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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