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Commission on Disability
April 7, 2011 Meeting Minutes
5:45pm to 7:00 pm
Room 111 - Lexington Town Hall
Members Present: Victoria Buckley, Charles Burt Cole, Susan Cusack, Garry Rhodes,
Michael Martinetti, Julie Miller, Leonard Morse-Fortier, Janet Perry, and Francine
Stieglitz.
Members Not Present: Janice Cyr, Hank Manz, and Linda Vine.
Additional Attendees: Jennifer Williams, Susan Wolf-Fordham
Meeting Began at
: 5:55PM
Minutes for March 3, 2011 meeting approved unanimously.
1)Susan Wolf-Fordham presented Emergency Preparedness at Shriver Center.
a.Shriver Center: Research Center in Waltham, UMass Center in Worcester.
i.Connected with Non-Profits, Universities, Government Agencies
ii.Focus Areas on Emergency Preparedness which is a:
1.Public Health Issue
2.Public Policy
iii.People with Disabilities are under-prepared.
1.Often not included in State or Local Plans or Planning process
2.2006 President mandated inclusion of people with disabilities
3.Children still left off emergency planning
4.Police, Fire and EMS have limited or no training on Disability
Issues
5.Red Cross Shelters not admitting Deaf or other disabilities
iv.People with Disabilities require a change in the way emergency services
are provided.
v.Children and Adults with Disabilities are interested in Emergency
Preparedness and are entitled under ADA.
vi.Massachusetts shelters that are not accessible are on a “Shelter List”.
vii.Pilot Project to train parents on emergency preparedness for children with
special health care needs.
viii.Consult with HAZMAT regarding the decontamination exercise, to ensure
people with disabilities are included.
ix.TSA & the Department of Homeland Security consulting.
b.Bring together the Disability Commission, the emergency response team,
different town departments to discuss emergency preparedness in Lexington.
Commission on Disability
April 7, 2011 Meeting Minutes
5:45pm to 7:00 pm
Room 111 - Lexington Town Hall
c.Grant amount $175,000 – we’ll hear whether the grant is approved mid-summer.
i.What would Lexington get
1.Training for First Responders
2.Community Forum Event Meeting to include the Disability
Community and Responders to review existing plan, identify gaps,
and close gaps.
2)Royal Bistro Restaurant: Regarding Push Pad (Door Opener) at Indian Bistro.
a.The Historic Commission would like to place the door opener on the inside of a
column. That placement would cause a door to open on a wheelchair user.
b.Member of the Commission on Disability will attend the Historic Commission
meeting.
3)TD Bank Building Lowell and Woburn Streets at Countryside.
a.Created 2 parking spaces for disability
b.Sidewalk has two paths of travel into the building
c.All entrances have curb cuts
d.Accessible Bank Window
e.Accessible Men’s & Women’s Bathroom
4)Announcement: Special Education forum with Jay Kaufman with Mary Ann Stewart
(School Committee), Mariann Freedman (Attorney), Tom Senikandro (State
st
Representative) Next Thursday, April 21.
Meeting Adjourned at: 6:57 PM
Next Meeting: Thursday, May 5, 2011
Meeting Minutes Submitted by: Janice Cyr, Commission Member