New commissioner urges improved ADA access, family‑friendly amenities and clearer event accessibility info

Shelley Tysus, a newly seated commission member who runs a nationwide sign‑language and captioning service, told the commission she wants Clayton to improve event accessibility, increase ADA‑compliant infrastructure and expand family‑oriented amenities.

Tysus said many city events and online listings are not visibly accessible and urged sign language interpretation at major public programs. “If anything’s open to the public, it should be accessible,” she said, adding that city websites often show outdated event information and that families need more daytime, walkable dining and play options. Commissioners and staff discussed specific examples, including curb ramps that newly reconstructed ramps place users into the middle of the street, and a closed path near Northmore Park Addition that prevents children from walking to nearby homes.

City staff said the city allocates roughly $120,000 annually for sidewalk and ADA improvements and that downtown curb ramps built with federal funds are designed to federal standards; staff asked residents to report accessibility problems so they can be prioritized for repair. The city manager and staff also said they will consider inviting a speaker on accessibility best practices and that the equity commission could help assess systemic issues if they surface.

Commissioners discussed adding ASL interpretation for larger events and updating the city’s event pages to flag accessibility features. Tysus offered to help identify problem locations and to work on outreach; other commissioners welcomed the offer and asked staff to follow up.