In an attempt to create a culture of universal accessibility for all residents, the City of Milton has partnered with disabilities expert Marie Latta to help guide all facets of its planning, development and operations.
Latta will consult with the City on compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. It is an opportunity to “start from scratch” and build a foundation for accessibility that is sustainable into the future, she said. Her goal is to create usable access to full community participation for all residents and visitors alike.
ADA review for accessibility pertains to individuals with physical/mobility, cognitive and communication disabilities.
For nearly 17 years Latta has based her work on ADA compliance requirements in federal, state and local governments. She has worked with such clients as Stone Mountain Park, DeKalb County, Fulton County and State of Georgia residential hospitals as well as Philips Arena and Gwinnett Center Arena. She currently works with the state Department of Community Affairs Affordable Housing Division and the Georgia Tech Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access.
Latta, who holds a B.S.E. (Bachelor of Science in Education) from the University of Arkansas and an M.Ed. (Masters in Special Education) from Georgia State University, has been a wheelchair user for the past 15 years. This has reinforced her belief of making every aspect of a city accessible to all people.
“Based on Milton’s positive, proactive approach to accessibility and inclusion of people with all disabilities, I believe the City has the potential to, from the ground up, become a model city for creating a universally accessible environment in which people with disabilities can live, work, play, do business and worship,” she said.
Labels: ADA, city of milton, disabilities
