Commission on Disability

Overview

The Town of Tyngsborough adopted Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40 Section 8J at Special Town Meeting on November 13, 2018. This allowed the Town to create a Commission on Disability. The Commission on Disability is a Select Board appointed Board whose members were first appointed in December of 2018.

The Commission on Disability is tasked with (1) researching local problems of people with disabilities; (2) advising and assisting municipal officials and employees in ensuring compliance with state and federal laws; (3) coordinating and carrying out programs designed to meet the problems of people with disabilities in coordination with programs of the Massachusetts Office on Disability; (4) reviewing and making recommendations about policies, procedures, services, activities, and facilities of departments, boards, and agencies of said city or town as they affect people with disabilities; (5) provide information, referrals, guidance and technical assistance to individuals, public agencies, businesses and organizations in all matters pertaining to disability; and (6) coordinate activities of other local groups organized for similar purposes.

To contact the Commission on Disability via phone, please call Sean Walsh in the Select Board's Office at 978-743-5339.

Any member of the public wishing to attend any municipal meeting seeks special accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, should contact Sean Walsh at 978-743-5339 or email the Commission. While every attempt will be made to provide reasonable accommodations, requests should be made with as much advance notice as possible. Please note some requests, specifically for communication access support, may require 2 week notice beyond the control of the Town.

Resources

• Massachusetts Office on Disability
• Work Without Limits – Employment Resources

News & Updates

The FY2024 accessibility upgrade projects at the Council on Aging and Police Station have been completed. The Police Station accessibility project included a full depth reclamation of the parking lot and walkway. In reclaiming the parking lot, the grade of the lot was adjusted to make it accessible and compliant with the new ADA code. The upgrades at the Council on Aging included the construction of a new accessible walkway at the front entrance, installation of a cane detectable barrier on the drinking fountain, and new tactile signage.

At the May 2024 Town Meeting, the Commission was approved $25,000 to fund accessible upgrades at the Littlefield Library, which include a replacement of the ramp and tractile signage.

Check back periodically for updates.

Important Documents

• ADA Grievance Procedure (adopted January 28, 2019)
• Tyngsborough Web Accessibility Evaluation 2021 (PDF)
• 2021 Adopted Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan (PDF)

Commission on Disability Committee Charge

Disability Commission Charge

As adopted by Town Meeting on November 13, 2018 and in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 8J
Charge (defined by MGL Chapter 40, Section 8J)

The Commission shall (1) research local problems of people with disabilities; (2) advise and assist municipal officials and employees in ensuring compliance with state and federal laws and regulations that affect people with disabilities; (3) coordinate or carry out programs designed to meet the problems of people with disabilities in coordination with programs of the Massachusetts Office on Disability; (4) review and make recommendations about policies, procedures, services, activities and facilities of departments, boards and agencies of said city or town as they affect people with disabilities; (5) provide information, referrals, guidance and technical assistance to individuals, public agencies, businesses and organizations in all matters pertaining to disability; and (6) coordinate activities of other local groups organized for similar purposes.

Subject to Open Meeting Law

The Commission on Disability is, for all intents and purposes, a "public body" as defined by Open Meeting Law and as such is required to keep records of its meetings and actions and shall file an annual report which shall be printed in the annual report of the Town of Tyngsborough and shall have at least ten meetings annually. All meetings must be posted at least forty-eight hours in advance.

Membership

• 5 members who are people with disabilities
• 1 member who has a family member living with a disability
• 1 appointed or elected official

All members must be registered voters in the Town of Tyngsborough.

Term of Membership

The term of the first members of said commission shall be for one, two or three years, and so arranged that the term of one third of the members expires each year, and their successor shall be appointed for terms of three years each.