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News & Events Accessible Cities Alliance Promotes Progress, Partnerships Efforts to increase the number of Joliet area businesses offering full access to persons with disabilities have strengthened over the past 18 months, according to Accessible Cities Alliance Co-Chair Val Rand. At its quarterly meeting on Wednesday, ACA advisors received updates on significant progress being made by this local initiative. Accessible Cities Alliance Continues Forward Progress Formed to promote disability compliance in local businesses, the Accessible Cities Alliance continued moving forward to advance its threefold mission.
NuMark Credit Union "We are pleased to announce that NuMark Credit Union will now offer business loans to those businesses seeking to become compliant with the Americans and Disabilities Act and state compliance guidelines," said Jeff Martin, Business Development Officer at NuMark. NuMark offers Free Applications (no fees) and .50% off their already low loan rates on such business loans. Seeking improvementSunday, January 15, 2006
By John K. Ryan, The Star Those involved with organizations striving to improve accessibility for the disabled said it is an uphill battle, but progress has been made. Accessibility for disabled: Alliance, inspector help local businesses improve By Bob Okon JOLIET — Ruben Franchini has friends in wheelchairs, and he kept them in mind when he built El Fresno Plaza last winter. Accessibility for the disabled plays a big part in where Franchini and his friends decide to go out for an evening. "When we go to a bar and look for a place to go, they'll say, 'No, I don't want to go there because they don't have handicapped washrooms,'" Franchini said. Not only did Franchini include wheelchair-accessible washrooms, he even built two "area of refuge," rooms with fire walls that could be useful for a disabled person trapped in the building if there is a fire. "I hope it never happens," he said. But he noticed the refuge rooms in buildings in Chicago and thought they'd be an asset for his retail and office building at 720 N. Collins St. in Joliet. Guest Editorial With December holiday decorations and preparations already underway, Thanksgiving seems to be the forgotten American holiday. The one, which crosses all religious bounds and unites us in a common spirit of gratitude, appears to now serve as a steeping stone to pre-Christmas sales and activities. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I find myself thankful for so many items, which were on my grown up Christmas Wish List posted in this page just two years ago. For these, I offer thanks: Accessible Cities Alliance Generates Support The efforts of a broad-based coalition of community leaders and disability advocates were reinforced this month with two positive developments from an area labor group, as well as a local financial institution.
Struggle continues to reach ADA goals The issue: The Americans with Disabilities Act has been around 15 years. Our View Over the past 15 years, there have been obvious changes that have made our society more open to those with disabilities. For many people, the most apparent change has been the structural improvements to government buildings and businesses to make them more accessible to the disabled. "Joliet: Inspector to verify access for disabled" Chicago Tribune, Metro Section page 8 by Ken O'Brien
July 28, 2005 Joliet plans to hire an inspector to check if businesses are accessible for the disabled.
A year ago, the City Council approved an ordinance that
makes the Illinois Accessibility Code, the Federal Fair Housing Act Accessibility Standards and the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility guidelines enforceable under city code. In adopting the ordinance, Joliet officials promised that it would be enforced so that it does not create a burden on local businesses. Accessibility inspections to beginADA compliance: Program aimed at ensuring older Joliet buildings comply By Bob Okon Educational Outreach Program, Promoting Disability Compliance by Local Businesses, to be Unveiled at Area Events July 19, 2005, JOLIET, ILLINOIS -- An unprecedented local initiative will be unveiled in Joliet this week, aimed at breaking down attitudinal and physical barriers for persons with disabilities. A broad-based coalition, comprised of community leaders, disability advocates, business and local municipality representatives, has partnered to develop an educational outreach program to promote compliance of accessibility laws in the Joliet and Will County area. First Midwest Bank Joliet, Illinois, July 19, 2005 -- In an effort to encourage businesses to renovate toward great accessibility to persons with disabilities, First Midwest Bank has confirmed development of a lending program believed to be the first of its kind in the area. The program offers a favorable 1/4-point reduction of rates and waiving of closing fees on business loans acquired for renovations toward ADA compliance. The effort is a result of First Midwest Bank’s participation in the Accessible Cities Alliance, which is set to unveil the local program during Kick-Off events set for July 22, 2005. Lockport considers accessibility program Disability guidelines: Businesses would be repaid a percentage of the cost to upgrade By Andrea Hein ADA reminds us good access is good business By Pam Heavens July is a month of celebrations. Our nation's independence, my birthday (my age not withstanding) and the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This July marks the official kickoff of the Accessible Cities Alliance. The timing seemed right to share some thoughts. |
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