Below is a press release regarding our City's Accessibility Self-Evaluation.
A
report detailing an exhaustive six-month evaluation of the City’s accessibility
is now available at www.somervillema.gov/departments/personnel/ADA
and by clicking the link “Self-Evaluation
Plan” on the right-hand side of the
page.
Two
public meetings will be held in August and in September, cosponsored by the
City’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities, to gather community feedback
that will develop this Self-Evaluation report into a living, multiyear Transition
Plan to create equal access for all to the city’s streets, sidewalks,
buildings, parks and programs. The first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday,
Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. A second meeting will be scheduled for
September. Residents can also send questions and comments on the report via
e-mail or phone.
The
completed Self-Evaluation, which outlines a physical inventory of the City’s
infrastructure and existing policies, practices and procedures regarding
accessibility and identifies existing barriers to equal access, was delivered
to the City on August 12 by the nonprofit Institute for Human Centered Design Firm
of Boston, which the City had contracted. This report will form the basis for the
Transition Plan which, when combined with public input, will detail the
methodology and outline the timeframe for removing those barriers.
“Public feedback is critical to assisting the City in
prioritizing the barriers and issues identified in the Self-Evaluation that, if
addressed, can make an immediate and meaningful difference in residents’ daily
lives,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “This is a process years in the making
and the City owes thanks to the community, the Somerville Commission for
Persons with Disabilities and especially advocates such as Eileen Feldman and
the Somerville Disabilities Rights Commission, who shined a spotlight on these
issues. Thanks to their advocacy and work, these plans are becoming reality. I am committed to seeing this plan accomplished
in full and the City proactively maintaining accessibility throughout our
community.”
“The singular goal of the ADA is to enable persons with
disabilities to lead full lives and to actively and equally participate in
every aspect of their community, and Mayor Curtatone has made it clear to me
and the rest of the staff that he wants to leave no one behind,” said Betsy
Allen, the City’s ADA Coordinator. “The change advocates like Eileen Feldman sought
so passionately is near. It is happening every day. Now, we call on these advocates and the
entire City to own, shape and mold this change. The result we seek—a fuller and
more integrated life for all--cannot happen without the continued passion, commitment
and involvement of these advocates and others. The making of Somerville into a
model of inclusiveness is a project worthy of our time, our commitment and the
result will benefit all of us. Now is not the time to sit back, to be passive
and silent. In keeping with the requirement and the spirit of the ADA, we want
to see you and we want to hear from you.”
The Self-Evaluation and Transition plans are part of the
City’s overall efforts to address accessibility throughout Somerville, along
with the new
Streetscape Plan and the active contributions of the Somerville Commission
for Persons with Disabilities. The Commission meets monthly and works with the
ADA Coordinator to knock down barriers. New Commission members are welcome.
To learn more about the City’s comprehensive plans to create
equal access for all, please contact ADA Coordinator Betsy Allen at
617-625-6600 ext. 2323 or by email at ballen@somervillema.gov.
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