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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.