LINCOLN DISABILITY COMMISSION
Meeting Notes September 11, 2006
Present: Rob Loud, Kathy Deickler, Adeline Naiman, Anita Sheipers, Debbie Dorsey, Kitty Stein, Jill Harkaway
1. Gabriella joined the meeting by speaker phone. She informed us of an
2. The minutes from May 1, 2006 were approved.
3. It was suggested that a party be held to celebrate the 9th anniversary of
the Commission and to honor all former members (Abigail Congdon
Dom Cannistraro, John Bingham, Sally Bobbit, Christina Brown, Karen
Santucci, and Elaine Brown.) It was proposed that the party should be held
in March.
4. It was suggested that a letter be written to the MBTA requesting a platform
be raised up at the train station to allow for handicapped access. It was also suggested that it may be possible to install a built-in exterior grade lift. Rob suggested that this may be able to be addressed in the new mall plans. He also noted the need for public bathrooms with handicap accessibility at the mall. Kathy raised the need to find out MBTA plans for future accessibility. Rob will address these issues.
5. Library doors: Kathy, her husband, and Rob met with Barbara Myles. She has
found a donor who would contribute $1500 for accessible electronic door operators if the sum of the contribution would be matched. The total cost estimate for the doors is $3000. Anita suggested that the Friends of the Library could do fund raising, or Barbara could make a Capital Request for July ’07. She will send Barbara an email. She will let Rob know the outcome, and then Kathy will write something up once she has heard from Rob. It was suggested that The Friends of the Library could put a box for donations at the library and/or do outreach to the community.
6. Anita presented the first draft of the Americans with Disability Act Self-evaluation and Transition Plan. It goes to the Commission on Disability and Architectural Plan and a hearing is needed before it is approved by Disability and then it goes to the Selectmen. She will move ahead and start to meet with Department heads. Kathy and Adeline have offered to help. The Assessors
Office is the only department with an employee with a declared disability.
7. The use of portable ramps will be discussed at the next meeting.
8. Debby and Adeline will work on an article on the Disability Commission for the Lincoln Journal. They will ask for regular space every two months and have offered to write something on that regular basis. Topics include information on the library doors and highlights of the meetings, and they will solicit input from the community on issues such as the library doors and needs analysis. Debby will send a copy to each of us.
9. Rob has been asked to join the new Open Space Committee in order to have
input into trail accessibility issues.
10. Debbie suggested that we need to be careful to include mental disabilities in
our focus. She is putting together Special Olympics for CASE and asked if the Commission is willing to join with the Lincoln schools in supporting this. The Olympics include all different kinds of disabilities and would involve non-handicapped children working with disabled kids. She will present something at the next meeting.
11. Kathy will take over Debbie’s place as Vice-Chairperson of the Commission.
12. The next meeting will be held on Monday October 16.
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