HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-06-02-COD-minCommission on Disability Minutes
June 2, 2016
Members Present: Victoria Buckley, Chair; Julie Miller; Len Morse - Fortier; Susan Cusack; Janet Perry;
Francine Stieglitz
Town Liaisons: Fred Lonardo, Building Commissioner; Linda Vine, Deputy Town Manager; Joe Pato,
Chair, Board of Selectman
Guests: Jeri Zeder, Harry MacKay (COA); Shaun Grady
Presenters: Charlotte Rodgers, Director of Human Services; Sheila Butts, Community Center Director
Review of Audio Assistance at Community Center
The meeting was held at the Community Center in order to assess the audio assistance available
in the meeting rooms. Charlotte Rodgers, Director of Human Services, and Sheila Butts, Community
Center Director, demonstrated the wireless mike system in the dining room, as well as the lapel wireless.
The rooms with assistance are Dining Room, and rooms 237 and 242 on the second floor. There is a
portable unit for smaller rooms. There is one case of assistive hearing devices per room and these are not
transferrable room to room. The largest usage so far has been for OWLL classes (Older and Wiser
Lifelong Learning). If people need the devices they can ask staff or custodians for assistance. There are
also neck loops that people can use with headphones. The Fitness Room has availability for wireless
mike usage as well. There are currently about 500 classes.
The issue was raised as to how people know that assistance is available. Sheila said that they
could put signs on doors to let people know. This could also be on the sheets or forms for the presenters
when they reserve the rooms.
Discussion then centered on whether public meetings and announcements should also have this
included, and the Commission believes this would be helpful. There is a need for internal system that
works, such as having microphones hanging from the ceiling as Len suggested or making sure public
meeting rooms are "looped'. Linda Vine will follow up with Pat Goddard about looping the meeting
rooms at the Community Center.
The other issues include: providing sensitivity training for staff around the issues of hearing and
visual difficulties; how to better manage assistive listening devices.
Approval of Minutes
The Commission voted to accept the May minutes.
Review of Design Advisory Committee Meeting
The speaker from University of Pittsburgh, Jon Pearlman, talked about the study of brick surfaces
done in Pittsburgh. He discussed the issue of vibration as a health hazard for those in wheelchairs. He
said that 1 out of 3 older Americans fall annually and that TBI (traumatic brain injury) is due to falling
35.2% of the time. The study used concrete as a control — vibration from segmental pavers depends on
paver bevel and pattern. The study used able - bodied people in wheelchairs. They found wire brick
smooth the way it was there — repeated study showed about the same but this sidewalk was not used at all
except for study. They want to find a threshold of roughness and are designing a tool to measure this — an
accelerometer. Dr. Pearlman is hoping that they will be able to propose a standard to the Access Board
by June 2016.
Review of Center Walk on 5/20/16
Victoria went on walk which was basically done to show people what Center was designed to be
in the 1960's. At that time the road was narrowed and the sidewalks were widened in an attempt to
provide an alternative to Burlington Mall shopping.
Review of Summer Schedule
The Commission will not meet in July. Linda Vine will cancel the meeting.
Meeting Needs of Individuals with Hearing and Visual Issues
We need an inventory of public meeting rooms: Parker Room, Board of Selectmen Room in
Town Office Building; DPW — upstairs conference room, cafeteria; Cary Library. We are only sure of the
library being looped so we will invite Pat Goddard in for the meeting on August 4 to update us on what is
already done. The other issues are visual striping on stairs to provide contrast — this is true in the
Community Center. Commission members were encouraged to look up the best practice standards for
this accommodation. We should consider inviting someone from Massachusetts Commission for the
Blind for our September meeting.
New Business
Building Commissioner, Fred Lonardo, said that Shire had a new project coming up that might
need variances.
Submitted by: Victoria Buckley