[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6510505,"mediaKeyId","5374866-92c356244d1364b23670582f149d21e1","parentId",5374866,"title","Votes at a glance: Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities, July 11, 2025","audioSeconds",3603,"startMs",492000,"endMs",4095000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5374866-92c356244d1364b23670582f149d21e1&start=492&end=4095","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5374866-92c356244d1364b23670582f149d21e1/thumbnail_492000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6510505/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Mayors-Committee-for-People-with-Disabilities-July-11-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510505-d305cb4b167bddf895376f497d37b466/orig.mp4?Expires=1770399655&Signature=aoJ-REp1TPekeo2kjx9nvLRjuBzjs2gfBs86SO5YYCShBYIvc8xeWsmGVL4725QX9XTWttTMUF3AlW-y1DTmRFRs9Tq08ca73uNShuUmOZGlp11Evfx15~HWGXgzJbaFK-QXjTt3Zb-AEDTw2PnFuEAQ5hFwRZ-Sbz17VAX9M79brhQYNr~oYXNRmwLHZdRQHQkyA8IXzMDkOuP483aGwGfDezi8Q9QmoF-Glh4dCdopiD-PrMRd~DG3rJ3XE9D995CECeZvOKSTm17DxJ-NXOHiBN41E0SbEK9BuAc1z7-GpB~CaaUr48y7Y8iv9-4RjN3h4JWrJhW0YgSXSv-7gg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-07-11T00:00:00Z","article","Key actions taken by the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities on July 11, 2025:

1) Approval of minutes
- Motion: Approve minutes from the June 13, 2025 meeting.
- Outcome: Approved (voice/hand vote). No roll-call tally recorded in the transcript.
- Motion made by: Chair (mover not specified in transcript); second: Commissioner Chang.
- Notes: Routine approval recorded at the start of the meeting.

2) Adoption of annual internal review report (2024–2025)
- Motion: Adopt the 2024–2025 annual internal review report and submit it to City Council.
- Outcome: Approved (voice/hand vote). The motion passed and the report will be submitted to City Council.
- Mover: Chair. Second: not specified in transcript.
- Notes: Committee used the vote to authorize submission to City Council.

3) Recommendation to City Council: ABILITY / all-inclusive event
- Motion: Recommend City Council support the ABILITY (all-inclusive) event (dates discussed as October 25 and 26, 2025) and institute it annually in alignment with National Disability Awareness Month.
- Mover: Gabriel Arellano. Second: Commissioner Chang.
- Outcome: Unanimously adopted by voice/hand vote; recorded as “unanimously adopted” in the meeting record.
- Notes: Committee requested the mayor and council be invited; event planning details will proceed through the working group and city channels.

4) Move TxDOT Civil Rights Division ADA item to August agenda
- Motion: Move the Texas Department of Transportation Civil Rights Division’s 30th anniversary/ADA item to the August meeting agenda.
- Outcome: Approved by voice/hand vote after a second from Commissioner Ariado.
- Notes: Motion placed on the August agenda for fuller discussion.

5) Recommendation to explore Convo Access (on-demand QR-code interpreting)
- Motion: Recommend City Council explore implementation of Convo Access (on-demand QR-code sign-language interpreting) for public-facing city locations.
- Mover: Gabriel Arellano. Second: Chair (recorded as \"I'll second\" in the transcript).
- Outcome: Approved as amended (the committee amended the original motion to change the recommendation to an exploration of implementation rather than immediate adoption). Vote taken by voice/hand; minutes record approval.
- Notes: Committee asked vendor to pursue city vendor registration and requested cost, pilot and cybersecurity details before procurement.

Meeting procedure notes
All votes recorded in the transcript were taken by voice or hand and did not include roll-call tallies of yes/no/abstain for each named member. Where the transcript recorded “unanimously adopted,” the article reports the committee’s verbal record. If a formal roll-call count is required for City Council consideration, the committee’s recorded motions should be submitted with minutes and staff follow-up.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities - Jul 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved minutes, adopted its annual internal review report, recommended City Council support for an ABILITY/All-Inclusive event and approved a motion asking Council to explore implementation of Convo Access (on-demand QR-code interpreting).","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6510510,"Committee votes to explore QR-code on-demand sign-language service after Convo presentation",2312,1769000,4081000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5374866-92c356244d1364b23670582f149d21e1&start=1769&end=4081","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5374866-92c356244d1364b23670582f149d21e1/thumbnail_1769000.jpg","/articles/6510510/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Committee-votes-to-explore-QR-code-on-demand-sign-language-service-after-Convo-presentation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510510-41dbc1440c31d96b477a694dd9062d82/orig.mp4?Expires=1770399654&Signature=AD-LtSp8w1JXaSZpi9SZ6IRCqF6Bcf1RuGk6OMPVEZEbmGC06XqngUknVWm31Vimj~0jxIk2IQmE~PlT0GYo91SyZkSR1wViGIyfJfR3pNCnPlOvdEUqi3Dt0M4-gt77SCfL49YoBMywdWRadaGvjKdnUZf6l26fxJ582916fr7JvQnWOQG5G3ggP2jTd8kco2-6WTTpDJEx7Gyy9VOcJF2hl0KXNe3LMHxXLBjGhHAuWwdA9Sz-EhrwMhtYAxA3JVJeu26WX3S1VlGrhy-vWRm3Jrc00bJsu3mB6Nel8Sps-Bt8VJgitC42byh1FnYf8SL26eReQRUKIZGLBzgA0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities on July 11 voted to recommend that the City Council explore implementing a QR-code, on-demand sign-language interpreting service after hearing a presentation from Convo, a deaf-owned interpreting company.

Joseph Tsai, representing Convo, described a product called Convo Access: QR codes placed at front desks and public counters that allow a deaf or hard-of-hearing person to scan with a smartphone and connect immediately to a live interpreter. “It truly is that easy,” Tsai said during his presentation.

Why it matters: Committee members described repeated communication barriers at police stations, libraries, hospitals and other public-facing sites. Presenters and committee members said an on-demand system could reduce delays tied to scheduling interpreters or relying on pen-and-paper exchanges.

Presentation and evidence cited
Tsai said Convo operates in five countries and supports multiple sign languages. He described a New York MTA pilot in which QR codes were installed across transit locations; the company reported an activation rate that rose to 94% across 20 locations within three months and a 40% reduction in communication-related transaction time. Tsai said Convo provides usage reports to host organizations and 24/7 access to interpreters.

Committee questions
Commissioners asked several operational questions: Commissioner Murphy asked when the MTA partnership began and how activation was measured; Tsai said the partnership started in February and that activation is measured by scans and platform use at the pilot locations. Commissioner Chang asked about anticipated annual cost for a city the size of Austin; Tsai said pricing is negotiable and recommended a pilot before pricing discussions.

Motion and amendment
Commissioner Gabriel Arellano moved that the committee recommend the city adopt Convo Access for public-facing sites, citing police stations, libraries and museums. After discussion about cost and procurement, the committee amended the motion to recommend that City Council explore implementation (language changed to ask the council to “explore the implementation of Convo Access”). The amended recommendation passed (vote by voice/hand; approval recorded in minutes). Committee members asked Convo to pursue vendor registration and offered to help connect the company to likely city contacts.

Next steps and caveats
The committee’s recommendation asks City Council to consider a pilot and to evaluate procurement, privacy and cybersecurity details. Tsai offered to bring technical staff to answer cybersecurity questions if requested. Committee members emphasized that cost estimates, pilot scope and procurement steps are required before adoption.

Ending
The committee approved the amended recommendation to send to City Council and requested follow-up information about pilot design and cost estimates before any procurement action.","After a demonstration by Joseph Tsai of Convo, the committee voted to recommend that City Council explore implementing Convo’s QR-code on-demand interpreting (Convo Access) in public-facing city locations; the committee asked for a pilot and for the city to evaluate cost and procurement steps.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6510516,"Office of Police Oversight briefs Mayor’s Committee on investigations, training and community outreach",1238,523000,1761000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5374866-92c356244d1364b23670582f149d21e1&start=523&end=1761","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5374866-92c356244d1364b23670582f149d21e1/thumbnail_523000.jpg","/articles/6510516/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Office-of-Police-Oversight-briefs-Mayors-Committee-on-investigations-training-and-community-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510516-b79188dbd61f301a7f2efac1624a2652/orig.mp4?Expires=1770399654&Signature=Inw~oIkn7tjO2UE5sAAs4jxKK5o4ku3vR2v5vQX3Q4kx1-jNVininpbeSktq9vV8Ei758Sh6tyDeFOifSEc6hyzKMvIIp-qyROPUKlJ44B4i2ZUokTYDA06ToRGC78YIGZh9BjnuKDnx0lvncgkXDxOkd8olVZXpwtBn-M~BdqrZO0u5-UrcaFnitfsMSljn5hKoULk9XMEaSJ4p49pKB9Lt4dXL3Al5MOXqBS-CU4~z7hFZNwJn3aUKar8L1HxRc7U3bs47RUcRk491aXbEWnrpsHs-WUITp7vHkkORJhpeXqRGL9FI2gvMZ95i0-xurRKIsQw4w3aqDwSGdZJ2Tw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Office of Police Oversight on July 11 told the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities that it has expanded investigative access, is publishing complaint records and is working with the Austin Police Department (APD) to revise academy training and outreach.

Cooper Thompson, a community engagement specialist with the Office of Police Oversight (OPO), told the committee the office’s mission is “to provide impartial oversight of the Austin Police Department’s conduct, practices, and policies in order to enhance accountability, inform the public to increase transparency, and create sustainable partnerships throughout the community.”

Why it matters: Committee members pressed OPO staff about whether people with disabilities are represented in complaint data and how training and policy recommendations reach APD officers. The committee’s members said better data and training could reduce harmful encounters involving people with disabilities.

OPO structure and authority
OPO staff described three core divisions: complaints and investigations, policy and research, and community engagement and communications. Thompson said the complaints division walks community members through filing a complaint, conducts administrative investigations when requested and issues disciplinary recommendations. He said the Policy and Research Division issues policy recommendations on APD general orders and training curricula and produces reports on traffic stops and use of force.

Sarah Peralta, OPO staff in the policy and research area, said the office has started to publish complaints publicly. “When we publish complaints you can see the body of the complaint as submitted by the committee member,” Peralta said, noting some published complaints involve service animals, wheelchair access and other access concerns experienced by people with disabilities.

Committee questions and follow-up requests
Committee members asked whether OPO tracks the share of complaints filed by people with disabilities. Thompson said the complaint form includes optional demographic questions but that the data are only as complete as community members who choose to provide them. He offered to consult the complaints division and follow up with the committee on any analysis of complaint demographics.

Members also asked about OPO’s authority to train officers directly. Thompson and Peralta said OPO’s authority is recommendation-based: the office can investigate and recommend discipline or policy changes but does not itself impose discipline. Peralta described recent work in which OPO helped develop a class, taught at the APD Academy, on the history of racism in policing — a curriculum developed with the Office of Equity and Inclusion and subject-matter experts at the University of Texas.

Training and curriculum work
Peralta said OPO’s recommendations for academy curriculum revisions include centering modules around the lived experience of people with disabilities, expanding engagement of subject-matter experts and reviewing one module at a time. She named the module on deaf and hard-of-hearing people as an early recommendation and said recent recommendations addressed search-and-seizure topics. Peralta said detailed recommendation documents are published on OPO’s website and offered to follow up with links for the committee.

Community outreach and events
Thompson invited committee members to an OPO open house at the Central Library (10 a.m.–2 p.m. the week after the meeting), saying staff will be available to explain the complaints process, policy work and community engagement, and that Spanish and ASL interpretation will be provided for the event.

What the committee asked staff to do
Committee members requested follow-up on whether OPO runs formal analyses comparing complaint demographics to community disability prevalence and asked the office to return with that information. Members also requested notification when OPO next reviews a chapter of APD academy curriculum that relates to disabilities.

Ending
OPO staff said they will provide requested follow-ups, including links to published recommendations and any available demographic analyses. Thompson and Peralta thanked the committee for the opportunity to present and for prior collaboration, including a Town Hall for People with Disabilities that informed OPO’s recommendations.","The Office of Police Oversight told the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities on July 11 that it is publishing complaint records, has independent investigative authority under the Austin Police Oversight Act (May 2023) and is working with the Austin Police Department on academy curriculum updates and community-facing events.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities, July 11, 2025

Committee votes to explore QR-code on-demand sign-language service after Convo presentation

Office of Police Oversight briefs Mayor’s Committee on investigations, training and community outreach