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Columbus committee hearing backs codifying disability advisory panel as city commission
Summary
Witnesses and city staff told the Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee that formally codifying the Columbus Advisory Committee on Disability Issues would improve access, center disabled residents in planning and require modest budget and technology support; council members signaled support but no vote was held.
The Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee heard broad support for legislation to codify the Columbus Advisory Committee on Disability Issues (CACD) into city code, with advocates and Human Resources officials saying formal recognition would strengthen disability inclusion across city planning.
Chris Moses, director of human resources, told the committee the proposed update "represents an important step in the city's ongoing commitment to improving the lives of people who live with disabilities," noting the 2025 operating budget includes two full‑time staff dedicated to disability issues and $200,000 for an ADA self‑audit and implementation plan. "Your approval of this legislation will inform and provide feedback between community members and city departments," Moses said.
Jordan Ballinger, who identified himself as a disabled advocate and chair of CACD, described the measure as "a first step to ensuring decisions within the city are grounded in disability inclusion." Ballinger cited accessibility failures at a March meeting — locked elevators, difficulty hiring ASL interpreters and the use of an inaccessible WebEx platform — and said codification would ensure the city designs transit stops, housing and parks with disabled residents in mind.
Longtime CACD member Patricia Kovacs told the committee she has worked on pedestrian and transportation accessibility for decades and recommended codification to give CACD greater influence on housing, employment and city services. "Nothing about us without us," Kovacs said, urging the council to formalize the advisory body's role.
Belinda Spinozzi, a disability advocate who said she has a long history with the council, asked the city to budget for training and for technology fixes to improve remote participation; she noted some CACD members cannot reliably participate on the current WebEx setup and recommended making Zoom available for meetings and better captioning.
Committee members repeatedly expressed support for the codification and thanked advocates for their longtime work. Council members asked staff how many people the commission represents and how Columbus compares to peer cities; Moses cited the 2020 Census, saying about 13% of residents live with a disability, and described administrative steps the city has taken, including posting a dedicated ADA coordinator.
The committee did not take a formal vote at the hearing. Committee members signaled they expect the legislation to move forward through the City Council process. The hearing record shows advocates pressing for modest budget and technology resources, expanded training for staff and automatic accessibility practices for public meetings moving forward.
