[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6177444,"mediaKeyId","5338166-516dd6d2822d1071676f6c067ba75df2","parentId",5338166,"title","Disability Pride film festival to include ASL, captions; audio description not ready for screening","audioSeconds",511,"startMs",1757000,"endMs",2268000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5338166-516dd6d2822d1071676f6c067ba75df2&start=1757&end=2268","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5338166-516dd6d2822d1071676f6c067ba75df2/thumbnail_1757000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6177444/Massachusetts/Disability-Pride-film-festival-to-include-ASL-captions-audio-description-not-ready-for-screening","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6177444-64295a18b13fed831446ea51a1d06720/orig.mp4?Expires=1772812847&Signature=TCOwgl8l-Bh-yuciLsf6gt5x3NJHYf673tWiwH-TRjFKOLCSGa7~NNCJoMd961lpQ6ODnrMX4qes8Welgb8WdFtShu7O41LfDbbNyjJhRw3nyqRO45lshvIjuhd1BJfVzWKTCPXUehpz9MLdGGuryZh8z9qlFx7pvAGgSSnkvOnLMCkVAi3Vr856CHENd-~R8zLU04xXH-Me2Tdkbltvyi1uiKI5zppFDNfB0NWAoAP~YR78GzjScpZPhL082jRJoKIPbm4Mt9JgsPEqjO14ulPLqnocNFVAhnL75LGMfT5-K9QdTnu63SR53Wu679eLY-FHgStQJV0DJFP5b6Ch4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Northampton City, MA","date","2025-07-09T16:17:00.827Z","article","Organizers of Northampton\u0000s Disability Pride Month film screening confirmed accessibility measures and described remaining gaps at a commission meeting.

Commissioners said the screening will include closed captions and confirmed two American Sign Language interpreters will attend. \"We got confirmation that there's an ASL, 2 ASL interpreters who would be joining, so that is great,\" a commission member said.

Organizers said audio description for blind and low-vision audience members was not feasible on the meeting\u0000s timeline. The film is an independent production available on a private Vimeo link; creating audio description would require drafting a script and recording narration, a process the organizer described as \"a months long process.\" The organizer said the film will carry audio description once it receives a broader digital release.

Volunteers were requested for day-of setup and to post flyers. Commission staff said the city chamber included the event in an email blast and that printed flyers were available at City Hall planning offices. The commission discussed serving light refreshments and name tags; staff said food would need approval from the senior-center director for setup and cleanup where applicable. The local screening was scheduled from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Commissioners also discussed a post-screening discussion format and suggested preparing a few questions to prompt conversation if the audience did not volunteer comments. The commission said it will continue to seek audio-description options for future screenings and to note limits in promotional materials so attendees know what accessibility features will be available.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","NDC 7 8 25","oneSentenceSummary","Organizers confirmed two ASL interpreters and closed captioning for the Disability Pride Month film screening; audio description for blind/low-vision attendees was not feasible before the event, and volunteers and name tags were requested.","taxTitle","Northampton City, Hampshire County, Massachusetts","taxId",68541,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6177449,"Commission seeks clearer sidewalk reporting and enforcement as city readies sidewalk repair bids",2542,78000,2620000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5338166-516dd6d2822d1071676f6c067ba75df2&start=78&end=2620","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5338166-516dd6d2822d1071676f6c067ba75df2/thumbnail_78000.jpg","/articles/6177449/Massachusetts/Commission-seeks-clearer-sidewalk-reporting-and-enforcement-as-city-readies-sidewalk-repair-bids","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6177449-a230e3a5122f12b831349d04a89a6114/orig.mp4?Expires=1772812847&Signature=PhOO96Jkv3YuQKMchBWGbdScOpw9y-IEr3mrGrYPergFKhqkgRnxVKFVJ3Ll3q7n11oEUuBKGEEq4XYmHilT8YrGb7YPedw6QSI8TV~H-WO1jRNqGHB5shQi-VC~gvxzBZFqOjYzZzCRAHa2KyKtSfJDZfDk-f5KxLXkdbHX6XjKHq3R36VPb61SSFmVo58WTtfn9~9LDyYEhQ1eBTuNXotHquSEQnRsubPIKPZ63IW6dNdPW0zW8~0S1ChATjbA7VzB7kxgnEAqndII4NJD2a1FruyXmDg2pWOAKVUPW1U5qCw9V6SketZVcqfm42bTFnj7sP1ioDjS8NKYPaFv~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Northampton commissioners discussed upcoming sidewalk reconstruction bids and pressed the Department of Public Works to make its sidewalk-obstruction reporting clearer and more visible.

Councilor Dubs read from a mayor\u0000s newsletter noting sidewalk reconstruction on Bedford Terrace, Elm Street and Florence Road and spot repairs in the Village Hill and South Street neighborhoods \"will be bid in the coming weeks for summer fall 2025 construction,\" she said. Commissioners emphasized that bidders\u0000 schedules will determine exact timing.

The commission also examined the city\u0000s online reporting form used to report winter-storm issues and other sidewalk obstructions. Emma Cornwell said she had tried to use the form to report an overgrown business hedge that blocks a sidewalk and that it was hard for users to find and understand. \"I was trying to figure out how I could report a business that had bushes, like, growing onto the sidewalk,\" Cornwell said. \"It is really hard for me as a wheelchair user to go on the sidewalk past this business.\"

Court, city staff, said the form currently sends a confirmation email and a tracking link when a report is filed but acknowledged the form is buried on the winter-storm page and could be renamed and moved into a clearer \"How do I\" section. \"When you submit something through that form as it is now, you do get a confirmation email back that also has a link so you can track,\" Court said. Emma Cornwell reported she did not receive a confirmation on a prior submission and agreed to test the form again and work with staff.

Commissioners recommended asking DPW to rename the page to something like \"sidewalk obstruction reporting,\" move it to a more visible help section on the website, and add clearer guidance about what can be reported and expected response times. Asher Henricks and others urged that the form return an automated status and an estimated timeline so reports do not \"disappear into the email void.\" Court said DPW enforcement can require property owners to pay for cleanup or allow the city to clear vegetation and place a lien on the property when owners fail to comply.

Separately, commission members noted the ordinance-review committee will examine the snow-removal ordinance and suggested reviewing the related overgrown-vegetation ordinance to strengthen enforcement where obstructions pose barriers to people with disabilities. Councilor Dubs and other commissioners proposed coordinating with DPW director Donna and with Councilor Alex Jarrett\u0000s office to request changes and to ask the ordinance-review committee to consider language changes this fall.

The commission agreed Emma Cornwell and another member would follow up with DPW and Councilor Jarrett to request the website change and to verify that the confirmation/tracking emails are delivered as expected.","Commissioners discussed a city newsletter that lists summer\u0000fall 2025 sidewalk reconstruction and spot repairs, and urged changes to the DPW online reporting form and stronger enforcement of overgrown vegetation and snow-removal rules to improve accessibility.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6177454,"City gets state, federal funds for automatic doors and business accessibility grants",519,935000,1454000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5338166-516dd6d2822d1071676f6c067ba75df2&start=935&end=1454","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5338166-516dd6d2822d1071676f6c067ba75df2/thumbnail_935000.jpg","/articles/6177454/Massachusetts/City-gets-state-federal-funds-for-automatic-doors-and-business-accessibility-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6177454-b42cf4d8600429bf5f172ec9174b9307/orig.mp4?Expires=1772812847&Signature=mSXy97Js6lXV4MhxJGKSoIa0BSZpCEinKkIw~i~sWYBmztBYj2C47b6SNw-mcNEfSU~i-rJbHf5NS9eYhA~q8Jmji5kOzjhyWD1zH~hGNZgld3mpk5Yb9-QOISWudtEYfORTo0l8KFoLvEOloWokLuWDz9TjzniX4VQwDjaA8nsiXTQMbkF7ND8MdtQbJXl5HZhHsTWrqH7GRRgwbv0CtbzJgO3TUXnfNsLL7AWRA38zdQEuqwKQTZw86L-L9hJ8j~QOBlQ-TOtGbm3TZDWlyEStDOb743Sqo~vN0kpDzZ8gS3rQm9iEEpoJvdhAfDB8y~Cftrnf0T2cao1s7wXJOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Northampton\u0000s ADA coordinator announced the city has secured a $95,000 grant from the Massachusetts Office on Disability and $83,800 in Community Development Block Grant funding to install automatic door openers and support business accessibility improvements.

The grant will fund automatic door openers at the senior center and make progress on installations at City Hall, Memorial Hall and the Municipal Building, ADA coordinator Keith said. \"They actually were on-site today for the first day to start installing some of those doors at the senior center,\" Keith said. He added that older doors in City Hall require additional review because of asbestos concerns.

Keith said the funding pairs with last year\u0000s installation of accessible service desks and is part of the city\u0000s five-year Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) consolidated plan. He described the program as federal CDBG funding for entitlement communities and said the consolidated plan sets priorities for the next five years. \"We are a what it's called, entitlement community... so it is federal,\" Keith said.

The CDBG allocation also includes a business grant program to help Main Street commercial properties create accessible entrances; Keith said about $60,000 is available to start that program but applications were not yet open. \"We're not accepting applications, but we're focusing on Main Street businesses,\" he said. The program is structured so entrance work would come before restroom upgrades: \"By the standards, you need to have an accessible route... it makes no sense to break an accessible restroom if the entrance is not accessible,\" Keith said.

Commissioners asked for budget details and whether the city used money from its revolving accessibility fund. Keith said no construction money came from the revolving fund: the $95,000 came from the Massachusetts Office on Disability and $83,800 from CDBG. He said the only local money used so far was for architectural fees previously authorized by the commission; the precise amount taken from the accessible fund was not specified and Keith said he would follow up with that figure.

Commissioners also raised questions about the stability of federal block grants and the role of the commission in planning. Keith said the consolidated-plan process included public meetings and outreach to community groups; he and staff said they would share notices of upcoming public hearings with the commission.

The coordinator also described non-physical access work in the ADA transition plan, including improving digital accessibility for city documents and the website, which automated checks show as roughly 80 to 90 percent accessible but still requires additional fixes.

Commissioners asked for continued updates and suggested the ADA coordinator attend more commission meetings to strengthen coordination between volunteers and city staff. Keith said he could provide updates and follow up with details on the revolving fund and the planned business grant program.","Northampton\u0000s ADA coordinator said a $95,000 grant from the Massachusetts Office on Disability and $83,800 in Community Development Block Grant funds will pay for automatic door openers at several municipal buildings and seed a Main Street accessibility grant program for businesses.","actionData","errors"]

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Disability Pride film festival to include ASL, captions; audio description not ready for screening

Commission seeks clearer sidewalk reporting and enforcement as city readies sidewalk repair bids

City gets state, federal funds for automatic doors and business accessibility grants