Direct Technical Assistance to businesses and other entities Upon request

The Committee's Recent Activities and Projects

Direct Technical Assistance to Businesses and Other Entities Upon request, the committee works with the City A.D.A. coordinator to provide advice regarding disability related issues.

Public Education/Material Dissemination. To raise community awareness of disability-related issues, the Committee provides up-to-date information on technical assistance to help merchants and employers. The information is provided by monthly advertisements in the Chamber newsletter, Committee member distribution to merchants, direct mail to appropriate parties, Website and presentations. The technical assistance is intended as informal guidance.

Accessible Public Transportation. Committee volunteers are working to secure an accessible van, organizational support, staffing, insurance coverage, and maintenance to provide transportation for people who have disabilities, primarily for medical purposes, to Sioux Falls and throughout the community. The Committee is acting as a catalyst and facilitator for this project.

Barrier Awareness Days. Brookings area third graders learn about human differences when the Committee visits city elementary schools for Barrier Awareness Days. The purpose of the event is to sensitize third graders to the experience of people who live with physical, mental, or emotional differences. The goal is to help children notice that it is the job of everyone to be respectful and helpful to people who live with differences, and that all citizens need to be alert to making life activities accessible to everyone. Committee members work with Brookings High School students to lead a variety of activities.

Building Trades Students (Multidistrict students) Workshop. The Committee will host the second annual Building Trades Students Workshop to provide basic information about the ADA and accessibility to potential building trades professionals. Local and regional resources will be used to secure speakers.

Contractor Book. In 1998, the Committee created and produced 40 “ADA Contractor’s Kits” for distribution to local contractors. The purpose of the kits is to provide contractors and builders with an on-the-job reference book on the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Committee plans to distribute updates and produce ten additional books.

Recycle for Life/Wheelchair Clinic. Community wheelchairs receive a free cleaning, safety inspection and basic adjustment with the help of professional technicians and volunteers. This is a collaborative effort with Easter Seals and other local organizations.

Brookings' Home Show. The Committee annually participates in the Brookings Area Homeshow with a volunteer-staffed information booth to provide residential dwelling resources to homeowners and contractors. Written information, distribution of materials, one-on-one contact, and visual aides are provided to increase community awareness.

Brookings Summer Arts Festival. The Committee works directly with the BSAF Committee to advocate for the rights and needs of people who have disabilities wanting to attend the Festival. Specific services and issues addressed to date include an accessibility site survey, an accessible bus service and its promotion, artist and vendor booth contract language addressing accessibility, and a volunteer-staffed wheelchair rental booth. The Committee plans to develop a technical assistance guide for festivals and fairs in 2001.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month Activities The Committee actively celebrates October as National Disability Employment Awareness month with numerous activities to promote employment opportunities and bring awareness to the needs and challenges faced by people who have disabilities. Activities include press releases, feature articles, public service announcements, and radio show participation.

Governor’s Awards. The Committee actively seeks nominations for the Governor’s Awards, an annual program that recognizes individuals, employers and agencies for their contributions to the rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities in South Dakota. Since 1989, 74 Brookings individuals, businesses and organizations have been nominated for this award and six have won statewide recognition.

A.B.L.E. Award The A.B.L.E. Award (Ability, Belief, Leadership and Equality to Achieve Access For All) is an annual award program designed to recognize the outstanding commitment of a business or public entity in fulfilling the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Highlighting the efforts of an outstanding business or entity may motivate others to provide improved accessibility to goods and services.

Front Line Training on Disability Etiquette. The purpose is to provide sensitivity training to business customer service representatives on the proper etiquette when interacting with people who have disabilities. The committee would work with the Chamber of Commerce, Human Resource directors, other businesses organizations and merchants to coordinate and promote the event.