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Phoenix Wins Accessible America Award
The city of Phoenix has won national recognition as the most
accessible friendly city for people with disabilities in the National
Organization on Disability's third annual Accessible America Contest.
The recognition includes a cash award of $25,000 to be used to further
efforts to close the participation gaps for people with disabilities.
Phoenix was recognized for its focus on disability issues and the
successful design of programs, services and facilities that are accessible
to residents and visitors who have disabilities. More than 17 percent of
the city's 1.3 million residents are disabled.
"I'm proud that Phoenix has been honored for the many innovative and
creative ways it involves people with disabilities in the city and
community," said Phoenix Vice Mayor Peggy Bilsten. "From the Mayor's
Commission on Disability Issues that raises disability awareness to the
Daring Adventures program and Ability Counts Awards luncheon, Phoenix is a
model community that creates partnerships with its disabled residents to
ensure an independent and supportive lifestyle."
Numerous city programs support the needs of the disabled including the
Head Start program where 13 percent of the children have disabilities,
Clear Path Job Training program that provides internships for 90 disabled
youth in city departments, the library's special needs center with its
barrier-free access and Phoenix Channel 11, which provides real-time
captioning of all televised City Council meetings.
The integration of people with disabilities in the community through
the employment, recreation and government sectors, has made Phoenix a city
where people with disabilities are able to succeed.
Phoenix residents with disabilities work with the city to ensure that
the disability perspective is valued through the creation of accessible
infrastructure, 100 percent accessible public transit and affordable
barrier free housing. Phoenix has a welcoming attitude toward people with
disabilities and accommodates them in the work place.
The 10 finalists along with Phoenix were Alexandria, Va.; Austin,
Texas; Bloomington, Ind.; Cambridge, Mass.; Chicago; Columbia, Mo.;
Fountain Valley, Calif.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Los Angeles; and Miami Beach,
Fla. The Accessible America Contest is sponsored by a grant from UPS.
For more information or to become involved with the Mayor's Commission
on Disability Issues, or city or local programs, call 602-262-7486/voice
or 602-534-1557/TTY.
The following are examples of outstanding city programs that were
highlighted in the city's entry:
- Daring Adventures - an accessible, integrated, year-round outdoor
recreation program that offers sled ice hockey, kayaking, hiking and
camping, hand cycling and cross-country skiing to teens and adults with
disabilities and their non-disabled peers.
- Clear Path Job Training program - currently serves 90 interns with
significant disabilities. The interns work in various city departments,
mentored by city professionals. It has a permanent job placement rate of
70 percent.
- Head Start - Kids with disabilities make up 13 percent of Head
Start's enrollment. The city's Head Start disability specialist provides
training to caseworkers, program assistants and Head Start parents so
they can advocate on behalf of the children. Accommodation efforts for
children with special medical needs increased and has served as a
national model.
- ABIL - Phoenix provides Community Development Block Grant funding to
Arizona Bridge to Independent Living, Arizona's largest independent
living center, for their Home Modification Program. They help to
integrate residents with disabilities into the community. (examples are
available.)
- Special Needs Center at Burton Barr Central Library - offers a
nationally acclaimed Special Needs Center that is designed to make
access barrier free. The Computer Workplace for patrons with
disabilities has a wide range of assistive technology. A large
collection of Large Type, sign language and print/Braille and audio
formats of disability-related information are available.
- Mayor's Commission on Disability Issues - Commission members have
volunteered more than 1,000 hours working with city officials,
architects and engineers to remove attitudinal and physical barriers.
The Employment and Community Relations Committee coordinates an annual
Ability Counts luncheon that awards scholarships to outstanding students
with diverse abilities, and recognizes people with disabilities and
employers who have made life better for people with disabilities. The
"Save Our Space" outreach program educates the community and promotes
enforcement of accessible parking spaces.
- The Public Information Office Phoenix 11 close-captions
city-produced videos for city departments and provides real-time
captioning of all televised City Council meetings.
- For the past eight years, assisted listening devices and open
captioning have been available at City Council events.
- The City Clerk's office works with Bethany Ranch, a group home
serving people with disabilities, to attach the "I Voted Early" stickers
to the voting instructions mailed to all early voters.
- The Parks and Recreation Department - Ten city swimming pools offer
adaptive and therapeutic programs to residents. Phoenix has miles of
accessible park trails, mountain park trails and interpretive trails.
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