Hamilton County creates Accessibility Advisory Board, appoints members representing disability organizations

Hamilton County commissioners on Sept. 11 approved a resolution creating a county Accessibility Advisory Board and appointed representatives from a range of disability organizations to serve on it. The board, the commissioners said, will advise county officials on policies, renovations and services with input from people who have lived experience of disability. Commissioners approved the appointments by voice vote.

The appointments include representatives the commissioners named as: Keybeck (Equitas Health); Aaron Bly (Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired); Kevin Flynn (former Cincinnati council member and disability advocate); Samuel Folkes (Clover Neck Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired); Jill Giboney (board chair, Cincinnati Accessibility Board of Advisors); Jason Harris (Easterseals); Joshua Kays (representing spina bifida); Neil Kelly (Deer Park council member and JFS employee); Molly Lyons (LAD); Brianna Moss (Northside Community Council); and Elizabeth Weltdale (Hearing, Speech and Deaf Center). The commissioners said the appointees bring a mix of lived experience and organizational perspectives.

Commissioner Stephanie Summer O'Dumas, who led part of the discussion, said the board was created quickly after a proposal and that the goal is to bring “the eyes of people with different kinds of disabilities” to county projects and policy. “I cannot believe that we didn't think of this before,” she said, describing the move as long overdue and praising the appointees’ perspectives. Commissioner Alicia Rees noted local roots for some appointees and thanked those who brought the idea forward.

The board was authorized by a resolution the commissioners said they passed about a month earlier to establish the advisory body. Commissioners characterized the new board as a countywide effort; they said the advisory board will help evaluate accessibility for projects such as public festivals and the county’s cultural sites. No ordinance number or bylaws were read into the record during the meeting; the authorization was handled through the board’s resolution process.

The vote to confirm the appointees was recorded in the meeting as affirmative by the three commissioners in attendance. Commissioners said they expect the advisory board to review county renovations and policies going forward, and that municipalities could participate in the countywide effort. The newly appointed members were introduced and the board will convene under the county’s normal public meeting rules.