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Council adopts resolution directing citywide disability audit ahead of 2034 Special Olympics
Summary
The council unanimously passed a resolution urging a citywide audit of accessibility and inclusivity for people with disabilities; sponsors and public commenters said the audit will identify barriers and help prepare Nashville for the 2034 Special Olympics.
The Metropolitan Council adopted a resolution urging Metro government to conduct a citywide disability audit to evaluate accessibility across public facilities, transportation and services.
Councilmember Ewing, the lead sponsor, said one in four people has a disability and Nashville’s aging population makes the issue urgent. The resolution, sponsored by Ewing, Welsh, Ellis and Evans, asks the city to engage consultants, benchmark best practices from other cities and coordinate with nonprofits and private stakeholders to identify actionable improvements ahead of the 2034 Special Olympics, which will bring many visitors with disabilities to Nashville.
Public commenters included Dr. Cynthia George, a professor of social work at Tennessee State University and chair of advocacy group Disabled to the Front, who said that disabled people often “suffer in silence” and that a citywide audit would promote communication, improve access and include the disability community in solutions. Tika (Michelle) Jackson, a member of the mayor’s advisory committee on people with disabilities, described personal family experience caring for a nonverbal family member and urged the council to pass the resolution, calling the audit “necessary and long overdue.”
Council committees approved the resolution unanimously before the full‑council vote. Sponsors said the audit should include technology, wayfinding, transit access, signage and building access. Ewing said the audit should specifically consider QR code‑based navigation and other tech solutions for travelers and residents with disabilities.
Action: The council adopted the resolution urging Metro to commission an accessibility audit to identify barriers and make recommendations for improvements, including in advance of the 2034 Special Olympics.
Ending: Supporters said the audit would benefit a broad range of residents — people with disabilities, older adults, parents with strollers and visitors — and provide a roadmap for improvements across Metro departments.
