Accessibility advisory committee backs Backstitch grant to audit blind/low-vision tourism access

The City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee voted unanimously March 26 to send a letter of support for Backstitch Inc.'s application to the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund.

Timothy Gorbald, who identified himself as the founder of Backstitch, asked the committee for help getting a letter because the grant deadline was the next day. "I'm applying for a grant with the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund for $8,900 to do an audit of the blind accessibility for tourists here in Bend," he told members, adding the work would "fund students up at OSU Cascades and other local community members who are blind or low vision to collect data and audit the local facilities including hotels, restaurants, [and] tourism venues." (Timothy Gorbald)

Committee members discussed whether to read and vote on the draft letter at the meeting or include it later in the agenda. Chair John Halen read the proposed text on behalf of the committee and invited a motion to approve. "Yes. I will move to approve the recommendation," the chair said; Ian Isacson seconded, and the chair announced the motion passed unanimously.

The letter, read aloud at the meeting, frames Backstitch’s proposed research as aligning with KOAC's mission to identify barriers faced by blind and low-vision visitors and calls on the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund review panel to fund the proposed mapping and feasibility research. The committee recorded that it supports building a systematic understanding of the accessibility barriers that blind and low-vision visitors encounter in Bend.

Next steps: staff will incorporate the committee’s letter into Backstitch’s grant materials and send the support letter to the review panel per the applicant's timeline.