Commission reviews emergency-preparedness gap, sidewalk accessibility, adaptive bikes and RightHear trial ideas
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Summary
Commission members reported that MEMA no longer funds on-site emergency-preparedness trainings previously provided through a grant, and discussed sidewalk accessibility, adaptive bikeshare docking challenges, and RightHear audio wayfinding technology.
Commission members reported highlights from the Commission on Disabilities Alliance meeting held Jan. 8, focusing on emergency preparedness, sidewalk design, adaptive bikeshare equipment, and wayfinding technology.
Members said the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) formerly funded on-site emergency-preparedness trainings and distribution of go-bags through a grant to the state Office on Disability; that program is no longer funded, and MEMA materials and online resources are now the recommended starting point for communities. "They no longer funded that program. So as of right now, MOD does not have that program," a member reported.
The commission also discussed brick sidewalks in older sections of town, which members said can impede mobility for people using wheelchairs or walkers. Members described stamped concrete as a lower-maintenance alternative that preserves a brick-like appearance while improving accessibility, citing Newton’s use of modern stamped concrete as an example.
On micromobility, members reported that some towns are acquiring one adaptive bicycle for public bikeshare systems but are encountering docking constraints because adaptive cycles require larger docking space and sometimes must be returned to a home base. One member noted that other municipalities manage adaptable bikes as rentals from recreation centers, where the bikes return to the rental hub.
Members also flagged RightHear, a commercial system that combines beacons and a smartphone app to deliver audio descriptions of the environment. The commission recommended members review the RightHear website to evaluate whether talking signage technology could be used on local trails and parkways to support visually impaired users.
The commission encouraged members to consult MEMA’s online resources for emergency planning and to consider alternatives to historic brick sidewalks when the city undertakes repair or replacement work.