The city has been working to fall into compliance with federal disabilities law, but there’s still room for improvement, according to a recently released city report. For someone like Paulette Eberle, 50, a new member of the city’s six-person ADA Advisory Committee, it’s good news, but she said participation by the disabled is crucial. “The disabled community really has to be a part of it,” she said. Last week marked the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which forces government buildings to become accessible to the disabled. For Eberle, who has been blind for 15 years from lupus, there are things the city can do to help. For one, agendas could be put out on audio tape, she said. “It’s very difficult to put together a coherent argument without preparation from the agenda,” said Eberle. The city has made strides in offering help to the disabled. A sign interpreter is available for all meetings to those who want it, according to Mayor Bret Schundler. And Schundler noted, in a press conference last week, that Text Telephone service has been purchased for the police department. The city plans to upgrade the city clerk’s office, tax collector’s office and the office of constituent services with the telephone service. The city is also working to create curb cuts, which enable the disabled to pass easily from sidewalk to street. Department of Public Works Director Kevin Sluka said that a little over $2 million has gone into converting 30 percent of the city’s curbs. He’s working on a 10 percent per year schedule in order to complete the rest of the city’s sidewalks. The ADA and the library The Five Corners Branch of the library, at 678 Newark Ave. in Journal Square, has been designated the city’s “ADA accessible site.” What that means, according to Darlene Pharmes, the city’s ADA coordinator, is that the high cost the city would bear to bring all the buildings into ADA compliance would be too great. So, as an out, a municipality can designate one building of a large chain as the accessible site. Five Corners already has handicapped parking close to the building, a ramp leading in, wide doors and halls, wheelchair accessibility, and a lift. When renovated, the 14 Zabriskie St. location in the Heights will be fully compliant. But the main library at Jersey Avenue is another matter. There is no ramp or graded access and elevators are too small to accommodate wheelchairs. “This is a major renovation,” said Fran Ware, a consultant for the library. “As soon as we get the money to renovate we’ll become ADA compliant.” The major problem? The need to reposition the current elevator shaft, since the current one cannot be enlarged. Ware said the library is looking for money from a recently-signed state bill to make the improvements. “We want it to become ADA compliant,” she said. For Pharmes, the struggle for ADA compliance continues. After the press conference, she talked about an incident at a Jersey City movie theater. The theater would not allow a young wheelchair-bound boy in. For Pharmes, this was a clear violation of the law. She took the manager aside and told him of his responsibility. The theater agreed to let the boy in. But it was too late. Upset from the incident, the family chose not to see the movie after all. “The business community should know that they should be in compliance,” said Pharmes. Complaints can be reported to the Office of Constituent Services at City Hall, Room B-7, or by phone at 547-4900.
Up to code; City looking to comply with disabilities law
