Citizens for Access, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization in the Greater Boston area dedicated to advocating for the removal of architectural access barriers in public and private venues. We have advocated for the installation of curbcuts, ramps, and other access improvements in governmental entities. For further information, please send email to: citizensforaccess@yahoo.com.
Citizens for Access, Inc.
Post Office Box 600-200
Newton, MA 02460
Citizens for Access, Inc. was founded in the mid 1990's in Newton, M.A. by Maryan Amaral, Director of Aero, Inc. It started out as a grass-roots volunteer group of people, interested in advocating for the rights of children and all citizens with disabilities in the City of Newton, MA to have full inclusion to all programs and services.
We organized "Ice-cream Access Day," wrote letters and petitions for curbcuts, filed 146 curbcut complaints to the AAB, wrote thank you letters and petitions, trained with the MOD Community Access Monitor program, placed a wheelchair on the snowbank blocking access to the "Carroll Center for the Blind", supported disability rights legislation, to name a few projects. We have used humor, and most of all "respect" towards all.
In our ongoing support of the City of Newton, we found serious concerns. One concern was the practice of public employees daily carrying a Newton Police employee who happens to use a wheelchair, up a flight of crumbling stairs to go to work. This practice continued for over 6 years despite the repeated requests for the installation of ramps. It became apparent there was a "hole" in the system, communication and trouble with public servants implementing ADA Title I and Title II compliance.
We organized "Ice-cream Access Day," wrote letters and petitions for curbcuts, filed 146 curbcut complaints to the AAB, wrote thank you letters and petitions, trained with the MOD Community Access Monitor program, placed a wheelchair on the snowbank blocking access to the "Carroll Center for the Blind", supported disability rights legislation, to name a few projects. We have used humor, and most of all "respect" towards all.
In our ongoing support of the City of Newton, we found serious concerns. One concern was the practice of public employees daily carrying a Newton Police employee who happens to use a wheelchair, up a flight of crumbling stairs to go to work. This practice continued for over 6 years despite the repeated requests for the installation of ramps. It became apparent there was a "hole" in the system, communication and trouble with public servants implementing ADA Title I and Title II compliance.
2008-Four Accessible branch libraries closed in Newton
The recent closure of all of the branch libraries in Newton, is simply unacceptable. This action prevents most children and people with disabilities to have no access to library services. Only one MBTA bus line travels to the main library which may take hours to reach by bus and train from different villages in Newton. We petitioned online, had public hearings at City Hall and have the support of the Board of Alderman to reopen all branch libraries. However, the branches still remain closed.
The lack of wheelchair access in the fourteen schools is also unacceptable. Our children and their education has to be the top priority in our city. Our children are our future. Building a $200 million dollar high school while closing all of the branch libraries and many of the programs for elders and people with disabilities, is short-sighted and simply a shameful act.
We have never had a vote on whether or not our branch libraries would be closed. This was not a question on the Proposition 2.5 Over-ride of 2008. We need to have a vote. We also request for the City of Newton to hire a trained ADA Coordinator.
Although the City of Newton is considered one of the top affluent communities in the Greater Boston area with highly educated administrators, we found they allowed for state and local contractors to build new inaccessible sidewalks and streets, lack of oversight of accessibility standards in new construction in Newton's parks, libraries, schools and at City Hall. Although there are new access construction projects underway, we find the ongoing practice of building new walkways and ramps with slopes too steep, and stairs without handrails is still not addressed.
It is our belief that the Planning Department and Building Department practices may need to be reviewed in the new administration, and the hiring of a Commissioner for Person's with Disabilities with full time ADA compliant trained staff person dedicated and knowledgable about slopes and building codes.
We would like to thank everyone who has joined us for our advocacy events in towns in cities such as in Newton, Framingham, Cape Cod, Watertown, Brighton, Boston, and Cambridge. We have met wonderful city employees, contractors, Alderman, and citizens along the way, all believing in the mission to comply with the ADA and bring our communities up to the ideal of being fully inclusive to everyone. Thank you!
Citizens for Access, Inc.
citizensforaccess@yahoo.com
The lack of wheelchair access in the fourteen schools is also unacceptable. Our children and their education has to be the top priority in our city. Our children are our future. Building a $200 million dollar high school while closing all of the branch libraries and many of the programs for elders and people with disabilities, is short-sighted and simply a shameful act.
We have never had a vote on whether or not our branch libraries would be closed. This was not a question on the Proposition 2.5 Over-ride of 2008. We need to have a vote. We also request for the City of Newton to hire a trained ADA Coordinator.
Although the City of Newton is considered one of the top affluent communities in the Greater Boston area with highly educated administrators, we found they allowed for state and local contractors to build new inaccessible sidewalks and streets, lack of oversight of accessibility standards in new construction in Newton's parks, libraries, schools and at City Hall. Although there are new access construction projects underway, we find the ongoing practice of building new walkways and ramps with slopes too steep, and stairs without handrails is still not addressed.
It is our belief that the Planning Department and Building Department practices may need to be reviewed in the new administration, and the hiring of a Commissioner for Person's with Disabilities with full time ADA compliant trained staff person dedicated and knowledgable about slopes and building codes.
We would like to thank everyone who has joined us for our advocacy events in towns in cities such as in Newton, Framingham, Cape Cod, Watertown, Brighton, Boston, and Cambridge. We have met wonderful city employees, contractors, Alderman, and citizens along the way, all believing in the mission to comply with the ADA and bring our communities up to the ideal of being fully inclusive to everyone. Thank you!
Citizens for Access, Inc.
citizensforaccess@yahoo.com
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If you would like to volunteer, or have comments or suggestions for our webpage, please write to citizensforaccess@yahoo.com;
M. Amaral, Director, P.O. Box 600-200, Newtonville, MA 02460.
If you would like to volunteer, or have comments or suggestions for our webpage, please write to citizensforaccess@yahoo.com;
M. Amaral, Director, P.O. Box 600-200, Newtonville, MA 02460.
