For Advocates, Disability Day is Every Day

Above, Franklin Recreation Director Ryan Jette and advocate Ali Rheaume inspect improved accessibility at Fletcher Field.

Friday might not have been marked on your calendar as a special day, but for members of the disability community it is Disability Day, a day that is often celebrated. On that date, in 1990, the Americans With Disabilities Act was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush, significantly changing the legal position of many with disabilities and requiring much greater accommodations within society. But of course, there is much to do.

We talked with Ali Rheaume, a Franklin resident who is a disability advocate, public speaker, and artist with her own art business called Embracing Unique. She is certified as a Community Access Monitor by the Massachusetts Office on Disability. Ali has always been passionate about inclusion, as she was formerly an elementary PE teacher, Kids Ministry Director, and high school coach, before sustaining a brain injury that completely changed her life.

Rheaume found she had to rehab back from a 10 percent functioning level, unable to walk, talk, or do anything herself, to where she is now. Along with that journey, Ali also navigates several other medical conditions such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Dysautonomia, Narcolepsy, and Auditory Processing Disorder, that all leads her to be part of the disability community.

She currently serves on the Franklin Disability Commission, a Franklin Accessibility Working Group, and the Brain Injury Council of Massachusetts.

Rheaume said, “Accessibility helps everyone and harms no one.” The goal is to have locations and events that are fully inclusive here in Franklin. In order to be inclusive, there needs to be accessibility, she explained.

“Franklin has been doing a fantastic job with increasing accessibility around town, especially within conservation and recreation,” she said. “My hope is that this trickles into other departments and is truly embraced within the Master Plan to make more locations, such as downtown, more accessible, too,” she added.

Rheaume explained that Franklin, and the Commonwealth at large, is a quite a historical location. It makes it challenging to convince places, such as facilities downtown, to renovate for accessibility because they can be exempt from the ADA law in order to preserve historical significance. “However, there are still modifications that can be made that do not impact the historical significance of the property,” Rheaume said.

The Dean MBTA Station is soon becoming accessible with a new freestanding mini-high platform, something Rheaume said is a “huge win” for the town of Franklin.

Within the past year alone, several facilities in Franklin have become more accessible. For example, the Sculpture Park on Panther Way now has improved handicap parking both in the main lot next to the Police Station, including a paved pathway from parking to the park, and in the back off Edwards Street. There are strategically placed benches, most with backs to them, placed around the loop, as well as a handicap accessible picnic table and added pavement underneath for access.

The King Street Memorial Park now has a section of the playground that is a fully accessible structure and surface. And Fletcher Field/Park off Peck Street now has a section of the playground that is more accessible and a handicap swing and accessible surface included with the other swings. There is also a handicap accessible picnic table, and pavement leading up to all the picnic tables and a bench with a back to it. There is now a ramp to access the basketball/hockey court and improved handicap parking.

The Franklin Farmers Market has added extra handicap parking spots, implemented a sensory-friendly hour from 2-3pm, and is strategically placed along the paved pathway.

“There are many more accessibility plans underway, such as a goal to create an accessible pathway at Del Carte, from the parking lot down to the water, and to have a paved pathway all around King Street Memorial Park,” Rheaume noted.

When it comes to accessibility modifications, the Franklin DPW particularly deserves recognition for all the hard work they do, she said. “They are the ones who most often are doing the physical work to actually carry out the modifications and help them become a reality,” she added.

Rheaume
asked that if you ever have an accessibility need, concern, or idea for improvement, you are welcome to reach out to her or the Franklin Disability Commission any time!

Rheaume also runs Rise Up, a social hour for individuals navigating life with disability, held the third Saturday of every month at 10am. Anyone 18+ is welcome to come socialize, as well as have an opportunity to discuss accessibility and inclusion. Community partners are encouraged to join the group to connect more with the disability community.

Below, Breeka Li Goodlander, Ali Rheaume, and Meg Hagan looking towards the water, evaluating how to make the Del Carte park more accessible.