The Fall River Commission on Disability met remotely on February 10, 2021, chaired by Dennis Polselli. Following roll call and public input, the commission approved the meeting minutes from January 13, 2021. The main feature of the meeting was a detailed presentation by Philip Vale, Executive Director of the SHARE Foundation, alongside staff member Beverly Thorn. They shared the foundation’s history of developing assistive technology since 1981, founded by the late Lester Cory, and highlighted case studies of disabled clients who regained communication and entertainment capabilities through custom scanning and computer systems.
Following the presentation, Commissioner Daniel Robillard motioned to allocate $15,000 to the SHARE Foundation in memory of Lester Cory, specifically dedicated to assisting Fall River residents with disabilities, which passed unanimously. The commission also discussed restructuring future meeting agendas to remove the standing "Finance" item in favor of handling proposals dynamically, provided financial updates are distributed regularly and reported quarterly.
Under committee and outreach reports, Commissioner Lisa Silva announced that Disability Awareness Day 2021 was canceled due to COVID-19 and rescheduled for September 24, 2022. The commission then reviewed an educational scholarship proposal authored by Commissioners Robillard and Silva, voting unanimously to allocate $32,000 for high school seniors with disabilities graduating from B.M.C. Durfee High School, Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School, and Bishop Connolly High School who are attending college. The meeting concluded after brief announcements regarding an upcoming state webinar and the scheduled renewal of the disability parking enforcement program.
Topics discussed
- 2:37 · SHARE Foundation Presentation — approved
Philip Vale and Beverly Thorn explained the foundation’s origins, technical work with scanning systems and adaptive software, and specific client stories. - 15:43 · Motion to waive the rules to grant the SHARE Foundation presenters additional time — passed
- 37:46 · Grant Allocation to SHARE Foundation — approved
The commission considered and approved a $15,000 allocation in memory of Lester Cory to assist Fall River residents with disabilities. - 42:51 · Audible Pedestrian Signals and ADA Work Group
Chairman Polselli reported on an upcoming rescheduled February 24 meeting with Community Maintenance Director John Perry and specialist Beezy Bentzen regarding sidewalks, curb cuts, and audible pedestrian signals. - 44:23 · Agenda Reorganization and Finance Reporting
The commission discussed removing the recurring finance item from the monthly agenda and instead issuing periodic email reports and quarterly public updates. - 48:37 · Disability Awareness Day 2021 Postponement
Commissioner Lisa Silva reported that the 2021 Disability Awareness Day was canceled due to COVID-19 and rescheduled to September 24, 2022. - 51:52 · Educational Scholarship Fund Allocation
The commission created a $32,000 scholarship fund distributed among Durfee, Diman Regional, and Bishop Connolly high schools for disabled Fall River graduates attending college. - 1:04:00 · Massachusetts Office on Disability Webinar and Upcoming Business — approved
Chairman Polselli announced an April 14 webinar on disability rights and outdoor dining, and noted that Sergeant Kevin Dolan would attend the March 10 meeting for the disability parking enforcement program review. - 1:06:11 · Motion to adjourn the meeting — passed