The commission is gearing up for a community access monitor training in 2026, with no cost to the commission. The virtual training, coordinated with Jeff Dugan, will span two days and focus on ADA law, state access laws, and access surveys. Commissioners stressed the importance of participation from municipal departments, with one expressing a desire to extend invitations to the school department and housing authority employees. The training will provide certificates and continuing education units (CEUs), potentially incentivizing department heads to encourage staff participation. Discussions are underway to host both the basic and advanced training segments locally in Fall River. The advanced training includes hands-on assessments of facility accessibility, a component previously missed due to inclement weather.

In a separate initiative, the commission highlighted the upcoming Accessible for All Yoga Series, starting August 26 at Bicentennial Park. The series, supported by a Cordiero Foundation grant and facilitated by Heron Yoga, aims to foster inclusivity across ages and backgrounds. Commissioners discussed strategies to publicize the event and encouraged outreach efforts to maximize attendance. The series will occur weekly for six weeks, with rain dates planned to ensure consistent participation.

The commission also addressed a legal opinion from the Fall River Corporation Council, confirming the legality of its scholarship program. With all scholarships successfully distributed, including a transfer from Curry College to UMass Dartmouth, the commission expressed gratitude to the Corporation Council for their support. A thank-you letter was proposed, although it was deemed unnecessary to vote on this gesture.

In addition to these initiatives, the commission reviewed budget reports for June and July, focusing on outreach efforts. Staffing changes within City Hall were noted, including the retirement of Charles Denm from the Department of Community Maintenance and the upcoming retirement of city clerk Allison Bousard. Inz Wheat will assume the city clerk position in September, and Mike Dion has been appointed acting city administrator.

The commission also discussed the need for improved website functionality as a vital outreach tool. A working group was proposed to monitor the website and ensure accessibility to important documents and disability-related information. Commissioner Katie Driscoll accepted the invitation to join this group, expressing enthusiasm for enhancing community engagement through the website.

As the meeting concluded, a scheduling conflict for the next commission meeting was resolved, with members agreeing to reschedule from September 10th to September 17th. The session ended with a motion to adjourn, unanimously approved by the commissioners.