Accessible Cities Alliance - Promoting Disability compliance in the business community

Accessible Cities Alliance Continues Forward Progress

Sunday, February 4, 2007

Formed to promote disability compliance in local businesses, the Accessible Cities Alliance continued moving forward to advance its threefold mission.

encourage voluntary efforts to remove structural barriers to access for persons with disabilities;
increase compliance of laws requiring equal access by persons with disabilities;
provide resources to individuals involved in creating and utilizing that access.

The ACA is a broad-based coalition of community leaders, disability advocates, municipality officials and business community representatives. This unprecedented local initiative has received attention from across the country for its efforts at advancing public-private partnerships toward a common goal: increasing access for the one in five Americans currently experiencing a disability.

Working to expand the message that “Good Access is Good Business,” ACA leaders and advisors worked closely with local advisors and national resources to expanded its reach. In its first 18 months, productive teamwork has resulted in strong awareness of the Alliance, measurable progress by local officials, and the breaking down of physical and attitudinal barriers to access in area businesses. Access to parking, entrances, restrooms, and goods are services are the four key areas of compliance on which consumers with disabilities rely.

“The Accessible Cities Alliance is collaboration at its finest,” says Pam Heavens, Executive Director of the Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living, which serves as the coordinating agency for the ACA. Strong partnerships, particularly with the City of Joliet, County of Will and the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and key advisors, have been the key to progress.

Advisors meet quarterly with ACA Co-Chairs, Denise Winfrey and Val Rand, and carry out action plans toward compliance. Outreach includes: a speaker’s bureau; newsletter articles in contractor, business, and disability newsletters; a resourceful website -- www.ada411.com -- which received 43,000+ hits in its first 18 months (and includes an Accessible Business Directory for the Joliet area); and immeasurably beneficial networking.

In February, 2006, thanks to the Three Rivers Construction Alliance (TRCA) and Founders Bank, the Alliance held an all-day “Compliance Workshop.” It featured the State of Illinois Capital Development Board’s Doug Gamble and Robin Jones, a compliance expert from the Great Lakes ADA and Accessible IT Center. They shared expertise with contractors, and three dozen building inspection officials from Will County, the City of Joliet, and 13 municipalities. Will County Executive Larry Walsh, Guest Speaker during the workshop luncheon, encouraged each town to make equal access a priority.

Throughout July, the Accessible Cities Alliance marked the one year anniversary of its kick-off. An Ambassador’s Reception was held at the accessible University of St. Francis Motherhouse. Nearly 100 advisors, sponsors and special guests, attended, including the Director of the State of Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services, Rob Kilbury, and Illinois Secretary of State Disability Liaison, Bill Bodgan. Regional advocacy leaders, ACA supporters, and Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living representatives, joined in the celebratory spirit of partnership. An update on key achievements, “12 in 12: A Progress Report,” was issued, sponsors acknowledged, and the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry received an Award for extending ACA’s message and mission.

A series of proclamations were issued to the ACA in July by Cities of Joliet and Lockport, as well as the Will County Board, declaring the last week of the month “Accessibility Awareness Week.” Special events, workshops and an ADA anniversary rally were held. Radio interviews, commercials and newspaper articles successfully promoted the Alliance’s message: “Good Access is Good Business.”

Charter sponsors are: Caterpillar, Inc.; City of Joliet; Rich Clementi; Darcy Buick GMC; Ed and Gloria Dollinger; Exxon Mobil; First Midwest Bank; Founders Bank; The Herald News; Joliet Dodge; Joliet Municipal Employees Federal Credit Union; Modern Builders Industrial Concrete; Nicor; Numark Credit Union; Poehmer, Dillman and Mahalik; Prairie Trail Credit Union; Val and Bobbie Rand; Rand’s Hallmark; Silver Cross Hospital; Three Rivers Construction Alliance; and Russ and Dorothy Wunderlich.

Throughout 2007, sponsorship will be sought to offset the operational and administrative costs related to outreach which promotes greater access. To expand its reach, the ACA will also seek to bring neighboring municipalities into the Alliance network, creating access and opportunity for their businesses and disabled consumers.

The active support of local businesses and disabled consumers is vital to the success of the Alliance. With collaboration, information and action as key cogs in the wheel of progress, the Alliance strongly encourages everyone to consider the economic and societal advantages to increased compliance. To learn more, or become an advisor or sponsors, contact the ACA at 815/729-0162 (V), 815/729-2085 (TTY), or log onto www.ada411.com