Joyce Sawyer, Moderator

Workgroup Members:
Karen Cross, Cammeron Drager, Kurt Gramlich, Paul Gramlich & Rose Juriga

1. Goals
1. Create a more "user-friendly" city.
2. Full implementation of existing laws.
3. Involvement of persons with disabilities in the process of "improved Akron."
4. Equality of all persons regardless of disability.
5. Encouragement of contact and exposure, open and integrative of all.
6. Respect for and recognition of the independence of persons with disabilities and their desire to take responsibility.
7. Remove "seams" from system through collaboration.
8. Eliminate the "pecking order" of disabilities; make city events benefit wide range of disabilities, not only one.
9. Relief and support for families of persons with disabilities.
10. Comprehensive source of information of all services.
2. Attitudes Needing Modification
1. Historical perspectives perpetuate old attitudes.
2. Patronizing persons with disabilities.
3. Increase public awareness of widespread desire for persons with disabilities to be independent, "hand-out mentality" rare.
4. Follow-up to de-institutionalizing persons with disabilities into old age.
5. Conflict between "disabled" persons and "elderly" persons.
6. Mental illness is a disability; alcoholism and drug abuse are NOT.
7. Superficial support for persons with disabilities facilities; "not in my backyard."
8. Inquisition regarding nature or cause of a person’s disability.
3. Suggestions
1. Form support groups for persons with disabilities.
2. Issue a comprehensive brochure for persons with disabilities with a guide to specific types.
3. Telephone "hot line" that persons with disabilities could call with ideas and frustrations.
4. Households marked with indication that there’s someone who can help living at a particular address.
5. Printed or computer-generated maps with accessibility marked of handicapped parking spots.
6. Produce public service TV spots to help sensitize others to situations that persons with disabilities deal with on an everyday basis.
7. Appoint nursing home ombudsmen to inspect periodically.
8. Arrange for local medical students to work on community-based home care.
9. Design a website containing information useful to persons with disabilities and keep updated and current (announce through TV and radio PSA’s).
10. Parking spots for persons with disabilities
1. Mark more clearly.
2. Enforce the punishment of those misusing handicapped spots.
3. Surveillance of people who misuse parking; make offenders public (i.e., posting in P.O.)
4. Website to expose those in "iii" above.
5. Notary on site.
11. Adjust new schools for handicapped.
12. Incentives to add more bathrooms to public buildings.
13. Motorized wheelchairs at zoo, etc.
14. Prosthetic devices should be included in Medicaid.
15. When retrofitting older buildings, use removable barriers; can be done by degrees.
16. All doors of medical facilities should be wide enough for wheelchairs.
17. Doorjambs need to be flatter.
18. Public commending of businesses providing good accessibility (i.e., visible sticker).
19. Interpretation (sign language) at all public meetings.
20. Those studying sign language or needing practical experience sign at public meetings (possible reduction of tuition).
21. City material printed in large print (type-face).
22. Provide microphones for sound amplification at public meetings.
23. Broadcast public meetings to home computers.
24. Equipment, which is provided, should be serviced and upgraded as necessary.
25. Contact local businesses for donations.
26. Investigate other progressive cities—ideas.
27. Follow guidelines for "visitibility" in local housing industry (developed by Home Builders Association of Greater Akron, the Tri-County Independent Living Center and the Urban Neighborhood Development Corp.). These guidelines refer to creating new residences, which can be visited on the first floor by physically challenged persons.
28. Recreational facilities accessible.
29. "Day care centers" for persons with disabilities to provide secure location while family members go to work; also center for persons with disabilities before "sheltered workshops" open for them in mid-morning.
30. Availability of insurance rider to cover expense of day care for persons with disabilities.
31. Parking spaces for persons with disabilities, which have space between them to allow passage of a wheelchair.
32. Arrange restaurant seating for a wheelchair so no one needs to get up to allow the persons with disabilities to be places at a table.