[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6481113,"mediaKeyId","5548250-9e6ce76ab1db518dfdce279392f1ec39","parentId",5548250,"title","Public service asks commission for volunteers to test ADA ramps; community raises sidewalk, scooter and crosswalk concerns","audioSeconds",160,"startMs",3600000,"endMs",3760000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5548250-9e6ce76ab1db518dfdce279392f1ec39&start=3600&end=3760","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5548250-9e6ce76ab1db518dfdce279392f1ec39/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6481113/Ohio/Public-service-asks-commission-for-volunteers-to-test-ADA-ramps-community-raises-sidewalk-scooter-and-crosswalk-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481113-cc383a5c35ffcfe7a9211f959dd79abe/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573739&Signature=S~oBGxlDisj3SedeFZvZ0u9~ATdRT5~AaxxrhpJ2QYFPtBADbzQPs1o~Vpt9O9Kiw5L~oWe2hdEFYv5Zdo5c54JIFg7mj1j8PlZkcm-C6zxvvo1HeYsXE12WFlReTXSXRQnpdqXMRW-uOQ2q9Aq5kVsIC2WyrO~9uojHCMi4-A2ixS5zvzidew1aKUBtoa2SnoaolBDgXVJqJUTF-t4O1ZZ-nKXdTsnJPj0YHGZIzZVvEMTq0~Nr7dQadSRMiOvWcYYQ1PtzxS0~49RfmOlOMyR5BgUEpYTEV82gXPBIkmmiVp6Uofcbkn6UYYMYEK9vx5GEwAqwkZpieMoIxUmqUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Columbus","date","2025-08-07T15:18:10.487Z","article","City of Columbus pavement staff asked the Columbus Advisory Commission on Disability for volunteer contacts to help field-test curb ramps and signalized crossings as part of the annual ADA ramp program.

Josh Levin, pavement program manager in the Department of Public Service, said his team handles ADA ramps in the right of way and is seeking volunteers to ride and evaluate ramps “to help us understand more, be better planners” for wheelchair users and other people with disabilities. He said staff will arrange field visits with volunteers so designers and engineers can see how ramps are used in practice.

Commissioners and community members offered practical feedback. Commissioner Janae Miller noted that tactile detectable warning surfaces (“tactile bumps”) on curb ramps are used by people who are blind “to distinguish that we're at a wheelchair ramp and that we're going down” and that teams testing ramps should include people with vision disabilities as well as wheelchair users.

Community speakers and commissioners raised several related accessibility issues: an unfunded sidewalk gap near Johnstown and Stelzer roads that affects access to a Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities office; frequent reports of shared electric scooters parked on sidewalks or on top of detectable warning surfaces, impeding safe passage; and interest in audio/cellular apps and other technologies that provide crossing information to people who are blind.

Commission staff said they will circulate contact information for pavement staff (Josh Levin and Ally Ganopoulos) to commissioners to coordinate volunteer participation. Zane Jones, city staff, said 311 reports for scooters are captured and can be tracked; he described recent changes to how scooter operations are managed (from multiple licensed vendors to a contracted model) and said the commission can request data on 311 responses and removals.

Residents from the Northland neighborhood described local problems with curb cuts, sidewalks and transit access near Arlington Avenue and Johnstown, and urged the commission to pursue solutions. A community member, Edward Andrews, offered to help convert an older commission document into accessible formats for visually impaired readers.

Commissioners asked staff to follow up with phased improvements and to report back on sidewalk funding and scooter-removal response times. Staff said they will email pavement contacts and post meeting materials to the city site and the commission’s Google Drive as part of transition support.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Meeting: Columbus Advisory Commission on Disability Issues July Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City pavement staff requested volunteers from the commission to test curb ramps and accessible signals; community members raised ongoing problems with sidewalk gaps, scooters blocking walkways and the need for technology and tactile cues for people who are blind.","taxTitle","Columbus City Council, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio","taxId",75950,"location","Ohio","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},6481117,"Columbus disability advisory commission elects Nicole Carter chair and Janae Miller vice chair",103,2342000,2445000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5548250-9e6ce76ab1db518dfdce279392f1ec39&start=2342&end=2445","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5548250-9e6ce76ab1db518dfdce279392f1ec39/thumbnail_2342000.jpg","/articles/6481117/Ohio/Columbus-disability-advisory-commission-elects-Nicole-Carter-chair-and-Janae-Miller-vice-chair","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6481117-a999cbc0cf3402e5b8846a02d621fede/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573739&Signature=nJYU6OLwZduSuaRyvCodI11Fy1-UkwRDvpeog5lPJ21DyIkxpYLkwPi8nbRiGqvTdV3YszOktQvjSaXG-1vmjwnt1BfW~NyCpNmlplLcgsOxyR50E1H9bG3IgiIloGJcwR52s1MmMqlRx7RxC81T3Y4iE~eFqJRrMqZVUNx~ShwXcwJhB1xqrfqDdmWeKU5picw1Tg-LFEIXS9P~FLH4nNINOXNe-eG6DjqoA74cNrW3ceS9PcMegD23sUB50cGsp5w9FofXschheBlpeQrv-hti~i5Uv9kKKnP-DeEUwBuNhBRmtwqsC6NLtLNL7D8nBju5hqH3A7bPfQ3~Jp5N2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Columbus Advisory Commission on Disability elected new leadership at a public meeting, selecting Nicole Carter as chair and Janae Miller as vice chair in voice votes on nominations from fellow commissioners. The panel also elected Umha (listed as “Unha” in the meeting) as secretary and Tessa Wilson as historian.

The new officers took office after nominations from commissioners and brief acceptance remarks. Tricia Kovacs nominated Carter for chair, and Janae Miller seconded the nomination; Carter said, “I accept.” Tessa Wilson nominated Miller for vice chair; Miller accepted. The commission then moved through secretary and historian nominations and votes in the same meeting.

The results give the commission a full slate of four officers after months of acting leadership. The outgoing leadership — Jordan Ballinger (acting/outgoing chair) and Nathan Rodengo (outgoing secretary) — and city staff outlined a transition plan. City staff and outgoing leaders committed to meet with newly elected officers to hand off records and procedures, and staff said they will support the new leadership going forward.

Commissioners and city legal staff used the election to reiterate governance matters. Josh Carty, assistant city attorney, reminded commissioners that substantive policy discussions should occur in public meetings rather than via group email, citing compliance with Ohio’s open meetings requirements. He also recommended the commission draft bylaws to formalize procedures such as public comment periods and officer terms.

Staff explained practical next steps for the incoming officers. Human resources and city staff described the reappointment process for commission members whose terms expire: HR forwards requests to the mayor’s office and then to City Council for confirmation. Josh Carty said officers are elected to two-year terms, though some commissioner seats have one- or multi-year staggered terms; commissioners should check term lengths and plan reappointments in advance.

Commissioners also raised succession and records preservation: the historian role will help digitize and organize archives, support succession planning and ensure materials are available to future leadership. Jordan Ballinger described the historian’s role as “ensur[ing] that as new leadership comes in, that they feel supported in taking on those leadership roles.” City staff said they are already digitizing records and maintaining a Google Drive and city website where materials can be posted.

The commission set its next regular meeting for Aug. 28 at 2 p.m. and discussed a plan for leadership to meet with outgoing officers and staff before the next meeting to ensure a smooth transition.

","The Columbus Advisory Commission on Disability elected Nicole Carter as chair and Janae Miller as vice chair in a voice vote, named Unha (Umha) Sa secretary and Tessa Wilson historian, and discussed transition planning, bylaws and records preservation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public service asks commission for volunteers to test ADA ramps; community raises sidewalk, scooter and crosswalk concerns

Columbus disability advisory commission elects Nicole Carter chair and Janae Miller vice chair