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Commission for Persons with Disabilities urges earlier ADA planning, highlights sensory zone and library wheelchair
Summary
BJ Ermance and student commissioner Keegan Young told the committee the commission is working to incorporate accessibility early in project planning, cited the successful sensory zone at the July 4 parade and noted a new wheelchair available at the public library.
BJ Ermance, co-leader of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, presented the commission’s annual report to the Wauwatosa City Government Affairs Committee on March 10 and introduced student commissioner Keegan Young.
“We are doing as much as we can to work with other commissions, committees, groups, city departments — be a resource for everyone, hopefully at the very beginning of discussions and planning so that ADA issues can be made aware of and included in the discussion way up front,” BJ Ermance said, urging early inclusion of accessibility to reduce retrofit costs.
Keegan Young, a junior who serves as the student commissioner and on the school board as a student representative, said he joined to advocate for accessibility in schools and bring a student perspective. “It’s important to make sure that the schools and our school district are ADA compliant and that students with disabilities have the same access as everyone else,” Young said.
Ermance highlighted the commission’s role in establishing a sensory and accessibility zone for the July 4 parade and urged more consistent participation in projects such as the Molnar Building and new park planning. The commission also noted that, thanks to an Alder Matloff constituent and with assistance from the finance department, a wheelchair is now available for public use at the library.
Aldermen praised the commission’s work and encouraged continued early engagement with projects, from web redesigns to streets and housing, so accessibility is built in rather than added later. The commission asked for volunteer support at events and said it will continue outreach and education to increase use of accommodations such as captions and hearing-assistive devices.
No formal action or vote was recorded on the report.
