ADA Transition Plan

Sidewalks along 1st Street, 2nd Street, Baltimore Avenue and Wilmington Avenue need to be redone and in many areas they need to be widened. There are some that appear to be too narrow for a wheelchair to get through.

Here’s s a good regional source of information and counsel: https://www.adainfo.org/research/

The City's done a good job in creating curb cuts and ramps to sidewalks (despite some criticism) but there needs to be some maintenance work done. a complete survey of these access points needs to be done. Included in maintenance, the City should have plan for clearing these curb cuts after snow or ice, and providing access from handicapped parking spots to sidewalks. As recently seen, when streets are plowed, and sidewalks cleaned, sometimes the snow ends up piled in curb cuts or other access points, rendering them useless.

Another aspect needing attention is City Hall. While there is an automatic door opener at the entrance the building and selected bathrooms, there is lack of one in other bathrooms, the Commissioners room and other places the public needs access. It should be relatively easy and inexpensive to be sure all publicly used rooms are equipped with the necessary electronic access panels. For those with manual disabilities, all (including those already installed) should be operated by a wave, not pressing a large button.

The City should evaluate the coco mats used for beach access, and the City should increase the use of mats using Mobi-mats of some material at all access points.

Being a disabled driver, I am reluctant to go into town during the season because handicap parking for Seasonal parking Pass holders is limited. The City should allow Handicap vehicle users who pay for a seasonal parking pass to park along Rehoboth Avenue w/o requiring additional payment to do so.

I appreciate the city's efforts to ask for feedback and input. Our facility welcomes all people and I've noticed that a number of people with physical disabilities do not like to come into town to participate due to barriers to their mobility- whether it's lack of designated parking, uneven sidewalks, lack of snow removal, poorly lit areas (vision), inability to utilize a restroom due to lack of door openers, access to the convention center- doors are heavy and can't be opened easily, stairs into restaurants and businesses (without ramps, or elevators). Aging populations are also becoming less frequent in Rehoboth Beach and are choosing to patronize businesses on Coastal Highway due to ease of parking, upgrades for access, etc.

Definitely need the motivation at every walkway to the ocean from the boardwalk and they need to go down almost to the water.
Restaurants should be made to create ramps or easy access for those with mobility impairment and disabilities.
The post office needs to have handicapped access.
There needs to be more handicapped parking spots.
All street corners in town should have wheelchair and scooter ramps.
Thank you for welcoming the feedback from those with disabilities.

Thx

I am interested in helping out. I am a disability advocate, social worker, and member of the Delaware State Council for People With Disabilities. Joseph Anastasio - 410.804.6407
I live in Lewes.

I have worked with CAMP Rehoboth the past three years to create accessible events. As someone with mobility issues, the condition of your sidewalks are barriers to access for many and a deterrent for encouraging people with disabilities (mobility-related) to visit. Whenever sidewalks aren't level, there is a risk of a wheelchair user being tipped out or for a person who already has an unstable gait to catch their foot or cane and fall. Done of your curb cut outs have gaps between the cutout and the street (same outcome as uneven sidewalks). Cobblestone and other decorative ground covering is an obstacle. Accessible parking spaces are limited. Cutouts/ramps should be next to the accessible parking spaces.
Finally, I need someone to explain why the accessible parking spaces are next to the building at the Convention Center, but the kiosk is where people without disabilities park. This forces av person with a disability to walk or roll to the kiosk then go back into the Convention Center. It defeats the entire purpose of placing these spaces near the door. Many people with disabilities (like me) are as autonomous as we can be and do not travel with companions. This kind of decision (parking kiosk placement) negates whatever goal you hoped to achieve.
Representation matters.

I have consulted with Freeman Arts Pavilion training their staff on accessibility and inclusive practices and helping them establish their own accessibility team, YMCAs in Delaware, and CAMP Rehoboth. I worked in special education for 18 years, was a volunteer advocate for more than 25 years, and currently am employed as an advocate at CLASI (Community Legal Aid Society, Inc.). My mother is Deaf. I had both legs broken in 2018 and was unable to enjoy activities in Rehoboth proper for the duration of my recovery.

Some individual businesses do a good job accommodating people with disabilities, but the city itself has room for improvement. I have left messages offering to volunteer to help make Sea Witch Festival more accommodating and accessible and nobody has ever gotten back to me. It's more than having a section for people with disabilities. We don't travel in herds and we don't want to be fenced in and segregated as if we did. We all have different needs. *special seating does nothing for a person who is Deaf when a interpreter is not provided. *Seating for a person who has low vision is different than seating for someone who uses a wheelchair.

We tripled the number of women with disabilities who attend the Women's Fest with all positive feedback. Word is out and women start contacting me as soon as it's announced (even before registration). People with disabilities are grateful for the inclusive environment at Freeman. I so want to hear the same about Rehoboth. Inclusion is more than just ADA. It is taking the time to learn from people who have disabilities and not making decisions for us based upon the experiences of those who haven't walked in our shoes, seen or heard through our hand, rolled with our wheels, or lived the experience of a caregiver or companion. It also takes learning updated language and doing away with outdated, offensive words and phrases.

Rehoboth has a long way to go, but I'm encouraged that you're beginning to make efforts to change.
*I am commenting because several people sent me this link knowing that I'd use my voice.

I'd love to be a part of the solution or to be a small part of the change.

I want to help out with this project. I am a disability advocate, social worker and sit on the Delaware State Council for Persons With Disabilities. I live in Lewes. Joseph Anastasio 410.804.6407

The beach wheel chairs are great but would be good to have more availability. The beach mats are very helpful to the elderly and disabled. Is there a way to have them go further toward ocean?

We need more handicapped spots for van accessibility.

- allow parking for handicap vans to be frontward and backward, as ramps can be in different locations. Be sure to check them before ticketing them.
-Individual Family restrooms in more areas
- Additional access points on the beach with the ability to be closer to the water

As a wheelchair users, I have the following very frustrating:
1. Many stores & restaurants do not provide access for wheelchairs
2. Sidewalks are uneven and at time, not accessible to wheelchairs
3. Stores that have outside order/pickup area are not accessible to wheelchairs
4. Moat restaurants & stores, once inside, are cramped and hard to navigate.
5. Most restaurants restrooms are not ADA compliant
6. No wheelchair accessible areas for events.
7. Need more accessible parking spaces with enough room for entering & exiting vehicles
8. Safer access to parking ramps so, wheelchairs don't need to go around the back of cars and into the street
9. Parking Meter Stations are not low enough for wheelchair users.
10. More beach access mats & wheelchair beachchairs & have beachchair stations maned during use hours.

I have a vision impaired daughter, would love the see more lighting so we can enjoy the boardwalk and the avenue at night more often.

Larger sidewalks, ramps in and out of business is a main one lacking. There’s many small businesses that are simply very difficult to get into and maneuver in. The longer blue ramps to the beach were noticed and very much appreciated this summer.