Project Director's Report
How Do I Measure Success?
Let me Account the Ways….
As the ADA Center approaches the end of our 5 year grant cycle, we are looking back and asking, “Is the world a better place as a result of our work”? The answer is “yes”! Across New England, the natural, built, and information technology environments have been made more accessible due to our endeavors. We are proud to have serviced a community of architects, people with disabilities, families, advocates, employers, businesses, and government. Health care, schools, transportation, voting polls, parks, playgrounds, recreation, entertainment and workplaces-every area of the New England community have been enhanced through the efforts of the ADA Center.
Where have we been in the last five years?
The world has seen many new challenges over the past five years. The ADA Center, our state affiliates and networks (Independent Living Centers and Incentive Grantees) have met these challenges, addressing accessibility issues related to emergency evacuation, information technology, voting technology, multimedia, and communications etc.
This edition of Access New England features our stories of accomplishments in many of these areas of challenge. There have been so many successes in New England, that it is difficult to present them all, so we are highlighting a few.
In this issue's feature story, read the remarkable story of Judy Krum transforming the Town of Bennington, VT, one building at a time. See photos of Fenway Park, the oldest major league ballpark in the country and one of the most accessible in the nation . The National Organization on Disability has selected Cambridge, Massachusetts as the Accessible America 2005 grand prize award winner. Read about a diverse playground that accommodates children of different ages and abilities in New Hampshire.
One way the ADA Center accounts success is to tally technical assistance, training and publications provided by Center Staff and state affiliates. You may find the accountability system in News From the Center informative.
Where do we go from here?
Where do we go from here? Everywhere! The work that needs to be done is intensified by awareness that diverse abilities are rapidly becoming the norm, not rare or special. When we create policies and practices and ways of measuring success for access of people with disabilities, we all win.
Have a great summer!
Oce
