MINUTES

 

Mansfield Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities

Regular Meeting   - Tuesday May 24, 2005

2:30 PM - Conference Room C - Audrey P. Beck Building

 

I.                     Attendance: K. Grunwald, S. Thompson (Staff), S. Hasson, T. Miller, W. Gibbs, J. Sidney, C. Vincente

II.                   Approval of the Minutes for the Meeting of Apr. 26, 2005: Minutes were approved as written.

III.                  New Business:  None                                  

IV.               Old Business

 

a.       Membership: No report.  It was suggested that MACPD be represented at the Know Your Town Fair, in an effort to publicize the Committee and its purpose.

 

b.      Update on ADA compliance – Community Center: Curt Vincente indicated that he would continue to work towards resolution of existing problems, perhaps through use of a different type of shower chair, or if necessary, replumbing.  J. Sidney has been unable to locate a chair which would address her needs, however she indicated that there are several good chairs currently available on the market which would be suitable for peoples’ various needs.  Stan Kosloski is to meet with Curt and Joan

 

May 27 to assess the shower facilities for ADA compliance.  He will then make  his recommendations.

 

c.      CT Real Choice:  Kevin attended the recent meeting, which presented reports from the three communities who have been awarded funding.  He mentioned one community’s programs of inclusion activities, and another’s “welcome” video, which displayed the town’s services and accessibility for people with special needs.  He also indicated that he had volunteered Mansfield as a site for the next regional meeting.

 

d.      Special Olympics team usage of Community Center:  Scott indicated that, for expediency’s sake, the local team used the facilities at EO Smith for their practices this Spring.  Curt stated that next year it might be possible make arrangements for practices at the Community Center, depending on the Center’s schedule of activities during March and April.  Scott announced that a State Meet would be held in Southington in three weeks.

 

e.      People First Language: Discussion focused on increasing community awareness of changing language which tends to label a person according to what a person has (disability), not what a person is.  People First language puts the person before the disability.  Discussion will continue at future meetings.

 

 

Meeting adjourned at 3:04 PM; next meeting will be on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 at 2:30.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Sheila Thompson