IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Oxnard : ...

The Americans with Disabilities Act, federal legislation passed in 1990, calls for better access to public facilities and jobs for disabled people. It also requires cities to seek comment about plans for compliance from disabled residents. The city of Oxnard took the requirement a step further. Its Access Advisory Committee, comprised of disabled individuals, helped identify accessibility barriers in city buildings and programs and devise remedies. The committee also helped launch a program first proposed by disabled Oxnard police officer Glenn McIntyre to create a volunteer unit to ticket disabled-parking violators.

Oxnard’s practical, volunteer-driven approach earned recognition this year from the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Justice Department as one of 12 cities nationwide demonstrating exemplary efforts to comply with the ADA. “Instead of hiring architects or outside consultants, Oxnard residents taught city officials which buildings and programs presented obstacles to the disabled,” says Manuel Lopez, mayor of Oxnard. “They pointed out low- cost solutions. The disabled are also taxpayers, and they wish to see tax dollars spent efficiently.”

Access Advisory Committee

Members: 25 volunteers almost all of whom have physical or mental disabilities. Members include veterans, wheelchair users and those with hearing, vision or speaking difficulties.

Duties: Evaluate accessibility of city facilites, work with city employees to heighten disability awareness.

Results: Additional disabled parking at city buildings, electronic doors, ramps, signage, sound enhancement system in city council chamber.

Enforcement Unit

Members: Four volunteers chosen from 13 applicants; each volunteer is provided a vest, a radio and a citation book, and reimbursed for milage.

Duties: Issue citations to disabled parking violators citywide; patrol about two or three days a week for about three hours at a time in their own cars. Results: Revenue quadrupled, with increase earmarked to fund accessibility improvements citywide.

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Disabled parking

Before Unit Formed tickets issued/month: 20 revenue raised/month $5000 *

After Unit Formed tickets issued/month: 80 revenue raised/month: $20,000 TO GET INVOLVED: Call (805) 385-7593.