Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 - Commission On Disability - Annual ReportCity of Fort Collins Commission on Disability 2017 Annual Report The City of Fort Collins Commission on Disability is charged with advising the City Council on issues relating to citizens with disabilities. Throughout the year, this 9 member commission discusses issues relevant to citizens with disabilities, and partners with local agencies and City departments to address vital needs. During 2017, the Commission members were as follows: Terry Schlichting- Chairperson Marilee Boylan- Vice-Chairperson Leslie Efird - Secretary Michael Marr John Morris Hettie Hueber Jan Barela-Smith Rustin Hughes Sherri Reichow Activity Summary ADA Special Event Checklist – The Commission on Disability has been working on creating an accessibility checklist for special events that take place within city limits. We have been working with members of the Bohemian Foundation to pilot and implement the checklist during the 2018 New West Fest. The Mayor’s Awards – This annual event recognizes those who work for the advancement of people with disabilities in our community. These are the 2017 award recipients: Employer of the Year: Koby’s East Coast Snowball Stand (Supports students with disabilities through employment). Employee of the Year: Renee Ostergren - Integrated Services Coach and Craig Kisling – City of Fort Collins Landscape Architect Educator of the Year: Tracy Kelley - Integrated Services Teacher-Early Childhood Red White and Blue Award (Veteran’s Award): Raleigh Heekin Partnership Award: Twin Silos – Marilee Boylan and other commission members worked with the City of Fort Collins’ Parks Planning and Development Department and community advocates to have adult changing tables installed at the new Twin Silos Park. These tables allow adults and adolescents the space they and their caregivers need to appropriately and privately use restroom facilities. Service Provider of the Year: Dance Express Dorothy Lasley Memorial Award: Brian Collins Volunteer of the Year: Sarah Portillo Spirit of Fort Collins: Nancy Jackson Transportation - Transportation issues continue to be a major focus of the commission. The importance of proper and timely snow removal continues to be an educational process for the community as a whole. The provision of sidewalks in new land development design and their connection to accessible travel paths continues to be a barrier for community members with mobility impairments. One area of particular focus for the commission has been sidewalk continuity through the Harmony corridor. The commission also continues to work with TransFort and Dial-a-Ride, addressing issues that were conveyed by commission or community members. Another essential aspect of transportation is accessible public trails. City Engineering staff observed this firsthand during a ride-along with Commission member Rustin Hughes, who profiled the challenges associated with navigating Fort Collins by trails and public transportation with an adaptive hand cycle. ADA Shower Units – The commission received confirmation that the permitting process for housing development requires that housing complexes with more than 24 units have at least one unit with a roll-in shower. The commission will continue working with the City’s Building Services to move forward on an ordinance to address the dimensions of each accessible shower in new housing development, which would increase the standard dimensions to 5 feet by 3 feet.