St. Petersburg, Fla. (January 26, 2017) – To ensure that its public facilities, services and programs are accessible to people with disabilities, the city of St. Petersburg recently completed the process of updating its ADA Self Evaluation and Transition Plan. The St. Petersburg City Council approved the comprehensive, federally-mandated plan on January 5, 2017. A copy of the plan is available online at http://www.stpete.org/capi/index.asp.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law mandating equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities that prohibits discrimination in access to public facilities, services and programs. The city’s original ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan was completed in 1992. Since then, the city has experienced significant changes in population, physical size, streets, sidewalks and curb cuts, as well as added city facilities, services and programs.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, city efforts to conduct the ADA Self Evaluation and update its ADA Transition Plan began in August 2014. The process included three phases:
Phase I: Planning and Self-Evaluation Phase – Involved planning and assessment, including the formation of the ADA Task Force, Staff Accessibility Liaisons, the city’s Committee to Advocate for Persons with Impairments (CAPI), the facility inventory, the creation of a questionnaire tool, assigning city staff for the effort, and subsequent data collection.
Phase II: Recommendations and Prioritization – Included the following activities:
• Data Analysis;
• Development of recommendations associated with the policies and procedures survey;
• Development of recommendations associated with the communications survey;
• Development of program/facility recommendations and a priority system;
• Creation of a database and internal website;
• Review of streets, sidewalks and traffic signals compliance; and
• Community involvement and outreach.
Phase III: Adoption and Implementation – Preparing the final report for the Mayor and City Council, then putting the plan into action.
The city of St. Petersburg complies with the ADA and upon request, will provide written materials in appropriate alternative formats, as well as disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, to enable individuals with disabilities with equal access, equal participation and equal enjoyment. Contact the city’s ADA Coordinator Lendel Bright at lendel.bright@stpete.org or 727-893-7229. Such requests should allow a minimum of three full working days.
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