Advisory Commission on Disabilities

400 S. Eagle Street City of Naperville Naperville, IL 60540 http://www.naperville.il.us/ Meeting Minutes - Final Advisory Commission on Disabilities Thursday, May 8, 2025 6:30 PM NEU A. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Siddiqui called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. B. ROLL CALL: Present 7- Wendy Pligge, Donielle Deering, Lisa Cesal, Suhel Siddiqui, David Halleck, Ghousia Wajid, and Allison Longenbaugh Also present: Dawn Portner, City Clerk, Student Representative Rashmi Adulkar on the phone (from 6:44 p.m. to 6:52 p.m.) Commissioner Cesal entered the meeting at 6:39 p.m. This was approved. C. PUBLIC FORUM: SPEAKER Ellie Martin (Naperville) discussed her ADA concerns with several downtown Naperville businesses. Issues raised included doors that are too heavy to open and steps leading from the sidewalks. These barriers make it difficult for people with disabilities to access the businesses. Portner stated she would make contact with the Downtown Naperville Executive Director and schedule a meeting and possible walk thru of the downtown with Ms. Martin so these issues could be reviewed and discussed. D. REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Receive an update from the City’s Legal Department Sr. Assistant Attorney Kristen Toberman provided an update on the Legal Department’s responsibilities and the services it offers to the community. She also discussed the Department of Justice-mandated accessibility updates to the City’s website, which must be implemented by April 2026. The Legal Department is working with the Communications Department on this project. 2. Receive an update from the Accessibility Community Task Force Mary Hamill, Chair of the Accessibility Community Task Force (ACTF) updated City of Naperville Page 1 Printed on 8/8/2025 Advisory Commission on Disabilities Meeting Minutes - Final May 8, 2025 the Commission on the following ACTF initiatives: 1) ACTF representatives on the City’s 2024 International Residential Code Adoption Team attended the team meeting on February 3rd and April 9th, 2025 to discuss the implementation of visitability into the City’s building code. 2) Members also attended the April 16th, 2025 Building Review Board meeting and presented information about visitability. 3) The ACTF attended the City’s Riverwalk Planning, Design and Construction Committee meeting on March 4th to follow up on the NCC Occupational Therapists students’ presentation at the November 5th, 2024 Riverwalk, Design and Construction Committee meeting. 4) The ACTF submitted a written comment of support of proclaiming April 2025 Autism Acceptance Month in the City of Naperville at the April 2nd City Council meeting. At the April 9th ACTF meeting, we discussed that Little Friends collaborated with the City of Warrenville over the past year to achieve the designation as an “Autism Friendly City.” We would like to explore this option for Naperville. 5) On March 6th ACTF representatives participated with NCC OT students’ accessibility audits of Nichols Library and the Naperville Metra Train Station. (reports attached) We are continuing to work on issues with the Metra Train Station doors. 6) ACTF representatives attended the Naperville Park District’s ADA Transition Plan Open House on April 8th and those who couldn’t attend also participated in the NPD’s online survey. 7) At the May 6th City Council meeting, the ACTF participated the Student Recognition Awards ceremony. 8) The ACTF has been in contact with organization GiGi's Playhouse about having a book signing event with the namesake and Chief Inspiration Officer GiGi Gianni and a local bookstore featuring her new book Harry Moon: GiGi's Journey https://gigisplayhouse.org/harrymoon/ E. OLD BUSINESS: 1. Approve the minutes of the February 6, 2025, Advisory Commission on Disabilities meeting Commissioner Halleck made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Cesal, to approve the Advisory Commission on Disabilities meeting minutes of May 8, 2025. The motion carried by a voice vote. 2. Discuss hosting the City’s first All-Abilities Fair in July of 2025 The Commission continued its discussion of hosting an All-Abilities Fair at the Municipal Center in July 2025. However, since events at the Municipal Center cannot sell items or generate profit, the Commission decided not to proceed. City of Naperville Page 2 Printed on 8/8/2025 Advisory Commission on Disabilities Meeting Minutes - Final May 8, 2025 Instead, they will seek other ways to support and advocate for disabled community members at City events, and Commission members plan to attend other All-Abilities Fairs in the area to show their support. F. NEW BUSINESS G. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Deering made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Wajid to adjourn the Advisory Commission on Disabilities meeting of May 8, 2025 at 7:48 p.m. The motion carried by a voice vote. /S/ Dawn Portner Dawn Portner, City Clerk City of Naperville Page 3 Printed on 8/8/2025