Commission on Disability 10-21-2026

The Fall River Commission on Disability met on October 21, 2026, and approved the previous meeting minutes from September 9, 2026. The primary focus of the meeting was reconsidering a funding request from Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School for an evacuation chair (Stryker chair). The item had been tabled at the previous meeting pending a legal opinion from Corporation Counsel regarding whether commission funds could be allocated to regional entities where not all students reside in Fall River. The legal opinion confirmed the expenditure was permissible under state law and city ordinances.

Superintendent Brian Bentley addressed the commission, explaining that Diman needed a fourth evacuation chair to ensure all stairwells and exits are covered during an emergency, noting that over 27 students required mobility assistance. In response to questions from Commissioner Dan Robillard, Bentley confirmed Diman's annual operating budget is approximately $35.6 million, with Fall River contributing roughly $4 million for operations and $1.7 million for transportation. Robillard stated that while he supported Diman, the purchase should come from the school's operating budget. The commission voted 3-1 to approve funding between $3,000 and $6,500 for the chair, with Robillard dissenting.

In other business, the commission discussed an ADA improvement grant application for a sensory park to benefit individuals with autism, finalized the date for the 7th annual scholarship brunch on May 15, 2027, and reviewed website hosting security issues being addressed by Diman students and IT staff. Commissioners also shared updates regarding free SRTA bus service through June 2027 and ongoing efforts to relocate voting precincts out of Fall River Housing Authority complexes into fully accessible public locations.

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