Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: President Don Horsley, District 3
Subject: Reappointments to the Commission on Disabilities
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation for reappointments to the Commission on Disabilities, each for a term ending June 30, 2025:
A) Robert Hall, for a fourth term; and
B) Ligia Andrade Zuniga, for a fourth term; and
C) Evan Milburn, for a first full term; and
D) Tryn Miller, for a first full term.
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BACKGROUND:
The Commission on Disabilities is an advisory body to the Board of Supervisors, providing opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in, and influence the development of, public policy that promotes the full integration of people with disabilities in their communities. Members of the Commission are dedicated and committed to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities throughout San Mateo County.
DISCUSSION:
As per commission bylaws, the terms of members are 3 years, for a maximum of 12 years. Robert Hall and Ligia Andrade Zuniga have each served on the commission since 2013 and are being recommended for their fourth and final terms.
Evan Milburn and Tryn Miller were initially appointed in January 2019, each for a partial term ending June 30, 2022. Approval of this reappointment would reflect a first full term for each member.
Robert is a retired clinical psychologist who worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs for over 40 years. As a child he had frequent earaches during the winter and a new treatment was applied; sessions with Radium rods put down his nose. Problems with this “treatment” led to Meniere’s Disease and hearing loss. He now has cochlear implants and is deaf without them.
Robert joined the Commission on Disabilities in 2012, and recently served as President of the CoD from 2019 to 2022. He has also served on the Legislation, Advocacy and Outreach Committee and as an advisor to the Multijurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan work group. He continues to serve on the Legislative, Advocacy and Outreach Committee, and is the CoD Liaison to the Commission on Aging. If reappointed, this would be his last 3-year term on the CoD.
Ligia Andrade Zúñiga, M.P.A. is a strong leader and activist committed to educating and empowering young people of color with disabilities around higher education, reproductive health rights, civil rights, the independent living philosophy, and disability justice. For over 20 years she has served on many commissions, boards, and committees such as the San Mateo County Commission on the Status of Women, Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of the San Mateo County Board of Directors, Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities Board of Directors, San Mateo County Health Commission, California State Independent Living Council, San Mateo County Public Authority Advisory Committee and others. Ligia has also served as a Commissioner for the San Mateo County Commission on Disabilities since 2013. In 2020 she was elected to the San Mateo Union High School District Board of Trustees. Following her spinal cord injury in 2009, Ligia has been a Peer Supporter through the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center SCI Peer Support Program, the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Northern California SCI Model System of Care Advisory, and is also part of the North American SCI Consortium. Ligia holds a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services with an emphasis in Administration and Counseling, and a Master of Public Administration degree from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California. Ligia is a parent of two college students and two cats named Simon and Garfunkel.
Evan Milburn is a 25-year-old resident of Brisbane CA, who along with serving as a Commissioner is currently a Student at Skyline College studying Sociology. While on the CoD, he worked as a system change intern with the Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities (CID). He is currently a volunteer with YO! Disabled and Proud, a statewide organization that helps connect, organize, and educate youth with disabilities. Evan is also an athlete leader for the Special Olympics and was recently appointed to the Paratransit Coordinating Council. These experiences all contribute to his personal goal of pursuing a career in Disability Advocacy and Social Justice, something he’s wanted to do since he was in middle school. Evan is also a son, brother, uncle, and friend, all of which he is truly grateful for.
Since joining the Commission in 2019, Evan has served as a Co-Chair of the Accessible Transportation Committee and has enthusiastically been involved with the Youth and Family Committee.
Tryn Miller joined the Commission on Disabilities in 2019. She has been a long-time advocate for the disabilities community, and uses her lived experience to advise the CoD on ways to help persons with disabilities and to stand up for their rights. Her love and passion for being on the commission has helped her grow as a leader, advocate and individual.
In addition to her work on the CoD, Tryn has served as a Mobility Ambassador for SamTrans to help older adults and people with disabilities with their transportation-related needs. Such needs include planning trips, using public transit, finding driver safety courses, and learning about alternatives to driving such as community shuttles. Tryn has also served on the SamTrans Citizens Advisory Committee where she provided input on the needs of current and potential transit users.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.