In 2012, Delbert Cloud, then Town Manager of Bethel had the foresight to apply for the New England ADA Center’s ADA Field-Based Training. This training would arm him with the necessary skills and information to improve the accessibility of Bethel’s recreation facility. Little did he know the list of ADA problems would be a long one: inaccessible walkways, bathhouse, playground and signage, to name a few.

It's Complicated!

Did you know that people with a disability are less likely to have completed a bachelor's degree? Just 16% of people with disabilities completed a bachelor’s degree while 35% of people without disabilities completed at a bachelor’s degree. About 1 in 5 people with a disability had less  than a high school diploma, compared with 1 in 10 people with no disability. In a knowledge based economy, education counts!

According to the Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities in September, 2015 was 10.4 % compared to people without disabilities at 5.1%. Let’s work together to get that number down! Knowledge is power!

On July 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a gathering on Boston Common will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Dr. Cheri Blauwet, a physiatrist in Boston practicing at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a Paralympian, and board member of the Boston 2024 Bid Committee, reflects on how the law changed the lives of Americans with disabilities.

We are proud to host artwork from the 24th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act event by local artists with disabilities. The exhibit offers everything from photographs, acrylics, watercolor, and mixed media pieces, all with a wide range of price points perfect for any art lover on a budget.