Director's Letter: Never Use a Big Word When a Diminutive One Will Suffice | | |
The old joke in the title is important generally, but it’s extra important for local government. For municipalities to serve the people, they need to be accessible to them. In this newsletter, we are focusing on one area of accessibility help we offer: the Self Evaluation and Transition Plan (SETP). However, there is more to accessibility (and to our accessibility services) than just the SETP. Here are some areas where we can help your local government become more accessible.
For many people, the official website is going to be a key way to get information from their local government. How is the user experience? Is it easy to find important information? Does it have a clear flow? It doesn’t have one of those little construction site gifs from 1998 to show it’s still under development, does it? Whatever the state of your website, we can help with usability, organization, archiving, and making sure it’s ready for your digital compliance deadline.
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We can also review your website, applications, forms, FAQ, or other documents for plain language. Plain language doesn’t mean boring. It means making government communications as clear and understandable as possible. (Whether it’s boring or not is unrelated and probably out of our control.) Our team can train your team on how to make your content easier for the public to read and understand. (As an aside, the federal government is supposed to be doing this by law, although the law itself is more “do as I say, not as I do.")
Now more than ever, people need to have trust in their local governments. But to trust them, people need to be able to understand them. If you’d like help with that, keep reading. (And don’t miss the info about a funding opportunity below!)
Mike Ward, Director
| | A Federal Mandate That Improves Things (?!) | | |
You know your municipality is required to be accessible. And we know that you are balancing a million requirements, requests, and complaints every day. Luckily, when it comes to accessibility, there are resources and when you tap into them, things improve.
“Most people think of wheelchair ramps when they think accessibility, but there’s so much more than reducing physical barriers,” explains Collins Center’s Accessibility team lead Morgan Clark. “Accessible local government includes physical access - being able to enter the Town Hall or use the restroom or playground at a park, for sure. It also means being able to hear your neighbors speak during public comment or being able to read and understand a permit application and how to calculate the fee. It means you can easily find out what you can recycle at the transfer station and when it’s open, for example.” When people can find the information they need, enter and use public places and spaces, and participate in programs, their satisfaction with their local government improves.
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Every municipality is required to evaluate its current accessibility, and plan to improve it under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This is called a Self Evaluation and Transition Plan (SETP). Additionally, your online content will need to meet accessibility standards in the next year or two (depending on your municipality’s size).
But it’s not just about the requirements. When your services, staff, websites, buildings, and programs are more accessible, it also means you’re running a good government.
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The Center’s Accessibility team is passionate about bringing these beneficial plans to life. Projects emphasize client education, working with municipal staff to design tailored protocols, and checklists to guide them in their day-to-day work.
The transition plans also include an audit of physical spaces – both indoors and outdoors – conducted by architectural experts so clients are prepared for future capital improvements. The Center’s team leaves municipalities well equipped to provide excellent government services and facilities that work for all residents.
In the three years since the Center added accessibility planning to its portfolio of offerings, the team has completed 10 ADA self-evaluation and transition plans and has two more underway. If your municipality wishes to provide more accessible government programs and services, the Collins Center is here to help. Email Morgan.Clark@umb.edu for more information.
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Municipal ADA Grant Program Open | |
The annual municipal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Improvement Grant program offered by the Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) is OPEN until June 13, 2025 at 5 PM.
Grant funds can be used to create or update a Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan to comply with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
If you would like to work with the Collins Center on a Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, email Morgan Clark at Morgan.Clark@umb.edu.
| | Team Member Spotlight: Kelsey Edmond | | |
The growth and expansion of the Center’s accessibility offerings is the result of Dr. Kelsey Edmond joining the team. Kelsey joined the Center in 2022 while pursuing her doctorate in digital equity. While she supports many of the Center’s practice areas, her passion, expertise, and personal experience make the Center’s accessibility practice exceptional.
Kelsey explains, “Growing up with a sister with disabilities, I witnessed firsthand the everyday barriers that can keep people from fully participating in public life.” Working with local governments to design services, environments, and digital tools that are not only compliant with the law but truly inclusive allows Kelsey to work in a space where her subject matter expertise and experience thoughtfully converge.
Kelsey holds a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Delaware, and a Master’s and a Doctorate in Public Policy from the University of Massachusetts Boston.
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Accessibility team member Amy Concannon recommends the book Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann and Kristen Joiner. The book chronicles pioneering disability rights activist Judith Heumann's life from contracting polio at a young age to becoming a leading figure in the disability rights movement.
Heumann's story highlights her relentless fight for equality, including her role in the Section 504 Sit-In and the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. For policymakers, this book is invaluable as it provides a firsthand account of the challenges faced by people with disabilities and offers insights into creating more inclusive and accessible communities.
By understanding Heumann's experiences and advocacy, policymakers can better appreciate the importance of accessibility and the impact of inclusive policies on improving the quality of life for all residents.
| | | Collins Center in the News | | | | |
Sounding the Alarm: Southern Berkshire EMS Task Force Gets Off the Ground, May 19, 2025, The Berkshire Edge
Medford City Council Approves Updated Version of New Charter, April 29, 2025, Tufts Daily
States with the Best and Worst Taxpayer ROI, Mike Ward weighs in, March 25, 2025, WalletHub
Holyoke Mayor Pitchs PILOT policy for tax exempt properties, March 20, 2025, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Rural Fire Departments Say Outdoor Tourism Straining Resources, March 3, 2025, Greenfield Recorder
| | Working with the Collins Center is Easy | | |
Chapter 30B, the Uniform Procurement Act, does not apply to working with a state agency per MGL Ch. 30B Sec. 1(4). Because the Collins Center is a state agency, municipalities, school districts, and other public entities may contract directly with the Center without following a 30B-compliant process. Similarly, Massachusetts state agencies may enter into Interagency Service Agreements with the Center.
If you have questions or want to discuss potential projects, please contact Sarah Concannon, Director of Municipal Services, at sarah.concannon@umb.edu.
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