##VIDEO ID:DJJrJioDj4U## good evening Welcome to our January 14th 2025 Commission on disabilities uh monthly meeting if we could start off with the uh Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible liberty and justice for all uh if Pauline if you be able to uh take the attendance let sure few step away for a minute so I will um I will stop the attendance um Jason Baron present uh um Myra gamas present Ellie Vargas presentor present and Pauline perno yeah she was here so she stepped away so I will uh I'll her to um back and then sign her um let's see item number one is a motion to approve the meeting minutes from the December 10th 20 2024 meeting uh on Friday I sent everyone out the along with tonight's agenda uh the meeting notes from uh the December meeting um did any foress I just want to ask if anyone had seen anything that was incorrect or anything that was missing um please let me know so that I could make those changes um if not if I could have a motion to accept motion to approve I [Music] it okay item number three uh actually item number two there was no guest speaker so we will um we will skip right on it Pauline is present so I will Mark her as present thank you okay um item number two I was saying there's no guest speaker so we'll just skip right over that item number three uh updates and next steps from our December 10th uh meeting uh the first thing uh for an update updates from paing and Marie regarding the calendar for future monthly guest speakers just as we have this as a normal update from month to months just to see if uh if we've made any Headway on trying to find anyone um for that I've gone back in and retapped into folks that have joined us in the past to see if anyone's willing to come in and give any updates as far as new information um things such as that I have not received any information back from anybody so I've got five [Music] waiting um so yeah just if anybody just um just let me know uh as of right now we don't have anybody for the February meeting um but if you do um give anyone same with you in um just schedu either with s or fing just schedule them and just let me know you don't have to go back to because I don't have anybody uh to get their information and then AG for for any future meetings the next item we have is the draft letter from Pauline that we tabled from the December meeting uh since Pauline was unable to uh make for Mee we we decided to table it um I believe everybody you should have that that that letter so um we just wanted to see if everyone's able to uh take a look at it if anyone has any ideas or any changes or any additions to that letter I'm just going to open it up to um the maker of the letter first with uh anything that she wants to comment on it and then we'll just go around to each commission member um to see if they want any suggestions on whatever for this letter no I I'll take any suggestions you have it's it's kind of hard when you draft a letter and you know what you want to say but you don't want to come off as being abrasive so if anyone has any input at all please do give any members get a chance to take a look at it or any suggestions on any additions and subtractions from this letter um I said I wanted to send it to um to to uh representative Turco who represents the area down down the boulevard um and you know I didn't know if we want to include um having further discussions um if the letter should go as as is um and I don't know if if there's anything else that um on possibly setting up a meeting I'm not sure how we want to end this letter or if we just send this this letter and is or I think my thought is sending it as is with kind of an open-ended that any um suggestions or any that they that Jeff has to bring back to us that we're willing whichever way so as of right now how we have it addressed it the end of it did you want to add something else to that Pauline and just send it to me or um yeah let me take a look after I'm sorry I all broken out um and I'm not being very good about this um let me take a look at it after meeting and see if um I'll consult with my folks downstairs because now I have four of them so it's getting better and uh I'll that and then if anyone I send anything to you if you want to post it if anyone wants to meet with me like one on one one on two whatever maybe sh things up that would be while that the only thing we can't do is because of opening meeting was we can't do that oh all right no just gonna say just to and then re then bring it back yeah yeah so we could we would have to you know anybody has any input um anything they want to suggest it to it they could send it to you and then we can bring it to the next okay yeah that would work finalize it that way okay great because we just have to follow the rules of open meeting to do it that way um so um if that sounds if does that that sounds okay any other members want to uh add anything to that or comment on it um I think it looks great as is Pauline but I think that's a really good idea to maybe add some language at the end just letting representative turo know if if there's any feedback that maybe he has that maybe would make it a little bit of a stronger case on our end um I think that's a great idea to to maybe get his input since he's gonna be the one you know on our right other than that I think it's a great motion much needed yeah I'm need the damn Andro basically we want to um we really need some help in trying to bring this to the attention of the proper proper entity uh which is possibly much more than likely will be the DCR uh since they control the uh Boulevard um and you know we don't have the B we can ask but as representative cell he would be the best person to to help us with that and lead the way on that I think the more help and more support we can get on our side the rever side that going and bringing it to DCR would be more stronger for us so you know it okay all righty okay perfect thank you you have an issue with any okay so the next um item under item the next thing in item three is uh Emory formal plan for the Music Therapy Program which possibly include three preliminary workshops um C ofd is wanting to present a letter with information and Partnerships at the re par and graph Center um that Cod is going to refund the IM if you just want to uh let the whole committee um update on you know I believe you're looking to have another meeting with if can qualify see if they have a get it cake too so that we can um send a letter to the reparation Center for yes so I have a plan drafted I'm just waiting to speak with the senior director um from the community center he's going to give a little bit more information on uh scheduling and funding which I know funding won't really apply or be necessary to present uh to the rec center but I think the scheduling aspect of it will be a little bit um more crucial to try to nail down to coordinate with the rep Center um so they have a better idea of what we're looking for as far as scheduling goes so I'm just waiting to meet with the senior director um I'm waiting to find out a time that he can meet on zoom and then once I have those last is that at the Therapy Group yes okay yep so he's the senior director um and he's going to give me more information on the scheduling aspect um also the funding aspect will be important for us and then once I have those final pieces I should have the plan complete to submit and we still looking to have the three workshops as a zoom as Zoom are we looking what we what were we looking to do for the workshop in person oh maybe maybe potentially hybrid yeah exactly that's right that's right remind me it will be hybrid so they will be in person with the hybrid component um that we would also talk to rear TV about uh helping us with that aspect yes yep so hopefully if we can have that plan to the rec center this month maybe we can start looking ahead to like I don't know the spring if if we think that's appropriate even though this winter hasn't been bad anyway uh not only for time we want more time we want to refresh the program but we also don't want to put something in and there bad weather anyway um because you never know knowing really what could happen as well they could change time um even though we've been lucky so far this year so yeah so that's a that's a good that's a good plan so yeah as soon as that's done if you want to uh send need some information you can do the letter uh if it's done before our next meeting this way we can get that to the rec center and and I can possibly have information back for our next CoD uh monthly meeting on the process how that's sounds great that will be the plan on my end okay um so basically item number four is uh is basically the same as what we as that last part for the formal plan for music therapy there's just discussion regarding the the Community Music Center uh Boston proposal as a commission will always seek programs we can Implement r a benefit uh children and young adults with disability so we're still waiting as you said waiting waiting to talk to the senior director from there uh for more information so item number four basically will basically still be like as a as a table uh item um that will keep on the agenda because we're still waiting for that once we have all that um then we could approach the um the recreation center uh regarding that um how we want to physically partner with them but uh financially we are going to support this program but logistically we would want to partner with them because of facility [Music] wise offer great any any um any other members want to uh any suggestions or any comments on that no think it's the timing is good um as you said because you don't want to put something in place quickly and then have it have to be cancelled and then rescheduled because once we have to start doing like that that potentially lose folks and whatever else and maybe by that time all of the um you know the high illness rate and the neuro virus over and done with people can commit to it and actually attend so I think okay um has any other members want to make any comments um let me see item number five is code of commission of disabilities Alliance uh uh monthly meeting was held on Wednesday January 8th um and uh couple of items that were discussed here a Cod member from Acton had questions regarding emergency preparing plans for communities especially developments with residents with disabilities um and uh one thing with that is uh the mass office on disabilities used to host emergency preparing this um onsite trainings and give um and give uh to go bags um um as part of the planning to um to municipalities uh such as senior centers and um other other organizations within a municipality uh through a grant uh that was given tol by Nema um but that had stopped as of last year they no longer funded that program so as of right now um mod does not uh have that program so basically you want to reach out to MIMA or go to their website they have a lot of information on there as the pamphlet that were given out they don't do any on-site training or give any emergency GO bags the other resource that communities can reach out to is to whoever their emergency preparedness director is um to find out if they have any plans or any uh any other information that they could give to us uh Senior Center developments or or other organizations within the community help them um but the best resource right now is the Mima website they have a lot of pamphlets and information on there on how to create an evacuation self EV self- evacuation plan uh for your household uh or for your Center such as a a senior apartment building or things like that uh so that that was uh was that that topic uh was discussed also um the Newber report Cod spoke about brick sidewalks and how how that town is against removing them even even though they cause difficulties for people with disabilities um they they have the older style uh of brick and not the wire cut type where the wire Ty type cut type is is it's it's not the best um source of a a walking path but it is not as abrasive and rough as the older style bricks they're still not the not the best for for people with disabilities mobility issues people in wheelchairs um so because they also need to be maintained um I remember from from the from the town of new Newton mentioned that they have instituted repl for sidewalk with something called stamped concrete that looks like like brick um it's a better version than the old style of stamp concrete and it can be colored uh to look like any style needed uh and it's a great alternative um for communities that want to keep that older uh brick brick look for historic characteristics um unfortunately a lot of communities think that rck uh has some type of historical significance on value um but unfortunately U they really need to take into consideration people with disabilities uh on how that really affects uh that mobility issue walking uh in just getting up and down up and down the streets um so that's uh that's a that's a big uh big issue and it's a big hurdle with with a lot of communities I'm glad to see that that Newton has been doing a great initiative on using that concrete uh that stand concrete look be a problem with the way it looked years ago but now it looks just like brick it's really easy to maintain and if if you were looking at it um side by side you really couldn't tell that it wasn't BR so it was it's a great alternative um the next item that we discuss at that meeting is cods discussed right Shar bike programs uh the the Newberry Port Cod mentioned that they have adopted a new program that includes one adaptable bike um they have an RFP out right now and the City of Boston um the city of Boston's member mentioned that they are part of the blue bikes ride share program and they also purchase an Adaptive bike but the only issue they have with it is that it is not in use because of its size and docking needs which you can which you uh know that you know and the little bike needs a lot more space to dock it and that seems to be the issue that they're having with it um so they're trying to come up with ways and where it can be dark because usually with the with the ride share bikes you don't have to return it back to where you um where you got it so a lot of people will take it from point A and want to leave it at point B but because of the adaptable bikes the docking uh areas are are need to be a lot uh wider longer uh and that tends to be an issue where the normal docking stations are that they're not space allowance all those so they're trying to come up with a with a solution on that or if people do want to use these adaptive legs they maybe have to be that it when we use it it has to come back to point a um so they're trying to figure out resolutions for that um one other um uh City the the accon you mentioned they have a bike sh program as part of their Town's uh Recreation Center for people are rent so they they do have it and they believe they do have uh adaptable bikes but they have to be rented and they come back to the recreation their Recreation Center so it's not like the um blue bikes that have a docking station or something to that um lastly make sure this is the last item that was mentioned at C before I say lastly yeah than so lastly um the Newberry Port Cod uh mention the program that they're looking at it's called right right here which is right it's spelled r i g HT pyen h e a r um and it can be you can look up information for at www.ri RI ght hen here.com and right here is a program that provides signage so everyone can interpret and understand this surrounding in real time this application and pro pro and program incorporates the use of a mobile device and install beacons the environment comes to life through audio descriptions delivered directly to a smartphone or tablet helping everyone everywhere explore navigation and experience the world safely and independently they want to see if this could be used and and implemented on trails and Parkland in the community um I really thought it was this is something that's very Innovative and creative um I actually went on the website and took a look at it so if anybody had some time I would take a look at it at this technology it looks very interesting um especially for people that are visually impaired um so when you're going through walking trails and uh things of that nature uh it's it's I believe it's probably similar to um there may be some museums that use similar technology I'm not sure I'm not sure if um Jason or Mario might know some type of some type of things that may use similar technology but I think this is beneficial for for people that want to go look at certain types of attractions which Railways um and it explains it it picks it up it's almost like a Bluetooth when you're right there it you have the app on and it will tell you exactly what you're at and describe the whole thing and give you a whole background of I would be very helpful if the invent if if that does exist well it's almost like a it's almost like a knowledge base not a way finding but it's a knowledge base so you know when you're going to see some attractions and things like that so new report uh they're looking now and U if they do implement it are they keep us updated I will keep everybody in the commission updated but please feel free to take a look at that website with in agenda take look that it's pretty interesting yeah it does sounds interesting there is one other thing too when you were talking about the sidewalks and I was thinking about it I looked it up and Kanas City actually has sidewalks that uh it doesn't require them to use the same chemicals for ice melt so it doesn't ruin the sidewalks but it melts the stuff right on contact it's some sort of special sidewalk that they're putting in I've noticed and that was in Kansas City Missouri I was looking at oh okay yeah so it would make a huge difference for people you know so they don't slip and fall and everything else yeah that's the other problem with the brick when the bricks sidewalks they're very hard to maintain in the winter time snow removal ice removal but what we're doing isn't working now that's say they should start looking at other cities yeah and that might cut down on the amount of needing to fix the sidewalks as often because the newer sidewalk types that they created um you know that makes a huge difference you know um but just something that they might want to look [Music] at um I actually let me see um I actually have some next item is uh item number seven is commission members late items I'll open it up to any Members First if they have any late items that they wanted to discuss I have a question and it's this is just recent that I've noticed this um anyone having been down to one Marketplace and the setup where one end you have the Planet Fitness followed by Marsh post office Etc am I just missing it or am I not seeing the um like the accessible ramp to get onto that walk they do to be so many feet apart yeah they have to have them they do they have one is I believe because I when I I I had to check this out many years ago I believe there's three or four from from one and there's about four of them yeah there's three at least three or four of them there's one in front of Planet Fitness there's one in front of Marshall there's one in between the P shop yeah or or Big Lot the restaurant but I only because I've been to Marshall a times I seen that and I'm wondering if I'm just like completely and totally missing it that's that's what I was wondering is there a do you know the how far apart have to be or is it is thaied based on like where you are there is there is a there is a a criteria um but they and I I don't know it off the top of my head but they are in compliance there and they have it they just have to have it uh every so many every so many feed are entrances they have to have them they can't be SP po uh but they do meet the requirements that they okay yeah I just I guess I'm just missing it I only because I've been to well haven't unfortunately haven't been to Planet Fitness but I've been in Marshalls and post office of recent um and I don't remember seeing I remember seeing one over by Big Lots and of course the um big box truckses have been have been parking right there because they're going out of business and they're offloading things or on-loading I should say okay well thank you that was my question to be at every store entrance in in those outdoor mall plazas uh but they have to be that they have to be centrally located okay thank you um anyone else yeah a couple things so one actually uh the the first thing I want to say everybody please be careful sicknesses around it's been we had Co through where I live like crazy plus norovirus Plus RSV plus you name it it's everything so please everyone wash your hands wear a mask be careful we got enough going on right now but the other piece um a couple big things was the um that I've uh noticed and found out um and I I tell those with disabilities to fight hard because a lot of employers right now are trying to deny uh ADA accommodations so don't just take their first answer of un undo hardship they have to prove it and um you know it's it's coming around I'm running into some of that myself so giving people a heads up finding out the process on that Jason too they have to prove that it's an unburden cost why they cannot um why they cannot offer you your reasonable accommodation agreed but they're doing it anyway and it's yeah it's not as easy as everyone thinks trust me as we know um but it is running into you know some challenges um you know so I just warn everybody you know as much as I can to try to put that stuff out there so people are aware of it anything else Jason uh not at the moment any other members I am going to I'm going to share my screen there's a couple of uh a couple of things have happened in the legislature thing that I wanted to share so let me try and share this um please let me know if you are seeing uh affordability yes got it so um I wanted to just share this after years after years of hard work Massachusetts finally made an important move to make prescription drugs more affordable and accessible last week Governor hey signed uh s3012 which is an act relative the B suitable access costs and transparency a huge win for people struggling with high medication costs uh this was this was sent from the Disability Policy consum that should start out with as a proud member of the Coalition spe headed by healthcare for all that has been champion this reform since 2019 Disability Policy cons Consortium celebrates this Milestone with transformative potential for people with disabilities across the Commonwealth what does this law achieve so they broke this down so that's why I wanted to share it uh the new law brings big changes to tackle High prescription costs and hold pharmaceutical Industries accountable the key key provision include cap co-pays for Chron chronic conditions people managing certain chronic conditions diabetes asthma and the two and the two most prevalent hot conditions will see their co-ace cap to $25 with generic versions of these medications available at no cost reducing Financial barriers to critical healthare uh secondly enhanced oversight and data collection the health policy commission HBC in the Center for Health Information analysis Chia will now conduct comprehensive assessments of pharmaceutical pricing trends and collect data on high cost drugs this will improve transparency and support evidence-based policym third Percy benefits manager pvm regulations the new law requires PMS to be licensed and subject to Greater oversight curbing exploitive practices that have historically driven up drug prices uh LA and finally access to lowest cost options pharmacies must now ensure patient patients receive the lowest cost medication option available easing outof pocket expenses consumers uh fortunately there's also another side this what was left out while the law is a big step forward it leaves out some measures that the Coalition advocates for such as HPC reviews of drug cost impact on access or affordability Improvement plans involving manufacturers additionally certain devices like insulin pumps are excluded from the cap co-pay provision leaving room for future enhancement why this matters for people with disabilities for the disability of community affordable prescription medications are essential to survival and dignity many people with disabilities have chronic health conditions re requiring costly ongoing treatments for many high outof pocket costs mean choosing between their health and Essentials like food or rent often leading to worse health and more trips to the E this law provision this Law's Provisions such as capping poay at $25 for prom chronic conditions reduce Financial barriers to essential medications increased oversight and data collection improv transparency enabling policy makers to address price spikes and exploratory practices effectively people with disabilities often find themselves clapped between two competing Forces Insurance insurance and pharmaceutical companies insurers May seek to limit or exclude access to critical medications and a cost control measures while far pharmaceutical companies set high prices for life saving treatments this Dynamic creates a dangerous situation with essential medications and the people whose lives they save might seem not worth the cost law tackles the tough challenge of balancing affordability and availability safeguarding those most at risk from both high prices and harmful cost cutting measures by ensuring price pricing transparency in tighter oversight of PBM it helps lower cost while keeping inal medications accessible for people with disabilities uh and they go on to thank Governor Healey representative barara Senator Freedman and all the lawmakers lawmakers who got this built over the finish line so I just wanted to uh share that with the members uh because I thought it was quite important to give it let the members know and uh to our constituents uh in R so although it did not get everything done it is a great move forward um so just wanted to share that with you and if they have any comments on that I'm willing to to listen and on when uh when does that law take effect does it say unfortunately it it just says it was it was it was signed um it doesn't give a date but usually they really they they usually I believe get mative pretty quickly I hope I hope CVS and all the others seem to learn that because I'll tell you right now I just Dro you know $75 in some cases $30 I mean I take insulin now so um sometimes it's usually like a waiting period yeah comment but it doesn't it doesn't State anything um in there on this so I don't want to answer either way if it's enacted right away or whatnot um but that's but like I said you probably can look up U the bill S1 too and there might be more more information on it there the other thing I was forgot to mention on the other thing that just came up we ran it we just did a review for Mass Health this year um for that PCA program and uh one other thing that they it's not realistic but this is what they really want the program to be and I and Ellie will probably find this pretty sick um so for me I have to because my wife works and other things happen you know I have to put the 40 hours where I need it well they say well if you're not going to the bathroom at this moment then the a isn't working and uh they want you to spread it out throughout seven days that's not realistic nobody's going to work for four hours a day or whatever it may be you know what I mean and uh so you're just going to find some other challenges I wanted to bring that up since ell and I have talked about the PCA program before it seems to be getting more and more complicated so just a warning to anybody who signs up for it any other comments I just have a couple of more late items that I wanted to mention um I was um I received an email from um the rec center today um I told them and Marie that we are working on getting a proposal to them from these a Therapy Program uh because they contacted me about the app program that they they that we that I mentioned that they were trying they're going to be trying to initiate um they wanted to make sure that we were still on board uh to partner with them and I told them we are on board to part with them they're looking for an instructor uh and they're going to get be more specifics because the commission on disabilities is going to help support and finance that program as well uh so I just wanted to let everyone know that email just came today um the last thing that I wanted to mention I'm not sure if uh if anyone was able to watch um last night's uh council meeting um but if you were if you haven't please go to the r TV's YouTube channel uh and take a look at it and you'll see a shining new adaa compliant um Podium uh for anyone to go that wants to speak or ask questions uh comments at a uh council meeting uh or uh any subcommittee meeting or anything that's going on that the public can address in the council chambers um it is unbelievable um that we help pay for that through the funds that we receive of the commission of disabilities uh it is fully adaa compliance uh it's wheelchair accessible the wheelchairs can slide right underneath it is electronic that the height goes up and down so it adjust to the height it is the Cadillac of podiums um so please check it out and uh so we're trying to do our part in helping make things more accessible through the community uh in programs so I just wanted to let everyone know um that's what we're doing there uh and lastly I totally forgot about this that I have submitted um the Grant application to save the Bas sa the harbor for their grant their Grant application uh for this year that was the grant that I applied for last year for the all abilities day out at River Beach that I am applying again for for this year um so I submitted that and uh we'll see if we are lucky enough to be awarded that so that we can uh we can have that event um again down the beach if we do not uh receive that Grant we'll try and find other ways to uh to put that off and make it bigger and better this year sounds good is attend but I don't issues I'm not sure question Ral I've lost your audio can't hear you did you lose me I lost you we can't hear you hear me sounds like it's muffled yeah you hear me now little bit better yeah but no I lost you totally you at me now okay a lot better yes yeah I think that's because my phone rang um so did there's no residence concern so we're going to move up to item Next Step so our next step is basically you're going distorted Ralph yeah again you're you're dying out pa do you want to item eight on sure so our next steps um going forth is uh we will await um some more information from Ann Marie on the music therapy program that's going to be coming live to R for your pleasure um in participation so we'll wait on that um I will get together the final little piece um of our letter to representative turo for your perusal and see if anyone else has any comments or any other uh language changes that would uh otherwise support us um additionally um we will continue to monitor um the programs the art Therapy Program that uh the rec center is going to be starting up and hopefully we'll be able to support them as well um going forth I will continue to pine away at uh some folks or some people to see if anyone would like to join us on a monthly basis or on an occasional basis um to give us updates on on whether it's adaptive equipment whether it's um new adventures that are out there new possibilities um updates from possibly our friends um at the Federation so I will work tirelessly to find us some folks other than that if anyone has any additional um comments questions thoughts and that will conclude our meeting for tonight um so we will await all of those things and um item number nine our reminder the commission on disabilities office number is 78128 6826 7 residents can also call rever 311 directly and speak to the staff Monday through Friday they will answer most of your questions but if they are unable to or you wish to speak to someone in our department directly please ask to be transferred to the disabilities commission's office office please leave a detailed message and someone will get back to you soon as always please don't hesitate to contact us if you have something that you would like discussed or added to our monthly meeting agenda or a concern you can also let us know if you would like to speak on any issues or concerns the commission is here to help you and assist all the disabled residents and families of rever uh with that if I could have a motion to adjourn motion to adjourn okay and a second please a second okay thank you both very much that will conclude our meeting for tonight our next meeting via Zoom will be on Tuesday February 11th 2025 at 6: PM wishing you all a toasty roasty evening because I'm sitting here freezing in my office don't know where why I'll have to go search for an open window um and hoping that everybody stays well and healthy and just keep hypervigilant on the handwashing and if you can stay away from the crowds please do take care everyone bye thank you everybody