Disability Pride Programs Scheduled for July 16 and July 20 to Feature Adaptive Sports

Report on the Meeting of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, June 9, 2026

This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded.

Present: Myra Ross (Chair), James Kruidenier, Ian Rhodewalt, Seren Derin, and Pamela Nolan Young (Staff Appointee). Absent: Cody Rooney and Reginald Andrade.

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The Amherst Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) has planned two programs to celebrate Disability Pride Month in July. Programs are also planned in Easthampton and Northampton. The theme for all the programs is “Storytelling”.

Amherst’s events will include a program for young children led by Jones Library children’s librarian Mia Cabana on Thursday morning, July 16 (time TBA), at the library’s temporary location at 101 University Drive. The program will feature books centered on sports for people with disabilities. A second event, for older children and adults, will highlight Amherst’s adaptive swimming program and will be held at the Mill River Recreation Area on the afternoon of Monday, July 20 (time TBA).

Amherst resident Tory Dixon won bronze medals in swimming at the Paralympics in 1988 and 1992. She began swimming as physical therapy and trained competitively from age 10 to 28. Dixon has agreed to share her story, and the aquatics director will demonstrate equipment the town has available to make swimming accessible to people with a range of disabilities. An open swim will follow the program, weather permitting.

Dixon’s husband, Juan, was also a Paralympian and will share his story at the July 16 event. Details for both Amherst events, as well as those in Easthampton and Northampton, will be provided on a flyer posted to the town website.

Masks Strongly Encouraged for Indoor Program for Young Children
To protect community members who may be immunocompromised or who have complications from COVID-19, the CPD voted unanimously to recommend that attendees at the July 16 Disability Pride Month program at the Jones Library wear masks.

CPD member Ian Rhodewalt noted that a study from Mass General Brigham published in May found that 54 million Americans are affected by long COVID, and that one in six people have either long COVID or other medical conditions that persist after an initial COVID-19 infection. He felt strongly that the indoor program would not be accessible to people with long COVID or compromised immunity if other attendees were not masked.

James Kruidenier suggested, conversely, that others might be less likely to attend if masks were required. Chair Myra Ross reminded the commission that the July 16 event is a library program and that the library should set the policy. All members agreed, however, that masks should be strongly encouraged, and that any explanation for children should be offered in language appropriate for young audiences — conveying that some people become very ill if they are near people who are not wearing masks.

The commissioners agreed that child- and adult-sized masks should be provided but not mandated. A statement on the event flyer will note that mask wearing is strongly recommended for all attendees.

Town Will Not Apply for a Massachusetts Office on Disability Grant This Year
The town is completing an accessible path and entrance on the south side of the Munson Memorial Library using a $150,000 Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) grant for fiscal year 2026. Some grant funds will remain at the end of the project, but they must be used by June 30. It was not known whether additional improvements would be added to the project.

Because there are no other ADA projects that are fully designed and ready for implementation, the town will not apply for another MOD grant at this time. Ross said there are so many projects that need to be done that it “breaks my heart” to delay them further. However, Assistant Town Manager Dave Ziomek said that new Planning and Economic Development Director Jeff Bagg has urged the town to take a more measured approach and to coordinate with other departments — especially the Department of Public Works — before applying for grants. The goal is to prevent the town from forfeiting grant money due to insufficient staff to complete a project.

Bagg suggested that the town use capital planning funds to prioritize and design projects that could then be implemented if grant money is awarded. He said a study of the outdated lift at the Munson Memorial Library would be a good next project, and that the town will look into replacing the lift and report back to the commission at its next meeting. If that project proves not to be feasible, the commission will discuss another priority.

Many projects are listed in the ADA Transition Plan. Ziomek said the plan was consulted for recent modifications at Mill River and the Bangs Center, as well as for the accessible entrance at the Munson Memorial Library.

Accessible Path at Hickory Ridge Almost Complete
Ziomek reported that the three-quarter-mile accessible path at Hickory Ridge is nearly complete. The surface is crushed stone — almost as smooth as asphalt — and is the state-recommended surface for accessible paths. Once a solar array on the property is completed, there are plans to connect the new path to other existing paths on the property and to establish a connection to West Street. Ziomek said he hopes the first path will be fully finished by mid-July and offered to take commissioners on a site visit.

Regarding the developable portion of the Hickory Ridge property near West Pomeroy Lane, Ziomek said there is strong public sentiment for creating affordable housing there, with a particular interest in affordable senior housing.

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