HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-05-02 Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes-beach
Beach Access for People with Disabilities Committee
Committee membership shall comprise of self advocates, family members, watermen and
women, caregivers, agencies, and professionals who have interest in and knowledge of beach
access issues for people with disabilities and P&R facilities, programs and services.
Goals
Committee to discuss and develop action plans for each goal
To advise the staff and Director of P&R of specific disability access issues that apply to
P&R’s cultural and recreational beach programs and services, making them accessible
for people with disabilities, including physical and communication access.
To provide the Director of P&R, the Fire Department rescue teams, the County ADA
Coordinator, and MCPD with input on beach access issues for people with disabilities.
To keep current on National trends in beach accessibility.
To explore funding sources and community collaboration to improve accessibility to the
beach and ocean.
To advocate for people with disabilities and their families to participate in beach
recreation to enhance their quality of life.
Agenda Draft 2008
Discussion topics
1. Beach access defined: beach accessibility vs. facility access and public beach access…it’s
more than just access across the sand and into the water: shade areas, access routes and
stations on the shoreline, traffic patterns, wheelchair storage, including service dogs
2. Review public comments on the Access Board’s Guidelines of Access to Outdoor Recreation
Areas
3. Brief history of how Oahu got beach access. Identify differences of Oahu and Big Island
beaches. Successful beach programs for people with disabilities: What works, what doesn’t.
4. Identifying beaches and conditions where equipment could be used (i.e. wave action, rocky
areas, boat ramps, water temperature, public demand, and other access issues)
5. Discussion of access products available with reviews from people who’ve used them
Mobi mats, PORTAFLOORS, other new products
All terrain beach wheelchairs
Gather public response to need
Discuss transfers and access into the water
Mobi-mat free trial loan as a public event/survey
6. Safety and Liability issues
Lifeguard concerns
Public training if we get beach wheelchairs
Corporation Counsel or Risk management presentation
7. Funding sources, timing, task force strategy/action plan (grants, petition legislators, matching
funds, MCPD, P&R, ADA Coordinator funds, donations)
8. Creating a collaborative system for making the mats and/or all-terrain wheelchairs available to
the public:
Equipment loan details: forms, deposits, retrieval enforcement procedures, group
use vs. individual use, approval for special group use at a different beach, special
events, non-profits, tour groups?
Storage and maintenance issues, installation vs. portable products
Vandalism, theft, and damage issues (Fees & financial procedures for fines?)
Who is responsible?
Replacement plan
9. Public service announcements/training/ special publicity event to celebrate access
Guest Speaker Ideas for Discussions in Hilo and Kona
Dean Aoki ADA coordinator for DLNR, Glen Taguchi DLNR Big Island, Lisa Duwall ADA
Landscape Arch for HVNP, Colleen Casey, Oahu Therapeutic Recreation Unit, Access Surf
Hawaii (Rich and Julian), Charlotte Townsend DCAB…Inquire if funding for Oahu guests might
be provided by HRPA or MCPD. Have guest speaker information and action sessions open to
public. Remember Sunshine Law.
Link show Big Island beaches with descriptions and photos:
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html/beaches/kahaluu_beach_park.html