Town of Hilton Head hosts public disabled access meetings

The Town of Hilton Head Island hosted a public open house August 14th at the Town Hall to discuss the Americans with Disabilities Act and to hear from citizens about accessibility issues on the island.

The open house, which included a 9 a.m. meeting and a 5:30 p.m. meeting as well as opportunities for less formal conversations, was held as the official kickoff event for the Town’s ADA Self-Assessment and Transition Plan according to a news release.
“Our goal is to ensure that everyone in our community has equal access to the programs, services, and facilities offered by the Town,” said Mayor Alan Perry. “The input we receive during this process will help shape a more inclusive and accessible future for Hilton Head Island.”

The ADA Self-Assessment and Transition Plan is a requirement of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and serves as a roadmap for identifying and addressing barriers to access. Hilton Head Island brought in Sandy Hanebrink, executive director of Touch the Future, Inc., as a consultant on the project. Touch the Future, Inc., based in Anderson, SC, started as an assistive technology company and now provides services including access consulting. The goal of the company is to create accessible, inclusive, and sustainable communities.

Assistant Town Manager and ADA coordinator Angie Stone explained the project’s early goals and future steps.

“We’re on the front end of this process and held these sessions to gather initial input and let the community know what we’re doing. The feedback provided during these sessions was primarily related to non-Town facilities, programs and services.” She said future outreach will include an online survey, focus groups, and public presentation of the assessment and transition plan.

Stone observed “consistent themes” emerging in the discussions with the estimated 15-20 participants, including calls for accessible parking island-wide, clearly marked accessible routes, expanded transportation options, and awareness within the business community.

Cyndy Milstead-Anzek, South Carolina director of Walton Options, attended the morning session of the open house and said the atmosphere was positive. She also complimented Stone for productive meetings. Talking about the input from disabled advocates, she said it was important that issues such as visitability and universal design came up during the discussions for the awareness of groups such as homebuilders’ associations. While she said there are no specific plans in place for Walton Options to work on the accessibility project, Milstead-Anzek expressed a willingness and desire to work with the Town and others. “We would love to collaborate,” she said.

Milstead-Anzek supports access incentives such as awarding window stickers or similar recognition to businesses and other organizations that prioritize accessibility. “Like a certification of excellence or a deal of approval,” she explained.
Emphasizing cooperation and creativity in the quest for accessibility, she said “The ADA is the floor, not the ceiling.”

Channing Heiss is a freelance writer and a member of the Beaufort County disAbilities Coalition.