Disability Commission

Mission Statement

Our mission is to ensure Bedford is a welcoming, safe, accessible, and inclusive town for our residents living with any form of disability, seen or unseen. We will advise and assist the Town in efforts to remedy structural and communication barriers, implement education programs, and promote equity in employment and public services provided by our town.

Members

Sarah Blackman, Gyasi Burks-Abbott, Colleen Doyle, Emily Mitchell (Select Board liaison), Nancy Richard, Sarah Stanton (Chair), and Howard Sumner

To contact the Disability Commission, please email townmanager@bedfordma.gov or call the Town Manager's Office at 781-275-1111.

Bedford Draft Self-Evaluation & Transition Plan Documents

The Town of Bedford developed an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan (SETP). This Plan guides the Town in making Bedford’s facilities, parks and public right-of-way accessible to all. The SETP demonstrates Bedford’s commitment to providing equal access. This includes all public programs, services, facilities, and activities for community members with disabilities.

The Plan identifies areas where improvements can be made in the delivery of accessible programs and services. Some examples are:
• Develop town-wide protocols for providing materials in alternate formats to ensure meetings, hearings, workshops, and conferences conform with guidelines for accessible meetings
• Develop enhanced communication regarding disability access on the Town’s website, social media, print materials, and in buildings and announcements
• Engage in targeted architectural barrier removal at schools, police station, Town Hall, playgrounds, Old Town Hall, library, Job Lane House, trails, sports facilities
 

The next step for the Town is to prioritize activities and funding for implementation.

Self-Evaluation & Transition Plan (PDF)

Findings and Recommendations (PDF)

Building Audits (PDF)

Outdoor Facility Audits (PDF)

School Audits (PDF)

Town Meeting Accessibility

The Disability Commission is committed to making Bedford's Annual Town Meeting more accessible to residents who are disabled. To request accommodations and/or share your thoughts/needs, please email townmanager@bedfordma.gov.

Resources

Massachusetts Disability Organizations

Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL)

DisabilityInfo Basic Programs and Services for People with Disabilities in Massachusetts

Disability Law Center (DLC)

Institute for Human Centered Design (IHCD)

Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)

Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB)

Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH)

Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS)

Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH)

Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD)

Video

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Video

How to Guide a Person with Vision Loss - Produced by Brookline Commission on Disability and Brookline Age-Friendly Cities TV

Transportation

Bedford Local Transit

MBTA The RIDE

Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights

Local Accessible Trails (in development)

Voting

The Town of Bedford, led by the Town Clerk's office, strives to provide accessible voting to voters with disabilities. Election information can be found on the Town Clerk's website and any questions can be directed to clerk@bedfordma.gov or 781-275-0083. In June of 2022, the VOTES Act became law, which puts mail-in voting into place permanently in Massachusetts among other provisions. All registered voters will receive a mail-in ballot application in the mail.