Disability Commission

ABOUT

The Disability Commission advises the Town of Blackstone on the disability community’s needs in the town. They inform municipal officials about accessibility concerns and best practices for inclusion of people with disabilities in municipal programs, services, and facilities. Specific priorities and actions depend on the needs of the local disability community.

The Disability Commission supports Blackstone's disability community by:

Advising and assisting our town officials with compliance to federal and state disability laws
Partnering with people with disabilities to make their voices heard in town affairs
Assisting the town with ensuring their ADA Self-Evaluation meets ADA requirements
Assisting the town with implementation and upkeep of their ADA Transition Plan
Sharing accessibility concerns and reminders to developers
Reviewing projects that come before the Planning Board, Town Meeting, Board of Selectmen, and other municipal groups
Coordinating with the Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD), advocates, and elected officials to keep informed about applicable disability laws and regulations
And more – MGL Chapter 40, Section 8J lists out general ways Disability Commissions can support their local disability communities.

MEMBERSHIP & REQUIREMENTS

The Disability Commission consists of 5-13 volunteer members chosen by the Board of Selectmen. Members are initially appointed in staggered one-, two-, and three-year terms. The Disability Commission is authorized to receive gifts of property, both real (i.e. land/buildings) and personal (i.e. things/money).

Membership

The membership requirements are:

A majority of members must be people with disabilities,
One member must be an elected or appointed municipal official, and
One member must be an immediate family member to a person with a disability.

Requirements

CODs are required to:

Have at least ten meetings per year,
Keep records of their meetings and actions, and
File an annual report.