Access Brookline: June 2022 Accessibility-Related News, Events & Info

BROOKLINE, MA — The following article was submitted by the Brookline Commission on Disability (BCOD).

Did you know?

• Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), summer camps, both private and those run by municipalities, must make reasonable modifications to enable campers with disabilities to participate fully in all camp programs and activities. Children with disabilities are entitled to attend any camp or activity that non-disabled children attend, camps must evaluate each child on an individual basis, and camps must train their staff in the requirements of the ADA. Camps (not parents) are obligated to pay for the cost of any reasonable modifications necessary for disabled children to participate in camp activities. The US Attorney’s Office in MA invites you to contact them with any questions or concerns: 617-748-3100.

Spotlight Org

• The Recreation Therapy Division of Brookline’s Rec Department provides a variety of outdoor and indoor activities and support for youth and adults who have disabling conditions and/or illnesses. Visit this page https://www.brooklinerec.com/190/Recreation-Therapy to see current and seasonal programs, and find contact info for our Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Micah Barshay.

News & Events

• A new “Universal Design” Playground opened recently at Danehy Park in Cambridge, near Porter Square and Fresh Pond. Universal Design, aka Human Centered Design, holds that the built environment should be designed to be maximally usable by everyone without any special adaptations or retrofitting. Danehy boasts 30K sq ft of play space and equipment for people of all ages regardless of physical, sensory, cognitive and emotional abilities. To find it, Google Map 99 Sherman St, Cambridge, MA.

• Sail To Prevail, which has run a national sailing program for children and adults with disabilities in Newport RI for many years, also runs a program at the Harvard Boat House for those in the Boston area. See https://sailtoprevail.org/.
• On June 23, the MBTA will hold a virtual public meeting to present and discuss their plans for getting the D branch of the Green Line from 75 percent to 100 percent accessible, with upgrades toWaban, Eliot, Chestnut Hill, and Beaconsfield stations. Find out more: https://www.mbta.com/news/2022-06-01/reaching-75-design-completion-green-lines-d
• Love tennis? Want to help wheelchair users play? South Coast Wheelchair Tennis is hosting a 2 day workshop June 23-24 where national experts will train new coaches in thispopular sport that hopefully will spread to locations in/near Brookline!https://www.usta.com/content/d...
• ICYMI: In this recently re-aired 9-minute segment of TED Radio Hour episode “Sound and Silence,” Mary Louise Kelly is fascinating and eloquent on the experience of acquiring, discovering, and coping with hearing loss. Click here to listen or read the transcript: https://www.npr.org/2020/10/16/923969225/mary-louise-kelly-how-a-veteran- radio-journalist-adapts-to-hearing-loss.

Join Us!

BCOD meets monthly, typically on the 2nd Wednesday at 5:30 pm. The public is always welcome! Check the town calendar 48 hours in advance to see the agenda and info on how to participate: www.brooklinema.gov/calendar.aspx.