Orange County NC Website
Recommendation 2: Support purposeful inclusion of all people. <br />Action Strategies: <br />A. Support the Human Rights and Relations Commission and its charge to b_ <br />community: <br />■ Form a broad -based coalition utilizing existing organizations to develop a plan to foster <br />multiculturalism in the community. <br />■ Provide adequate staffing for plan development. <br />B. Comply fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). <br />Create a position for a full -time County Disability Services Coordinator. The goal of creating <br />the position would be to ensure that governments, businesses and individuals act in full <br />compliance with the ADA. The coordinator would initiate and oversee a public awareness <br />campaign, conduct an inventory of businesses and government agencies to determine compliance <br />with ADA regulations, act on discrimination complaints, serve as an advocate for persons with <br />disabilities, and serve as staff to the Orange County Disability Awareness Council. <br />C. Improve services for Latinos /Hispanics and other non - English - speaking <br />populations. <br />■ Service provision should be integrated and include: <br />• referrals to and information about available services in our community; <br />• translating and interpreting; <br />• assistance with housing concerns, financial and consumer issues, and emergency <br />assistance. <br />(It is suggested that such services be located at schools since children are already located <br />there. Public safety needs should be addressed as described under Public Safety on page 62, <br />Recommendation 3.) <br />Recruit bi- lingual employees to government positions, and provide Spanish language <br />training to employees. <br />Encourage the UNC School of Education to increase its focus on bi- lingual /ESL training <br />and education. <br />Provide English as a Second Language classes (ESL) so that non - English speakers have an <br />opportunity to learn English. (See also Education Goal 1, Recommendation 6, page 69 and <br />Goal 2, Recommendation 2, page 70). <br />D. Encourage diverse citizen participation: <br />■ Aggressively recruit a diversity of citizens, with an emphasis on recruiting people from <br />under - represented groups, for local boards and volunteer organizations. <br />■ Send representatives to African American and Latino centers, housing complexes, and <br />churches to foster dialogue. <br />E. Ensure that affordable rental and owner - occupied homes are available for low and <br />moderate income households. <br />See page 58 for details on action strategies to address housing issues. <br />a <br />