Central Huron Community Improvement Coordinator Wins Merit for Barrier Free Programming Design
by Bob Montgomery
Central Huron's Community Improvement Coordinator was presented with the Merit for Barrier Free Programming Design at Huron County's Accessibility Advisory Committees meeting this week.
Angela Smith has been a strong advocate for people with disabilities for about ten years. She says she came by it honestly because her mother required a wheelchair. Helping her mother with things like going shopping and to appointments and anywhere else she had to go, she learned very quickly how difficult it is for someone with a disability to get around. She also learned that some adjustments for a community can be very simple things, but things that most people wouldn't think of until they found themselves needing help.
Smith says downtown Clinton isn't completely accessible yet, but it is easier to shop in than it once was. She says they've installed ramps, automatic door openers, door bells, grab bars and visibility strips so they're definitely making progress in making it easier for everyone.
Smith says she still wants to expand what they've done to more shops in the downtown area. She says they still need more automatic door openers and she says her goal is for every retail business in the downtown area to have their own automatic door opener. She admits that it might take some creative financing but she's confident that it can be found.
Smith adds she's very pleased that Huron County has actually become a leader in promoting accessibility. She says the credit for that goes to the Accessibility Advisory Committee. She says other counties and municipalities are now turning to Huron County for help in promoting accessibility in their communities.
Left to right: Oonagh Vaucrosson (Equity Diversity Specialist, Huron County Accessibility Advisory Committee), Jim Ginn (Central Huron Mayor), Angela Smith (Central Huron Community Improvement Coordinator), Julie Sawchuck (Vice Chair, Huron County Accessibility Advisory Committee)
