July is recognized nationally as Disability Pride Month. Here in Erie County, we have a long history of supporting accessibility and inclusion. The Erie County Office for People with Disabilities (ECOPD) was added to the county charter in 1983, seven years before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law.
On July 24, in recognition of the 34th anniversary of the ADA, the county along with the City of Buffalo and community partners held a Disability Pride flag raising at Niagara Square in Downtown Buffalo. Last year was the first time raising this flag, and I was so glad to see the tradition continue this year. Another tradition that continued this year was the Disability Pride Celebration at Canalside on Friday, July 26.
ECOPD, under the leadership of Executive Director Frank Cammarata, ensures that all citizens with disabilities have a direct voice in County Government. The office also provides advocacy and assistance, which generally falls into three categories:
- Referral- The ECOPD links citizens with disabilities to affiliated agencies
- Representation- The ECOPD acts as a liaison to county government
- ADA/ACCESS Oversight- The Executive Director of the ECOPD serves as the ADA compliance officer
In 2022, the county opened the “Playground for All” at Chestnut Ridge Park. As of this summer, all five heritage parks, in addition to Tow Path Park in the City of Buffalo, now feature fully accessible playgrounds. We look forward to the opening of accessible playgrounds at Sprague Brook Park this fall, and at Isle View Park next summer.
By the end of 2024, we will have also replaced all picnic tables with universal, wheelchair friendly tables at our parks, and have installed mobility device friendly features at waterfront areas like Bennett Beach and the Chestnut Ridge Fishing Pier. Many municipalities have also installed their own inclusive playgrounds, trails and other recreation features, and I am so proud of our county’s leadership in this initiative.
Anyone can experience a temporary, long-term, or permanent disability at any time, and access and inclusion are critical when you have a disability. Persons with physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments may experience barriers that hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. While the ADA ensures equal access, it is important for all of us to practice inclusion and to treat our neighbors, family and friends with dignified compassion.
From our children enjoying inclusive playgrounds, to providing our adults with an advocate to contribute to policy discussion, I am proud of the county’s investment in accessibility and inclusion initiatives. To learn more about the ECOPD, and to find a list of upcoming events go to erie.gov/ECOPD, or by calling 716-858-6215.