Northampton, East Hampton disability commissions set July 23 story hour at Forbes Library with ASL and accessibility supports

The Northampton Disability Commission and guests from the East Hampton Commission on Disability outlined plans for a Disability Pride story hour for young children on July 23 at 10:30 a.m. at Forbes Library, with each participating town able to hold its own event or join a coordinated series.

Amy Lton, the meeting facilitator, said the library offered the Thursday slot and that the usual story-time format (two books plus songs, puppets and a short art activity) would fit a 45-minute window geared toward ages three to five. "July 23rd at 10:30 in the morning," she said, presenting that date as the commission's working plan.

The commission emphasized accessibility measures: having an ASL interpreter present, ensuring image description for attendees with low vision, choosing books that include characters with disabilities or explicitly address disability, and arranging for a reader with a disability to do the reading. Court, the city liaison, said the city can request interpreters through a state commission and provided an estimated past cost for film interpreting "about $250 to $300" as a rough guide; he added that exact rates vary by travel and assignment and that the mayor’s office may need to authorize funding for other towns joining the event.

Eli Damon, identified as vice chair of the East Hampton Commission on Disability, noted possible venue constraints in East Hampton: "I'm not sure that our library is like entirely wheelchair accessible, so we might have to find another space," he said, meaning his commission may need to secure a different location if accessibility cannot be confirmed.

Commissioners discussed adding live music and suggested inviting blind keyboardist AJ Stra to accompany songs and play at the close of the session. Asher Henrik raised a sensory-access concern: "My only question... is additional music going to be over stimulating," urging the group to consider whether live keyboard accompaniment would be appropriate for all attendees. Members suggested the flyer should flag any amplified or keyboard music so families can prepare.

Several book titles were floated for review (examples discussed include Bodies Are Cool and We Move Together); commissioners agreed to collect 4–5 candidate titles in the coming weeks for the librarian's professional input and final selection. Court will circulate links and notes so members can make a decision outside the meeting.

Next steps: the commission asked East Hampton and Amherst (to be confirmed) to indicate participation by the end of April or early May so a flyer can be produced in May; the commission will secure ASL interpreting, confirm final venue accessibility, finalize book choices, and advertise the event once logistics and funding are set.