HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-24-COD-rpt
Commission on Disability
Article 2 Report for Town Meeting
April 24, 2006
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to update you on the work of the
Commission on Disability.
Collaboration has been a major focus this year - with other committees
and town groups. Last year we talked about getting involved earlier in the
planning process so we could avoid costly retrofitting. And we are doing that -
we are part of the newly re-formed Design Review Team, the building inspector
Steve Frederickson attends our meetings and we are invited to key planning
meetings. We have been able to make an impact on new businesses by holding
them accountable to providing full access. We are particularly pleased with
Jasmine Sola's efforts to modify their front entrance into an attractive and fully
accessible storefront.
We still have a ways to go to meet the letter of the federal law, the ADA,
enacted in 1990. And we need to go even further to embrace the spirit of the
law. Embracing the spirit of the law means that we need to develop longer-term
vision. We need accessible bathrooms in the town office building and a front
ramp, but we understand that these projects will go on hold due to money
concerns. The Boy Scouts are assisting us with a survey of what else is needed
in terms of town accessibility. We are slowly becoming more conscious as a
town of the needs of the disabled.
One of the Commission's recent concerns has been the debate about
sidewalk construction materials. Conventional brick sidewalks are very
unfriendly for mobility challenged, as well as elderly citizens and wheelchair
users. Too much vibration causes increased pain, spasticity, incontinence, and
headaches in some wheelchair users. Bricks increase the amount of work
needed for mobility and bricks have inherent changes in level, which can create
tripping hazards. One eighth of an inch is enough to cause a fall.
There are other choices. One is concrete in the middle with bricks along
the sides, in what is called the utility or finishing strips. Other committees have
rejected this, saying it was not good for the visually impaired, yet when we
researched this we found that the color contrast and the different noises that
adjacent surfaces make when tapped with a cane do provide useful way-finding
cues for the visually impaired. This is what the US Access Board and the
Department of Transportation recommend for cost as well.
The other material suggested is wire cut brick. With a proper sub floor
and proper installation this might be a good alternative. But we must be willing to
commit to the cost of twice annual maintenance for this to be a viable option.
And the town's finances may not be able to guarantee that right now.
Adaptive Environments mounted a camera onto a wheelchair to look at
vibration, rolling resistance, and slip resistance on different surfaces. We viewed
this video and arrived at the same conclusion they did - that if economics were
not a problem and the budget was open-ended, then wire cut brick is the best.
But if economics are a consideration then the alternative that features concrete
on the walking surface and bricks on the sides is the best choice.
We need to keep this discussion going since it has taken so long to be
able to all sit at the same table. But we need to be realistic with our cost
estimates while we continue to keep the rights of the disabled clearly in the
forefront.
Thank you.
Victoria Buckley, Chair, Commission on Disability