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Commission advances Age‑Friendly planning; resident urges downtown accessibility fixes
Summary
Commissioners reviewed Age‑Friendly focus areas and plans for an Aging‑in‑Place Expo; resident Kris Barnett urged curbside assistance clings, Braille signage along the Rail Trail, and improved handicap parking signage to boost accessibility.
The Simsbury Aging & Disability Commission updated members on Age‑Friendly Community planning on Feb. 17 and heard a resident call for concrete accessibility improvements.
Jan Beatty summarized Age‑Friendly focus areas as transportation, accessibility, housing and community engagement and said a subcommittee will meet with 18 community partners to review an Action Plan. She and other commissioners discussed models used elsewhere, including high‑school student tech support programs and West Hartford’s application for Age‑Friendly status. The commission also tentatively scheduled an Aging‑in‑Place Expo for fall 2026.
Commission members said they are coordinating grant and partnership efforts to support accessibility upgrades. The minutes record that Tom Fitzgerald and Diana Yeisley were working on an AARP grant application for Mobi Mats with a March 4 deadline.
During the meeting Simsbury resident Kris Barnett raised a set of accessibility suggestions for townwide implementation: window clings listing a curbside assistance phone number, Braille signage along the Rail Trail, business education on ADA best practices, improved handicap parking signage, and partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Partnership to promote accessible businesses. Commissioners noted those suggestions as part of ongoing outreach and planning.
