward 5
Learning Facilities to provide 'adult learning' opportunities. These 'self improvement'
laboratories will be geared towards 'slow learners' or retarded citizens and providing all
citizens with an opportunity for 'life-long' success.
WOLTERBEEK supports restoration of 'full
funding' for Adult Education geared toward 'mentally challenged' citizens which will be
extended past their 22nd birthday. These services are presently inadequate both in terms
of coverage and funding.
WOLTERBEEK's plans include the creation of
a Ward 5 Advisory Panel on Disabilities which will be an people's advocacy unit and allow
the District of Columbia to 'track' the applicants for services provided by the DC ARC
(formerly the DC Association for Retarded Citizens). These valuable statistics are not
kept the District of Columbia so the magnitude of the problem is unknown.
WOLTERBEEK will help Ward 5 residents with
disabilities become qualified for jobs with the 'BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON' magnetically
levitated (MAG-LEV) train system. This transportation system will operate through Ward 5
and provide 'labor-intensified' jobs and 'high-tech' employment opportunities.
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