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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-09-28-EC-min`pV5 MORNi pT 1775 1• c A Town of Lexington a> s�- � = Social Services s n A 3 5 0 � APpll l9^ �CXINGY A Heather Hartshorn Sweeney, Director of Social Services Tel: (781) 861 -0194 Fax: (781) 863 -2271 Enablement Committee Minutes September 28, 2001 Present: Bob Harris, Chair; Barbara Barrows; Jill Maturing; Sue Cusack, Co- Chair, Special Needs Parents Advisory Committee; Michael Muehe, Cambridge Disabilities Commission; Eva Heney, Minuteman Reporter; Steve Baran, ADA Coordinator and Recorder Sue Cusack: The Special Needs Parents Advisory Committee is planning to form an access subcommittee and is building networks. One of its aims is to avoid retrofitting in the schools. The Parents Advisory Committee wants to support the Enablement Committee. There is a need for more missionaries who will take a lead on school access issues. Sue is particularly concerned about what door opener may be chosen for the high school. Her son, Lee, age 16, has made this his project. Adaptive Environments (Kathy Gips) has been a resource. Sue can be reached at work: 617 355 -8457. She would like to be on the committee's mailing list to receive minutes of the Enablement Committee meetings. Michael Muehe, Cambridge Disabilities Commission: Michael has been Director of the Disabilities Commission since 1979 when it was established by the City Council to do the following: 1. Act as resource clearing house of information for the disability community; 2. Coordinate with city government (40 different departments), has cultivated relationships with department heads. The role of the ADA Coordinator is set forth in statute. The coordinator provides technical assistance and training, assurance compliance with state and federal accessibility regulations. 3. Work with private sector organizations in an advisory role; coordinates with the Cambridge Inspectional Services Department. The Commission is an 11- member board appointed by the City Manager to do outreach on_ community accessibility. The Commission's structure and function is set forth in Chapter40, Section 8J, of the Mass. General Law giving communities a "local option" to have: ull participation and integration. It coordinates with the Mass. Office on Disability. c.. The precursor to the Americans with Disability Act is Section 504 of the Rehabilt(htion ct ofz - i 1973: No program receiving federal money can discriminate on the basis of disability. lyfpch b the same language went into Section 2 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, I Every city and town is required to comply with architectural access law. An individual must file 1475 MASSACHUSETTS AWN EN U F, • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 with the Architectural Access Board using the grievance procedure. The process is spelled out in the law. There are many models of grievance procedures. It is eventually possible to have recourse to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Mass. Commission against Discrimination. Michael's practice is to begin by writing a friendly letter suggesting a time frame to comply. If seeking action under federal law, the plaintiff must pay. The Disability Commission is an early warning watchdog group. Barbara Barrows commented that in bringing complaints, she didn't want to work for the town. The members of the current committee, she commented further, are all volunteers; no one is appointed. Michael replied that by being officially appointed the members have certain duties and responsibilities along with a certain level of authority and status in town government. The commission can also collect fines From people who are parked illegally. Funds can be spent on disability improvements including providing assistance to individuals needing to make home improvements, e.g., a crumbling ramp. The discretion for the committee to spend money is set forth in the town bylaws. Monies can also be used to pay the expenses of a parents' group or to provide resources to a deaf person who wants to come to a meeting. A stun of money can be set aside for miscellaneous needs such as curb ramps to be installed when a sheet is being paved. Michael urged members to attend Community Access Monitor training on November 15 and 16 See additional notes frorn Barbara Barrows who took notes for the remainder of the meeting.