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Disability Chamber and Pharr officials mark ADA anniversary, propose local task force
Summary
A governor's proclamation marking the ADA anniversary was presented in Pharr; the Disability Chamber urged the commission to create a local task force to prioritize accessibility, and organizers previewed a pilot program to train officers in interactions with people with disabilities.
City staff presented a proclamation from Governor Greg Abbott marking the Americans with Disabilities Act anniversary and described a June 23 training hosted by the governor's office on creating a local accessibility task force. Evelyn Cano, executive director of the regional Disability Chamber, read the proclamation language and urged the commission to formally create a task force so residents with disabilities have direct representation in local planning.
Cano described the local proposal as a means to "hear the voices who may need the opportunity or accommodation to make sure they're included in everything we do at the City of Pharr," and said the task force would report quarterly and help prioritize accessibility initiatives in transportation, housing and emergency management.
Cano and City staff also previewed "Operation Bridge," a two-day pilot on Aug. 6'7 to run hands-on scenarios for people with disabilities and provide training to police and mental-health crisis teams; participants would earn continuing-education credits. Staff noted the event would include training on the "Samuel Allen" code designation that can be recorded on driver's licenses to alert officers to communication needs.
Commissioners thanked the presenters and expressed support for increased accessibility measures. The commission did not adopt a task force at the meeting but was presented with the proclamation and the Disability Chamber's offer to assist with appointments and implementation.
