The new Somerville High School includes a wheelchair-accessible entrance built during the building’s construction from 2018 to 2021. — Photos by Maile Blume

By Maile Blume

Somerville residents gathered over Zoom to share their concerns about the accessibility of the city, at a focus group held by the city’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Division last Thursday.

Every year, the ADA Division creates opportunities for the community to provide feedback, as an integral step towards updating Somerville’s ADA Transition Plan. ADA Coordinator Adrienne Pomeroy said in an informational video produced by Somerville GovTV, “The plan provides a roadmap for increasing access to all city buildings, roadways, sidewalks, programs, and services, and it also serves as a framework for future improvements in accessibility.”

The ADA Division’s annual revision of the plan involves reviewing the progress the city has made towards compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as reassessing the city’s most pressing goals for the coming year based on the needs voiced by the Somerville community.

There will be another focus group held this Thursday, June 8, at 6:00 p.m. The focus groups are confidential spaces for Somerville residents to share their experiences, and require residents to register before each event.

Accessibility of the city’s buildings and programs are some of the concerns
raised in the ADA Transition Plan.

The ADA Division also encourages the public to participate in a brief survey that will additionally inform updates to the ADA Transition Plan. The ADA Community Survey, which became publicly available on February 6, will be open until June 30, 2023, and can be found online or at the Somerville City Hall front desk.

“We hope you’ll share your thoughts on areas covered by the ADA plan and your experience with accessibility in Somerville,” Pomeroy added in the informational video.

“Your survey responses will inform priorities for the plan and will help the ADA Division staff learn more about community accessibility priorities and shape future community training opportunities.”