The Salem Commission on Disabilities
December 18, 2012
Welcome statement
The Salem Commission on Disability is committed to making Salem a better place to work and live for people with disabilities. Also, as one of the finest tourist cities in the world, the Commission strives to make Salem a more accessible place to visit for people living with all kinds of disabilities.
Our mission is to raise awareness, educate, and provide informational resources about various disability issues. Two of the ways we do so are by providing educational information in the monthly meetings broadcasted on the local cable network, SATV, and providing a daily audible column to help maximize the pedestrian commuter’s safety.
The Commission supports a strong relationship with their city government, their constituents and the Salem business community, including the museums and other tourist attractions.
Introductions
The Salem Commission on Disabilities met on December 18th, 2012 at 4:00 PM at Salem Access Television. Present were Debra Lobsitz, Mark Losolfo, David Tracht, David Martel, Jennifer Barz-Snell, Jim Nowlan, John Jodoin and David Moisan.
Guest Speaker: Captain Mark Losolfo on the E911 Disability Indicator Program
Mark Losolfo: When you call 911, your address comes up on a screen at the dispatcher. One of the items of information there is known as the disability indicator. There are six different indications that are given to the police department. They can be temporary.
There are seven categories:
- LSS: Life Support Equipment
- MI: Mobility-impaired
- B: Blind
- D: Deaf and hard of hearing
- TTY: TTY user
- SI: Speech Impaired
- CI: Cognitively-impaired
John Jodoin: This is strictly confidential. Many people with disabilities are very careful about disclosing their condition. It is confidential.
If you make a cellular call, phones can access the 911 system, but not completely; calls are routed to a switching center, in our case, Framingham State Police. Newer cell phones and smart phones have GPS, and this will be integrated into the state 911 system in the future.
Updates
PEM renovation and doors between galleries
Jim Nowlan: I spoke with someone from the PEM about the gallery doors. They do agree there is a problem and they will look into it. The problem is that these doors are heavy and hard to fix since they need to enclose environmentally-controlled galleries from the outside environment. Their engineers are looking at it and hoping for a solution for all the gallery spaces in January.
Curb cuts: Charter Street & Hawthorne BLVD
John Jodoin: There were three curb cuts that access the crosswalks. They’ve been moved and are no longer in compliance; they are on parking spaces. The fourth, and new, curb cut is situated on two former parking spaces. The curb cuts outside at 27 Charter St. have been moved and people need to cross Charter St., except that the crosswalk is no longer near the curb cut.
This is a mess. This was a city upgrade to improve lighting and trees. This is not in compliance. You must go down the street in the gutter for 15 ft. before you can even reach the crosswalk. This is not even close to compliance.
Because I work in the area affected, I need to hand this off to another member to avoid a conflict of interest.
Curb cuts: Margin Street and Prescott
David Martel: The curb cuts, and the sidewalk, are bumping up against an old granite block. The sidewalk has bumps and discontinuities and the city needs to look at it.
Disability Indicator Form Campaign
Debra Lobsitz: Andy is pushing this. John, what are you doing?
John Jodoin: Andy gave me copy for a press release. It’s perfect. I’ll speak to Lt. Prosniewski and get his contacts in the media. We can expect this after the first of the year.
Variance for Opus Restaurant, Washington Street
Jim Nowlan: They are reworking the ground floor and the bottom floor. They are requesting a wheelchair lift to go between the ground level and the bottom level—no space. The variance was granted. The Commonwealth Elevator Division is granting this on conditions that the lift should not be a keyed-type lift; this is a new standard as of last March. A wheelchair user must not have to get a key or get access by staff before using the elevator.
Future Plans for Joint Conference of Regional Disabilities Commissions
Debra Lobsitz: I want to organize a joint conference of the neighboring disabilities commission
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