Accessible Cities Alliance - Promoting Disability compliance in the business community

Accessible Cities Alliance Promotes Progress, Partnerships

Media Contact: Christine Book (815) 744-6815

JOLIET, ILLINOIS, February 7, 2007 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.

During the meeting, ACA leaders Val Rand and Denise Winfrey were presented with a $2500 partnership grant from the Three Rivers Construction Alliance (TRCA) Co-Chairs Tana Gray and Tom White. The monies will help to fund continued outreach efforts aimed at increasing awareness of compliance issues, and putting resources in place to achieve compliance in businesses with barriers to access. Additionally, the Accessible Cities Alliance is currently asking for “Case studies in Compliance” -- fully accessible public accommodations which have been completed in the last three years to be featured in an upcoming outreach campaign. The partnership will help ACA continue to serve as a resource for skilled labor to businesses requiring renovations provide access to parking, entrances, goods and services and restrooms. Among other projects, TRCA sponsorship in 2006 allowed the ACA to host a Compliance Workshop for Contractors and Building Inspectors throughout Will County. Similar sessions are being considered for subcontactors who are relied upon for current knowledge of access requirements.

ACA Advisors also received a report from the City of Joliet’s Building Safety/ADA Inspector, Kevin Gahr. Gahr detailed findings from his surveys of all licensed businesses, and reiterated the City’s determination to enforce the Joliet Accessibility Ordinance, which adopted the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Illinois Access Code when passed in April, 2004. An overview of the Will County Executive’s plans to continue to promote access for persons with disabilities throughout all of Will County was presented by Deputy Chief of Staff Nick Palmer and Operations Assistant, Sandy Simmons. A Disability Advisory Commission has been formed by Larry Walsh, and includes a broad range of persons with disabilities, ACA advisors and parents of youth with disabilities from all corners of Will County.

Discussion was held on various outreach efforts and special events to continue to promote access issues in the business community, specifically toward those business owners and developers with older properties which are not currently in compliance. As ACA continues to seek sponsorships, advisors will continue to work on various projects, including marketing, networking and reaching out to neighboring municipalities. Media relations/community outreach coordinator Christine Book provided a summary of short-term and long-range projects requiring coordination and cooperation between advisors, partners, sponsors and the disability community at large. New advisors are encouraged to get involved in the Alliance.

The Accessible Cities Alliance, a public-private coalition of more than two dozen advisors and 21 sponsors, continues to rely on partnerships that promote full accessibility in and around Joliet, according to Rand. First meeting to discuss the concept of such an organization in February, 2004, the Alliance made its public debut with a Kick-Off in July, 2005, and has successfully generated support from the City of Joliet, County of Will, key community leaders, disability advocates and business representatives. Its website, www.ada411.com, has generated more than 44,000 hits in the first 18 months. It offers a wide range of resources on local banks offering reduced rate loans, specifications on federal, state and local laws, and an Accessible Business Directory compiled with the help of the City of Joliet Building Inspection Division.

For more information, to join up as an advisor, or learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact Christine Book at the ACA coordinating agency, the Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living, at 815/729-0162 (V), or 815/729-2085 (TTY).