Medford discussion presses for citywide inclusion specialist; committee directs Recreation to form parent working group

Medford’s Education and Cultural subcommittee on Feb. 25 heard parents, advocates and councilors press for a citywide “inclusion specialist” to make municipal programs and venues more accessible, and voted to keep work on the proposal in committee while directing the Recreation Department to form a parent working group to develop inclusive recreation programming.

The discussion centered on whether the inclusion specialist should be housed in Medford Recreation or placed in a citywide office — a point parents said matters for how the position would be deployed across libraries, transit, voting centers, businesses and other public venues. Chair Scarpelli opened the meeting saying the committee would discuss “recreation department programs for youth with disabilities” and the needs for the upcoming budget season.

Parents described intermittent inclusion in existing programs and urged a broader citywide role. Patricia Cherry, a parent and community advocate, said Medford’s inclusion efforts have at times amounted to “a Saturday 3 to 4 p.m.…