Danbury Commission for Persons with Disabilities Meeting - October 11, 2026

The meeting of the Danbury Commission for Persons with Disabilities was held on October 11, 2026. Members present included the Chair (John), Rosemarie, Fran, and Isabel. John New Miller was absent due to hospitalization. The meeting addressed voting accessibility concerns, member updates, event coordination, and logistics for future hybrid or virtual meetings.

Discussion Items

• Member Update: John New Miller is hospitalized at St. Vincent's Hospital and reported issues with inaccessible bathrooms. The Chair provided him with contact information for Don Donaldson (Bridgeport Commission) for ADA compliance follow-up.
• Voting Accessibility: Isabel expressed substantial concern over the accessibility of absentee ballots for voters with disabilities. She highlighted the difficulty for voters with visual impairments in marking the small circles on ballots. A specific instance was recounted where a voter's ballot was initially rejected by the scanner because the voter could not see the required circle. The Commission emphasized the need for more accessible ballot designs and reliable voting methods.
• Event Coordination: Ryan from the Puzzles 5k organization was absent. Discussion regarding the Commission's participation in a Halloween event was deferred to the next meeting.
• Weather Impact: Members discussed a recent tornado that caused damage in the Broadview and Virginia Avenue areas, including to Danbury Hospital and downing trees on Interstate 84.
• Handicap Parking: General discussion occurred regarding the abuse of handicap parking spaces and the invisibility of certain disabilities.
• Commission Logistics: The meeting utilized a new computer setup. Weak City Hall Wi-Fi was noted. The Chair will be absent for the November meeting; plans for an all-Zoom format were discussed for that session.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Approved (As Amended): The minutes from the previous meeting were approved after an amendment was made to correct an AI-generated summary that conflated multiple members' experiences during a discussion about Lyme disease. The Chair was directed to correct the specific paragraph.
• Events: Final determination on the Puzzles 5k Halloween event was postponed to the October 13 meeting.
• Future Meetings: The October 13 meeting will finalize the format for the November meeting, which is expected to be held fully virtually via Zoom due to the Chair's absence.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned following a motion and a second.