ADA/Accessibility Information Booth Big Success at Fifth Annual Gulf Coast Safe Streets Summit
On November 3, 2022 close to two hundred people participated in the Gulf Coast Safe Streets Summit at RP Funding Center. The event brought together national speakers, public officials, and technical staff in the transportation field. It also included city planners and other professionals involved in designing Public Rights-of-Way and transportation infrastructure throughout Florida. The goal of the event was to raise awareness about the need to implement safe and equitable transportation facilities and routes for all users.
The ADA/Accessibility information booth got a lot of attention. The City’s ADA Specialist Jenny Sykes, Mickie Brown of the Lakeland Alliance for Accessibility and co-founder of Noah’s Landing were joined by Eddie Hall, founder of Expedite Life. Throughout the event participants stopped by the booth to ask questions about Accessibility requirements, obtain reference material and to hear accounts about individuals with disabilities who face obstacles in navigating their communities.
The feedback from participants including comments such as, “I never knew there were so many state and federal Accessibility requirements,” and, “From now on, we will put more emphasis on Accessibility when planning new projects.”
If you would like to learn more about transportation planning and Accessibility, please go to the ADA page of the City’s website and use the “Planning for Accessibility” links: https://www.lakelandgov.net/departments/public-works/ada-accessibility/
If you would like to share your feedback about Accessibility in Lakeland, call or email the City’s ADA Specialist: Phone (863) 834-8444 Email jenny.sykes@lakelandgov.net