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The Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities invites all community members to its annual event in celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, on Tuesday, October 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The event, “Inclusion Drives Innovation,” will take place on at the Highlander Café at Somerville High School (atrium entrance), and will feature visual art, poetry, music, and a panel discussion led by Adriana Malozzi, Founder and CEO of Puffin, and Rachel Tanenhaus.
This year, the Commission will also present an award to a community member who has demonstrated a deep commitment to serving individuals with disabilities. The Commission has chosen to recognize Sarah Kaplan from the Boston Center for Independent Living.
For more information, contact the City of Somerville’s Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Nency Salamoun, at NSalamoun@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 ext. 2323.
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Inclusion! A list of places run by City of Somerville that a wheelchair user cannot go to: Brown School (a school!) Teen Center, DPW, Nave Gallery, Teen Empowerment (city funded jobs for non disabled youth), Recreation Depart., most city parks and programs held at them, Kennedy School Pool. You can enter Dilboy but can’t sit anywhere. To be on the field you exit and go to end of stadium open huge gate and enter field. Repeat this trip if you need bathroom or a snack. (You’re gonna need help with gate!) Everyone knows, nobody cares. Inclusion?!?!?
Add to this list: Illuminations Tour. Holiday tours of festive decorations (just don’t call them Christmas lights) trolleys are not accessible, this has been for maybe 20 years, nobody cares. I complained I cannot get on the bus and was offered a map and I could go on my own! I don’t have a car. We have nerve running an event that speaks of inclusion
This is so true. And let’s not forget the condition of so many sidewalks that are pushed up due to tree roots. They are barely passable for someone who is abled, nevermind someone with a walker, a wheelchair, or a stroller. Also, I don’t know if we have any playgrounds or playing fields in the city that are accessible. Many restaurants aren’t fully accessible, especially the ones that insist on having only high-top chairs.
This also means you cannot hire any staff for those locations if they have a disability. Totally illegal. And the city has a coordinator for this stuff? How do we serve federal food programs in parks/schools that violate these laws? And you’re right, absolutely nobody cares