HomeMy Public PortalAboutAnnual Reports 2005-2012_201305081456021093WATERTOWN COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES
ANNUAL REPORTS
2005
The Personnel Director assists the Commission on Disability as staff support for their
meetings, and activities related to their goals and objectives. The Commission regularly
reviews local construction plans for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act,
participates in Faire on the Square and advocates for residents with school and town
officials. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month. In 2005 the
Commission developed a dedicated website which provides computer -based information
of their mission and services. A third revision of the Accessible Dining Guide was
developed and will soon be posted to the Watertown Commission On Disabilities
website. An October 2005 Goal Setting retreat resulted in specific projects for 2006.
The Commission provides information, advice and advocacy for Town and School
departments as well as individuals in the community.
2006
The Commission on Disabilities provides information, advice and advocacy for Town
and School departments as well as individuals in the community. The Personnel Director
assists the Commission on Disability as staff support for their meetings, and activities
related to their goals and objectives. An October 2005 Goal Setting retreat resulted in
specific projects for 2006 which will be reviewed at the next retreat in 2007. The
Commission regularly reviews local construction plans for compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act, participates in Faire on the Square, and advocates for
residents with school and town officials. Ten monthly meetings are held on the third
Wednesday of the month. In 2006 the Commission hired an independent contractor to
make the Watertown Commission On Disabilities website www.wcod.org fully
accessible, with a target of 2007 for completion. A third revision of the Accessible
Dining Guide was completed, printed in regular, large print and Braille formats, and is
posted to the Watertown Commission On Disabilities website. It is also available in
cassette tape form.
2007
The Personnel Director, as the ADA Coordinator, assists the Commission on Disability as
staff support for their meetings, and activities related to their goals and objectives. The
Commission on Disability provides information, advice and advocacy for Town and
School departments as well as individuals in the community. The Commission regularly
reviews local construction plans for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act,
participates in Faire on the Square and advocates for residents with School and Town
officials. Ten monthly meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month. Among
many projects in 2007, the Commission on Disabilities enhanced their website,
www.wcod.org to be fully accessible; was actively engaged in discussions with the Town
and the MBTA to move a bus stop from Main Street back to the Delta and to monitor
toner signals at crosswalks in Watertown Square; worked with the Board of Health and
the Police Department to review the Town's Animal Ordinance for Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.
Equal access to local government was identified as a priority in 2007. As a pilot project,
funding was approved to purchase equipment and to provide closed captioning for two
public meeting broadcasts. The Commission will continue efforts with this priority
through cooperative efforts with the Executive Director of the Watertown Cable Access
Corporation.
2008
The Personnel Director, as the ADA Coordinator, assists the Commission on Disability as
staff support for their meetings and activities. The Commission on Disability provides
information, advice and advocacy for Town and School departments as well as
individuals in the community. The Commission regularly reviews local construction
plans for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, participates in Faire on
the Square and advocates for residents with School and Town officials. Information
about meetings and pertinent issues can be found on the website www.wcod.org. Ten
monthly meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month. Some of the many
accomplishments in 2008 include a partnership with the town to request of the MBTA
that a bus stop be moved to the Delta; a partnership with the Department of Public Works
to have the recycling brochure printed in Braille; sponsorship of the film "Labeled
Disabled" by Maggie Dobson which was shown at the Watertown Free Library. Two
Commissioners are members of the town's Emergency Preparedness team.
Three Commission members completed the Community Access Monitor Program
conducted by the Massachusetts Office on Disability.
2009
The Personnel Director, as the ADA Coordinator, assists the Commission on Disability as
staff support for their meetings and activities. The Commission on Disability provides
information, advice and advocacy for Town and School departments as well as
individuals in the community. The Commission regularly reviews local construction
plans for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, participates in Faire on
the Square and advocates for residents with School and Town officials. Some of the
many accomplishments in 2009 include a Speaker Series in which guest speakers were
invited to address topics of interest, a partnership with the Department of Public Works
(DPW) and the Perkins School for the Blind to have the DPW Recycling Brochure
printed in Braille; a partnership with Perkins School for the Blind to fund a "newsline"
which is a program that allows the Watertown Tab to be heard through an audio menu on
cell phones. The Commission funded sign language interpreters for the Special
Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Annual Awards Ceremony and showing of
the movie "Including Samuel" as well as at civic events and the Faire on the Square. The
Commission is in collaboration with the Cable Access Board to study the feasibility of
close captioning of Town Council meetings. The Watertown Disability Friendly
Business guide was updated and distributed at the Faire on the Square. Information about
meetings and pertinent issues can be found on the website www.wcod.org. Ten monthly
meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month.
2010
The Personnel Director, as the ADA Coordinator, assists the Commission on Disability as
staff support for their meetings and activities. In 2010 the Commission funded sign
language interpreters for civic events and the Faire on the Square. They also conducted a
review of accessible restaurants for the 4t' Edition of the Watertown Dining Guide which
will be completed in 2011. The Commission in collaboration with the Cable Access
Board will be providing closed captioning of Town Council meetings in 2011. The
Watertown Disability Friendly Business guide was updated and distributed at the Faire on
the Square. Information about meetings and pertinent issues can be found on the website
www.wcod.org.
2011
The Personnel Department assists the Commission on Disability as staff support for their
meetings and activities related to their goals and objectives. In 2011, the Commission on
Disabilities provided information, advice and advocacy for Town and School
departments as well as individuals in the community. The Commission reviewed local
construction plans for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, participated
in Faire on the Square and advocated for residents with School and Town officials. Ten
monthly meetings were held on the third Wednesday of the month. Among many
projects in 2011, the Watertown Commission On Disabilities' proudest achievements
were closed captioning of many Town Council meetings, funding of a listening version of
the Watertown Tab, and the first AbleArts program hosted at the Watertown Free
Library. The Commission continued to maintain their website, www.wcod.org, which is
fully accessible; was actively engaged in discussions about snow removal from
sidewalks, and began work on the next edition of the Watertown Accessible Dining
Guide.
2012
The Personnel Department assists the Commission on Disabilities as staff support for
their meetings and activities related to their goals and objectives. In 2012, the
Commission on Disabilities provided information, advice and advocacy for Town and
School departments as well as individuals in the community. The Commission provided
accessibility and Braille programs for the 2012 Town Officials Inauguration, reviewed
local construction plans for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, printed
a Braille and large -print version of the Automated Recycling Program flyers, provided a
plaque for the Victory Field Wall, participated in Faire on the Square, initiated surveys of
audible traffic signals and handicapped parking spaces. The Watertown Commission On
Disabilities continued to support the closed captioning of many Town Council meetings,
funding of a listening version of the Watertown Tab, and the second AbleArts program
hosted at the Watertown Free Library. The Commission invited and benefitted from the
many State and local guests who spoke at the meetings. The Fourth Edition of the
Watertown Accessible Dining Guide was completed in December and has a version on-
line at www.wcod.org.