UCOD Meeting Notes (May 13, 2025)

UCLA Committee on Disability / UCOD Meeting Notes (May 13, 2025)

UCOD Meeting Notes (May 13, 2025)

UCOD Meeting
April 8, 2025 / 2PM / Zoom

Attendees

Voting Members:
Yasamin Bolourian, Fang-I Chu, Michael Garafola, Cate Gvon, Travis Lee, Carolanne Link (Proxy for Caitlin Solone), Sanaz Nabati, Quinn O’Connor, Grace Overman (Proxy for Emilia Podesta), Sylvia Page, Aryan Pandey, Harold Pimentel, Sal Santa Ana, Nicholas Shinghal, Alexa Vaughn

Absent:
Christine Craib

Guests:
Monic Clare, Charles Corbett, Brandie Kirkpatrick, Marissa Klymkiw, Yonit Kovnator, Ariella Morrison, Spencer Scruggs, K. Supriya, Brooke Wilkinson, Kimberly

Agenda

1. Intros (MG, 8 mins)

2. Newsletter update (Newsletter subcommittee, 5 mins)

a. Moved to the next meeting.

3. Leadership speeches (30 mins)

a. Carolanne Link speech for Physical Spaces Subcommittee Head

b. Sylvia Page speech for Secretary

c. Fang-I Chu speech for Newsletter Subcommittee Head

d. Michael Garafola speech for Vice Chair

e. Travis Lee speech for Chair

4. Emergency Preparedness Plan review (15 mins)

a. Yonit is on a committee that is working on a new website that will include IEEP (individualized emergency evacuation plan) processes. This will be rolled out in September. She will bring UCOD’s document to the committee for review, discussion, and possible inclusion on the website.

b. Anyone is welcome to make comments on the Google Doc by the end of the month.

5. Scooters on wheelchair ramps: accessibility concerns and action plan (TL and MG, 10 mins)

a. Ongoing issues with scooters parked on wheelchair ramps. This issue is exacerbated by construction (e.g. at Wooden Center).

b. Discussion about who is responsible for enforcement: UCPD, Transportation, departments that occupy the buildings that have the ramps?

c. Phone number to call if you see something incorrectly parked: 310-794-7433. Can also report via email to Microbility Program: micromobility@ts.ucla.edu. Pictures can also be sent to Yonit: ykovnator@equity.ucla.edu.

d. Discussion of action strategies: education campaigns, ticketing from UCPD or by department. UCOD has done education campaigns via newsletter and posters.

6. UCOD recommendations for Chancellor Frenk (TL, 5 mins)

a. Moved to the next meeting.

7. Department updates

a. Event from BEWell Parklet Accessibility Audit Workshop, as part of Access in Action: Building an Inclusive Campus Together.

i. The Semel HCI BEWell Pod, UCLA Transportation, and cityLAB-UCLA have teamed up to transform an underutilized sidewalk in front of Medical Plaza 100 into a vibrant new parklet designed for rest, connection, and well-being.

ii. Event will be Wednesday, May 28, 2025, 12:30 – 1:30 PM. On-site at the sidewalk along Westwood Plaza, in front of UCLA Medical Plaza.

8. End general session at 3:15

9. Closed door voting members session

a. Continued discussion about the most effective approach to the scooters issue.

b. According to UCLA Bike Safety, Regulations, and Resources, if scooters are impounded, owners contact transportation.

c. Decision: mass email campaign to transportation.

d. Vote confirms Travis Lee as Chair, Michael Garafola as Vice Chair, Sylvia Page as Secretary, Fang-I Chu as Newsletter Subcommittee Head, and Carolanne Link as Physical Spaces Subcommittee Head.

Action Items

Yonit will follow up with Michael about strategies for the scooter issue.
Michael will write a draft email about the scooter issue and will send it to Carolanne for distribution to voting members.