JOB TITLE: Executive Director/ADA Coordinator Commission for Persons with Disabilities
DEPARTMENT: Department of Human Service Programs

JOB CODE/POSITION #: M034-701

CIVIL SERVICE: Non Civil Service

UNION AFFILIATION: None

HOURS OF WORK: 37.5 hours/week, including some evening and weekend meetings

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Reporting to the Assistant City Manager for Human Services and the Assistant Director for Administration, the Executive Director/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the City's overall ADA compliance efforts, for supervision of the CCPD Disability Project Coordinator, for management of day-to-day operations of the CCPD office, and for building and maintaining a functional and responsive CCPD Advisory Board. Duties include, but are not limited to:

* Periodically review, and update, all City ADA policies and documents, including but not limited to reasonable accommodation policies, grievance procedure, ADA transition plan and self-evaluation. Publicize and implement the City's ADA policies and related documents.
* Serve as a resource of information and provide technical assistance to Department Heads, managers and supervisors regarding making employees with disabilities an essential part of the City's comprehensive workforce diversity efforts, and regarding the needs for physical and programmatic accessibility improvements, reasonable accommodations and the provision of auxiliary aids and services.
* Develop customized training programs on ADA compliance and disability awareness for a wide variety of audiences.
* Work with Department Heads, managers, and Personnel Department and with prospective and current employees with disabilities to plan and implement reasonable accommodations, according to individual needs.
* Conduct accessibility evaluations and make recommendations for City facilities, including municipal buildings, parking facilities, open space, parks and playgrounds and revise as necessary.
* Prepare annual written capital budget requests, through the City's capital budget process, recommending ADA accessibility improvements to city facilities, including the acquisition and provision of assistive technology as needed.
* Assist City staff in reviewing contractual arrangements, collective bargaining agreements, and other ADA-covered activities to ensure that such activities, contracts, and agreements fulfill the requirements for nondiscrimination on the basis of disability under the ADA.

* Provide technical assistance upon request regarding the requirements of the ADA and other federal, state, local disability discrimination laws. Develop customized training programs on ADA compliance and disability awareness for wide variety of audiences. Provide technical assistance, training, feedback and recommendations to Department Heads (or their designees) regarding the need for physical and programmatic accessibility improvements, reasonable accommodations, and the provision of auxiliary aids and services in programs, services and activities.
* Supervise and support Disability Project Coordinator on a wide variety of CCPD ongoing projects and office functions, including but not limited to: annual budget goals, I & R requests, development & distribution of bi-monthly newsletter, community outreach, taxi discount coupon program and participation on various interdepartmental committees and boards.
* Investigate complaints regarding purported violations of ADA and Massachusetts Architectural Access Board ("MAAB") rules and regulations pertaining to public and private property in Cambridge. Provide input to MAAB regarding variance applications.
* Coordinate efforts with CCPD Disability Project Coordinator and provide staff support for monthly CCPD Advisory Board meetings, including preparing agendas, publicizing monthly meetings, preparing monthly minutes and delivering monthly reports to the Board.
* In conjunction with the Project Coordinator, handle publicity and logistics, and provide coordination and administrative support for Advisory Board events, e.g. topical events, film screenings, board retreats, annual October employment events, etc.

The full job posting can be found here.

Penelope Ann "Penny" Shaw is a DPC Board member.  This a very good piece by Penny about a recent visit to a walk-in center.  It is a tale many of us will bw able to relate to.  You can read it here.

Rosa Maria Hernandez a ten year old with cerebral palsy.  She is undocumented and has lived in the United States since she was three months old. 

She was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while riding in an ambulance on the way to a hospital because of gall bladder problems.  She was allowed to have surgery, while ICE posted six officers outside her room.  After she was released from the hospital, ICE took her into custody where she is still being detained.  

You can read about the case here.

David Perry in an editorial in the Washington Post argues that under President Trump fighting for disability rights means fighting for immigrant rights.  You can find his editorial here.  Do you agree?