REALTORS® TAKE ACTION
ETNR governmental affairs and
policy director McHale is quick to point out that some small jurisdictions
are not populated enough to have large planning and economic development
staffs.
This program could be as simple as
presenting ideas to a city planner, mayor or commission member.
REALTORS® TAKE ACTION
"Making sure housing is
accessible is a shared opportunity between local government, economic
development and planning agencies, and industry groups — everyone should care
about housing and do everything we can to support it from a policy standpoint.
Housing affects jobs, the workforce
and the shared economic health and success of the entire region."
REALTORS® TAKE ACTION
Then the post-pandemic boom created
more stresses.
"It is not my job to help a
county set its budget," she said. "It is my job to help REALTORS® be
more proactive in creating housing and infrastructure to support it."
NOW CHAMPION OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN, INCLUSION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
He was two hours from needing to attend
to a very major issue – but he made time to commit to fixing the barrier that I underscored in my passionate letter.
KUDOS to a giant of literature, creativity and inclusion/equity for all.
I wrote “Dear Mitchell Kaplan:”
You are a Miami literature
giant.
You have my highest gratitude for
Miami Book Fair, etc.
You speak of inclusion.
So please stop blocking wheelchair
access to the men's room at Books and Books Coral Gables.
The foyer to the restrooms NEVER is
storage space.
You would never guess this wheelchair blocking mess is the pathway to the toilets.
I am in that store easily every 10 days.
It always is like this.
People who use wheelchair deserve
independence.
They should never have to go ask
someone to stack the chairs higher, to move a hand cart out of the way.
Can you imagine having a bathroom
emergency and having an accident, waiting 5 minutes to find someone, 5 minutes
for a response plus 10 to fix the issue?
Even if the cart is pushed away, the
stacks create maneuvering issues.
Saying things will be cleared upon
request would NOT be a good answer to me.
People with disabilities are a minority group.
A beloved store that is a community cornerstone would NEVER say
people who are Jewish or Black or LBGTQ must make prior arrangements, or make a
humiliating special request -- simply to wash up and use the toilets, while
enjoying the courtyard cafe, back room indoor cafe, browsing for books in
Spanish or English, attending one of hundreds of readings, visiting the
children's section, enjoying the hallway rotating art displays, etc.
That is the end of my sermon.
I very much want to hear back from you
or your proper manager.
I live in an historic house in
Shenandoah, just east, so it is easy to drop by to review things.
I am not an ADA architect or attorney,
but my partner of 33 years used a wheelchair for mobility.
I know what I speak of.
Because you are a beacon of inclusion, arts and creativity in this community -- since long before I arrived in 2000 -- I have every confidence that this problem will be addressed soon and permanently.
REALTORS® TAKE ACTION
Focusing on solutions that do not
artificially raise home prices, hurting potential homebuyers, the way impact
fees do.
"Rather than focusing on one
policy that we are trying to propose or defeat, we are looking at this
holistically."
REALTORS® TAKE ACTION
The course she is developing is aimed
at best practices.
"There are tools such as a
development agreement. A developer might be willing to pay for infrastructure
immediately, in exchange for some benefits.
There are special assessment districts
— they are called different things in different areas.
But the basic idea is when new taxes
collected within a development area go toward funding [infrastructure]
improvements, that benefits homes and facilities there," McHale said.
REALTORS® TAKE ACTION
That is a long-term solution.
It is regressive, because it impacts
homebuyers, especially those who can least afford to pay for that passed on
cost," said Maria McHale, governmental affairs and policy director for East
Tennessee REALTORS® (ETNR)
noting that virtually every
governmental body in the country is trying to create housing that people can
afford, so it is counter to that effort to add high-impact fees to the cost of
producing dwelling units.
REALTORS® TAKE ACTION
As an advocate for the residents of a
12-county region, ETNR aims to educate decision-makers.
REALTORS® TAKE ACTION
"ETNR covers 12 counties — some
urban, some rural, some in between," she said.
"We are approaching
municipalities with ideas for smart growth."
Founded in 1912, ETNR serves Anderson,
Blount, Campbell, Cumberland, Fentress, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane,
Scott and Union Counties.
The Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical
Area is home to about one million people.
REALTORS® TAKE ACTION
Count the greater Knoxville area among
the regions that have experienced explosive post-pandemic growth.
To help steer elected officials toward
good decisions that foster smart growth and sound financing to serve it, ETNR
is working to create a course that will educate municipal officials.
HE ANNOUNCED THIS GIANT STEP FORWARD WHILE UNVEILING SUPERHERO PARK – THE FIRST FULLY ADA AND AUTISM-FOCUSED SENSORY PARK IN MIAMI
I’m proud to support longtime friend Ralph “Rafael” Rosado at today’s press conference.
I have known Rosado for 2+ decades.
 |
At the press conference this month, Rosado also announced he will be forming a commission on disability for the City Of Miami.
MDA QUEST MEDIA
Jonathan Lengel, who lives with congenital
muscular dystrophy, (CMD) and uses a power wheelchair, is pursuing a
double major in digital technologies/emerging media and music at Fordham
University’s Lincoln Center campus in New York City, asked Fordham to connect
him to another wheelchair user on campus.
He asked them if campus facilities
have accessible entrances, if elevators are well-maintained, and whether the
university does a good job of clearing ice and snow from the accessible paths
of travel.
It was invaluable to get this
information from a source with lived experience.
“They are the keys to the kingdom —
find out how their experience has been,” he says.
MDA QUEST MEDIA
Visit the school in your sophomore or
junior year of high school. Reach out to the disability office and gauge how
proactive it is.
This saved me a lot of time,” said Jonathan
Lengel, who lives with congenital muscular dystrophy, (CMD) and uses a
power wheelchair, is pursuing a double major in digital technologies/emerging
media and music at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus in New York City.
…noting that he used in-person visits
to weed out some campuses with old buildings that weren’t retrofitted with
ramps and elevators.
However, if there are accessibility
issues at a school you like, don’t write them off until you’ve asked if they
will address the issues.
When Jonathan committed to Fordham,
the school began modifying his on-campus residence and had it ready for his
fall move-in.
“Always remember, self-advocacy is the
most powerful tool,” he says.
MDA QUEST MEDIA
In high school, Jonathan worked with Annie
Tulkin, MS, CEO and Founder of Accessible College, LLC. to create a list of
questions to ask disability offices about housing, transportation, and overall
accessibility at the schools he was considering.
MDA QUEST MEDIA
“It’s important to understand that the
disability services office is separate from the admissions department,” says Annie
Tulkin, MS, CEO and Founder of Accessible College, LLC.
“Information that a student may share
with the office prior to acceptance and enrollment is not shared with the
admissions department.”
on World Autism Awareness Day
Commissioner Rosado to Announce First Fully ADA
and Autism-Focused Sensory Park on World Autism Awareness Day
(Miami, FL – March 31, 2026) - In recognition of World Autism Awareness
Day, City of Miami Commissioner Ralph “Rafael” Rosado will host a press
conference to unveil a groundbreaking initiative: the development of the city’s
and county’s first fully ADA-compliant, autism-focused sensory park.
This landmark project represents a major step forward in
Miami’s ongoing commitment to accessibility, equity, and inclusion for all
residents. Designed to provide a safe, engaging, and supportive environment,
the sensory park will feature thoughtfully curated spaces that accommodate
individuals with autism and other sensory sensitivities.
The announcement will take place at Miami City Hall,
bringing together community leaders, advocates, educators, and organizations
dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities and their families.
Participating organizations includes Autism Speaks, The
Miami Foundation, S.T.A.R.S., Spectrum Family, Easter Seals South Florida, Miami-Dade
County Public Schools, and Miami-Dade County.
Members of the media and public are encouraged to attend.
WHO: Commissioner Ralph “Rafael”
Rosado
WHAT: Announcement of Miami’s First Fully ADA and Autism-Focused Sensory
Park
WHEN: Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 10:30 AM
WHERE: Miami City Hall – Commission Chambers, 3500 Pan American Drive,
Miami, FL
CONTACT:
Jennifer Torna
Director of Communications, City of Miami, District 4
JTorna@miamigov.com
MDA QUEST MEDIA
If you’re moving away from home,
you’ll probably need to build a new team of physicians, physical therapists,
and other specialists.
An isolated college campus, or one far
from a neuromuscular care center, may not have appropriate providers nearby.
Most colleges have a disability services
office (sometimes called an accessibility, access, or ADA office) to
ensure access for students with disabilities in compliance with federal law.
Some offices go beyond compliance to
serve as advocates for their students and promote inclusive campus life.
MDA QUEST MEDIA
Connor Stager is studying economics and genetics at the University of Georgia.
He lives with distal arthrogryposis,
which impairs the senses of touch and proprioception (the sense of the body’s
movement and position) and affects his walking.
“When I met with the University of
Georgia, they told me about the networks and systems in place, including the
paratransit system,” he says.
The campus has a paratransit system
linking all the buildings, and the Athens-Clarke County public transit system
has accessible buses that allow him to travel off campus.
THROUGH UNIVERSAL
DESIGN AND INCLUSIVE MOBILITY
For more than three decades – as a
journalist, planner, marketer, educator and activist – I have worked to make
the built environment a better place.
The key has been Universal Design –
making sidewalks, transit, healthcare, education, arts, job centers and housing
accessible to all people of all ages, abilities and incomes.
It was a pleasure to share some of my
thoughts on Universal Design and Inclusive Mobility in civic space, while on
the inaugural DDA block walk this week.
I was privileged to be on the first block walk led by Ralph “Rafael” Rosado, chair of the Miami Downtown Development Authority.
An expert planner, Rosado also serves my District 4 City
of Miami Commissioner.
The walking tour included diverse chats about walkability/urban vibrancy. Honored to chime in about Universal Design and ADA issues.
Thanks to Miami City Commissioner Damian Pardo – whose district covers much of the Central Business District, Brickell and Performing arts areas in the city core -- for graciously listening to my ideas for enhanced access for people with disabilities.
I emphasized that the sidewalk should be maintained during all construction.
Miami currently allows developers to
close sidewalks for years of construction.
For a single round trip, a pedestrian
or wheelchair user must cross dangerous traffic 4 times.
DDA and other leaders understood this
must stop.
Most cities require scaffolding to
keep sidewalks safe and open during development taking place along them.
MDA QUEST MEDIA
For example, consider geography and
climate.
A college that feels comfortable
during a typical spring or summer visit could be harder to navigate in winter,
with snow or ice.
A hilly or spread-out campus will take
more energy to get around.
MDA QUEST MEDIA
Typically, schools will allow a PCA to
share a student’s room at no additional charge.
MDA QUEST MEDIA
She advises students with disabilities
to search for the right academic fit while also balancing the college’s built
environment and dedication to being inclusive.
Historic buildings are not exempt from
the ADA, but they may have alternative accessibility requirements.
The ADA requires colleges to
reduce barriers for students with disabilities and provide reasonable
accommodations to ensure they can access the classroom.
In some cases, this may mean moving
the class to a more accessible building.
MDA QUEST MEDIA
Along with the basics of finding a
good college match — location, affordability, size, academic and cultural fit —
students with disabilities must do some extra digging.
MDA QUEST MEDIA
“When I toured ECSU, the Office of
AccessAbility Services was very understanding.
The person who runs the office
actually has multiple disabilities.
The college even has a disability
cultural center,” she says.
Now, Abby is studying business
administration at ECSU.
Her advice to college-bound students
with disabilities is to make on-site visits and ask lots of questions.
MDA QUEST MEDIA
Abby lives with spinal muscular
atrophy (SMA) and uses a power wheelchair, so she contacted the schools
ahead of time to tell them about her accessibility needs.
“I told the other college that I need
accommodations and an accessible route,” she says.
“I got there, and the elevator was
broken in the building where you check in.
The tour started 20 minutes late.
The accessibility office was not
helpful and didn’t understand my requests.”
IT’S THE LAW (ADA & PROWAG) AND THE RIGHT THING TO DO
This barrier to safe pedestrian mobility for all is at one of Miami’s busiest intersections — Coral Way and SW. 22nd Ave.
Anyone who says wheelchair users can
simply detour through the gas station is being foolhardy. That is dangerous and
unacceptable.
FPL is notorious for projects that
destroy mobility and endanger pedestrians.
When it did work around giant poles on
SW. 22nd Ave. last year, sidewalk pathways were blocked for 90 days.
That can’t happen again.
This is why the City Of Miami
desperately needs a chief mobility officer.
It does not require an engineer or
certified planner or attorney.
It is best led by passionate person
focusing each day on coordinating between city, county, utilities and
businesses to guarantee, safe mobility for people with disabilities, children,
elderly.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH A DISABILITY
The highly competitive scholarships
pay up to $5,000 for first-year awardees and $2,500 for existing recipients who
renew the scholarship.
“The scholarships are based on merit
in leadership and community involvement,” Scott says.
Now in its third year, the program
receives about 200 applications and awards scholarships to the top 10 ranked
applicants.
MDA Scholarships are not just for high
school seniors — anyone with a neuromuscular disease who is in college, a trade
school, or a vocational program is eligible.
Scott is proud that MDA is making a
positive impact by being part of the support system for scholars with
disabilities who are tomorrow’s business leaders, disability rights attorneys,
physical therapists, and more.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH A DISABILITY
In addition to an MDA Scholarship, he
receives need-based financial aid through his school, and the university has
helped him find paid summer internships.
Maxey built his financial support by
being organized.
Before applying, he created an account
on fastweb.com, an online scholarship database, to keep track of the
scholarships he was applying for and when they were due.
“You need to stay on top of
scholarship applications — most require essays and letters of recommendation.
Some ask you to create a 30-second
video.
Pay attention to deadlines and the
time you need to meet them,” he says.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH A DISABILITY
The MDA Scholarship is her only
disability-based financial aid.
She also receives a merit-based
scholarship through her school and a tuition contribution for her service as
student body president.
Even when applying for funding
unrelated to disability, Grace advises not to shy away from framing your
eligibility, skills, and goals through a disability lens.
“My general college essays were about
my disability.
When I applied to law school, I
mentioned why I want to be a disability rights attorney.
Communicate yourself as a real person
who also has a disability,” she says.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH A DISABILITY
She also contacted ECSU’s Office of
AccessAbility Services, which linked her to a disability-focused scholarship
that helps cover part of her housing and food costs.
“Always do your research on websites
and via direct email to accessibility offices,” she advises, noting that each
person knows their own needs best.
