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County Board of DD applauds Medina’s mobile changing station pilot; requests continued support
Summary
Stacey Malakar of the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities thanked the City of Medina for supporting a mobile 'changing place' that uses ARPA funds and said the unit served about 260 people across eight events last year.
Stacey Malakar, superintendent of the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities, told Medina City Council on April 14 that the board’s mobile universal changing station has expanded access at community events and that the county and city should continue the partnership.
"It is a game changer for people," Malakar said, describing a mobile unit funded with about $130,000 in ARPA funds that the county used at community events. Malakar said the unit was deployed for approximately eight sponsored events last year and served about 260 users.
Malakar said the changing station accommodates people with mobility issues and their families and that the board will continue the program as funds allow. "If there's anybody that has an event…we're glad to come out and walk through and just take a look at it and just offer simple suggestions," Malakar said, offering the board’s assistance with making public spaces more accessible.
At the microphone Angela Mancier of Main Street Medina offered a testimonial: "it is a game changer," she said, and said the unit made it possible for families who previously could not attend events to participate. Council members thanked Malakar and Mancier and noted the city’s partnership with the county and the Medina County Library on accessibility walk‑throughs.
Malakar provided a summary of the board’s 2024 service numbers: the board served a little over 1,500 eligible Medina County residents and said local waiver match spending of about $9,000,000 brought down roughly $36,000,000 in services to the community.
The comments appeared during the meeting’s introduction of visitors/public comment portion; council did not take formal action at the meeting on the changing station but acknowledged the program and invited continued coordination.
Malakar and Main Street Medina requested that event organizers and facility managers contact the Board of Developmental Disabilities to arrange use of the mobile changing station and for staff to advise on simple modifications to existing buildings to improve accessibility.
