Senior Action Network’s Senior University is an innovative and free educational program. Senior University is a special leadership training course for seniors and persons with disabilities.  The primary objective of the program is to give seniors and people with disabilities the opportunity to develop the skills and build confidence to be active community leaders.  Senior University’s curriculum focuses on such topics as community organizing, leadership, lobbying and public speaking. 

For the month of July, Senior Action Network will present a 4-class series on Pedestrian Safety and Right-Of-Way for Richmond Russian Speaking Resident Seniors.

Why Sidewalks and Pedestrian Safety?

The residents and merchants of Richmond district face several pedestrian safety and accessibility issues, especially along the major traffic corridors such as the Geary Blvd and Clement Street, (bicyclist not yielding to pedestrian and cars and other obstructions on the sidewalks). The goal of Senior University is to prepare Richmond Russian Speaking Resident Seniors on how to address these and other pedestrian issues.

When:  Starts Tues, July 21, 2009 from 9:30 am – 2 pm

Where: Richmond YMCA, 360 – 18th Ave. / Geary

Accessible MUNI Lines:  38 Geary & 2 Clement

Russian translation provided

Lunch and snacks are provided at each class at no charge

For further information or to register please call Pi Ra, at 546-2096

Pi Ra
Senior University Director
Senior Action Network
965 Mission St. #705
San Francisco, CA, 94103
415.546.2096 wk

The annual Independence Day Fireworks display and celebration on July 4th at the Aquatic Park and Fisherman’s wharf will result in temporary road closures, service changes and potential delays for public transit users. We estimate that as many as 200,000 people may attend this event. As a result, this will create temporary access barriers for people with disabilities.

SFMTA Accessible Services strongly suggests that riders with disabilities access the celebration via shuttle buses to Fisherman’s Wharf via the Embarcadero. This location has the least hilly pedestrian access and is closest point to the fireworks from Muni shuttle service.

Contact the Mayor’s Office on Disability for full details.

(415) 701-4439

Last night, June 29th, marked the completion of the Sidewalks Are For Everyone Campaign in the Sunset
neighborhood.

Between March 1 and June 30, 2009, 50 presentations were conducted in the Sunset neighborhood on the importance of keeping cars off of the sidewalk. Not only was this a successful neighborhood safety campaign by over half a dozen individuals with disabilities, but our presenters were able to enhance their public speaking skills and community ties by presenting on behalf of the project.

The LightHouse VLRC Coordinator Beth Berenson is to be applauded for bringing speakers and community groups togther for these 50 presentations!

The next round of funding for the SAFE Campaign follows a similar model, however, community presentations will not be limited to the Sunset neighborhood. They will be conducted city-wide. If you have clients or friends who you think might be good public speakers–please have them talk with Beth (415-431-1481, info@lighthouse-sf.org).

NO CURB RAMPS?
SIDEWALKS TOO NARROW?
UNEVEN PAVEMENT?
NO DETECTABLE WARNINGS?

WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORIES!!

WHAT: Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) has filed a lawsuit in state and federal courts against the California Department of Transportation (“Caltrans”).

WHY: Caltrans owns over 2,500 miles of sidewalks, which includes cross-walks, intersections, pedestrian overpasses and pedestrian underpasses, across the state of California. However, there are numerous reported access barriers along these sidewalks. Examples of access barriers include corners with no curb ramps, curb ramps that are too steep, poles that make the sidewalk too narrow to pass, broken and/or uneven pavement and a lack of detectable warnings (yellow domes indicating where the sidewalk ends and street begins).

WHO: The lawsuit is on behalf of all Californians with mobility and/or vision disabilities who experience access barriers along sidewalks, intersections and pedestrian overpasses and underpasses which are controlled by Caltrans.

WHERE: These lawsuits include:

•Sidewalks and intersections along and across state highways. State highways with sidewalks usually become city or town streets. They are often marked by a state highway sign.

•Sidewalks over or under state highways. Pedestrian overpasses or underpasses are sidewalks along bridges which pass over a freeway or sidewalks along streets which pass under a freeway.

HOW: If you would like to share your experiences about access to sidewalks, intersections or pedestrian overpasses and underpasses covered by this lawsuit, or if you would like to find out which sidewalks in your area are covered by this lawsuit, please contact us. Even if you previously talked to us, please give us your updates. You can contact us by calling 510-665-8644 (ask for Haley or Katie) or by e-mailing us at hfagan@dralegal.org or kweed@dralegal.org.

Disability Rights Advocates
2001 Center Street, Fourth Floor
Berkeley, CA 94704
Telephone: 510-665-8644
Fax: 510-665-8511
TTY: 510-665-8716
Website: www.dralegal.org