The AACT Executive Board will meet from 10 AM to noon and the Membership meeting will be conducted from 1PM to 3 PM on the fourth Wednesday of the month, except when noted.
AACT has a page on the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) website at www.bostonmpo.org; click on “Get Involved” then scroll down to “Access Advisory Committee to the MBTA.” Links can be found there for the following items: agendas, upcoming meetings, past meeting minutes, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the MBTA and AACT, and the AACT bylaws, and ADA regulations. There are also links to the MPO’s newsletter, TRANSREPORT, and information on accessibility at the MBTA. This page includes the contact information for the AACT Coordinator.
Comments and questions concerning AACT should be directed to the Chairman James White by contacting the AACT Coordinator, Ms. Janie Guion, at 617-973-7507 (voice); 617-973-7089 (TTY); 617-973-8855 (fax); AACT@ctps.org (email); or at c/o CTPS, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150, Boston, MA 02116 (mail).
The AACT meeting location is accessible to people with disabilities and is near public transportation. Upon request (preferably two weeks in advance of the meeting), every effort will be made to provide accommodations such as assistive listening devices, materials in accessible formats and in languages other than English, and interpreters in American Sign Language and other languages. Please contact the MPO staff at 617.973.7100 (voice), 617.973.7089 (TTY), 617.973.8855 (fax), or publicinformation@ctps.org.
The MPO complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other federal and state non-discrimination statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. The MPO does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, English proficiency, income, religious creed, ancestry, disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or military service. Any person who believes herself/ himself or any specific class of persons has been subjected to discrimination prohibited by Title VI, ADA, or other non-discrimination statute or regulation may, herself/himself or via a representative, file a written complaint with the MPO. A complaint must be filed no later than 180 calendar days after the date on which the person believes the discrimination occurred. A complaint form and additional information can be obtained by contacting the MPO (see above) or at www.bostonmpo.org.
Members needing service information or wanting to inquire about MBTA services should do so through the MBTA Marketing and Communications Department at 617-222-3200 or 800-392-6100, TTY 617-222-5146, Monday through Friday 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM and Sat/Sun from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, or the MBTA website at www.mbta.com/customer_support/feedback/.
Please sign in at all meetings.
Announcements are always welcome. Please be prepared to give as many details as possible: date, time, location, contact person, and phone number. A written notice is always appreciated.
James White, Ian Perrault, Rick Morin, and Lisa Weber,
AACT Member Attendees:
Allen M. Karon, Tyler Terassi
John Lozada, David Anderson, Gregory Sobczynski
Janie Guion, Alicia Wilson, and Matt Archer
Chairman White requested a motion to approve the minutes for the September AACT meeting. A motion was made and seconded. It carried unanimously.
The Chair stated the following:
He then took questions and comments.
R. Morin proposed that AACT have an open house at THE RIDE Eligibility Center (TREC). He stated Michael Lambert is trying to address people’s concerns about the eligibility process and an open house could reduce anxiety.
Chairman White suggested the open house take place on a Saturday morning. He stated the open house would be an opportunity to “break the ice” with the new Project Manager at TREC.
R. Morin suggested that the new Project Manager be introduced to the AACT Board of Directors and the general membership.
Chairman White stated the Project Manager be extended an invitation to speak at an AACT meeting and he is recommending a Saturday open house.
R. Morin made a motion the Board recommend to Michael Lambert that AACT and TREC hold an open house at TREC at a convenient time; the goals are to let consumers familiarize themselves with theTREC setting, the In-Person Assessment process, the staff to reach out to non-AACT members; to inform consumers that AACT is a resource should issues arises. He suggests the open house could be co-sponsored by AACT and TREC.
L. Weber seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
R. Morin stated that using the email list from the AACT Forum to send invitations would demonstrate follow-through to their presence at the Forum.
Chairman White stated that greater outreach should be done to the medical community relating to In-Person Assessment. Those in the medical community, including specialists, should be aware that if a patient is incapacitated even for a short period of time that they can contact the TREC office for immediate service for a temporary medical necessity.
R. Morin suggested having an AACT meeting without a guest presenter scheduled, to allow people unlimited time to express their concerns. AACT could document what is discussed during the meeting to get a sense of priorities for the group. He noted that if someone comments on a personal issue, the Board could then ask the rest of the membership if they experience similar problems and noted that this would help identify systemic problems.
Chairman White stated that he would like Aniko Laszlo to be the guest speaker in January. He added that AACT was supposed to have an updated presentation on the construction of train stations, and there should also be a presentation regarding the Commuter Rail.
R. Morin asked if AACT should have been on the Commuter Rail Selection Committee.
Mr. Lozada and Mr. Anderson co-chair the MassDOT Office of Civil Rights /Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Group. They presented a quarterly report on MassDOT’s ADA/Section 504 Interim Transition Plan. This plan is now guiding the agency as it implements modifications to its programs, activities, and facilities over the next several years to better meet the needs of the disability community in the Commonwealth.
Mr. Lozada explained that concerns about accessibility back to the roots of the Rehabilitation Act and the inception of the ADA of 1990. He noted that state and municipal governments have an obligation to examine their programs, services, and activities to identify what is deficient and set a timetable for making corrections to provide accessibility.
Mr. Lozada and Mr. Anderson reported on the following areas taken from the emphasis areas identified in their plan.
Mr. Lozada noted that measurements created were shared with Architectural Access Board with a recommendation to adopt them as statewide standards. He noted that MassDOT has completed an inspection of 15,000 curb ramps.
Information on the plan and how to offer comments is available on MassDOT’s website, www.massdot.state.ma.us./OfficeofCivilRights/ADA.aspx.
They took questions and comments.
Chairman White inquired if they were looking at curb ramps at MBTA commuter rail stations.
J. Lozada stated that the project is the Highway Division of MassDOT.
Chairman White asked about the development of an application to report curb ramps missing or needing repair.
J. Lozada stated that at some point a 24-hour call center will be enacted, but for now people can contact MassDOT about curb ramp complaints.
Chairman White asked if they have invited contractors to a forum to explain MassDOT expectations, and suggested they may want to do so.
D. Anderson stated they currently prequalify contractors, but they have not done specific outreach to them. He commented that he thought the Chair’s idea is a good one.
Chairman White thanked Mr. Lozada and Mr. Anderson for their presentation.
Chairman White stated that the discussion of AACT Bylaws should be tabled until the January 2014 meeting.
R. Morin stated that there should be a Bylaws Committee formed.
Chairman White stated this will be discussed at the next meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 12:01PM.