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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Disability
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tammy Marcinuk, Skier
athletics
deafness
disability
fitchburg historical society
tammy marcinuk
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Disability
Still Image
Catalog Entry
<p>This artifact is a pad of parking tickets used previously in Fitchburg for illegally parking either in a handicap parking spot or from blocking an access aisle or ramp used by people with disabilities. The tickets were given out by volunteers with the permission of the Massachusetts Office on Disability, the state advocacy agency that serves people with disabilities of all ages. In 1981 the agency was created with the main goal “to ensure the full and equal participation of all people with disabilities in all aspects of life by working to advance legal rights, maximum opportunities, supportive services, accommodations and accessibility” (“Massachusetts Office on Disability”).</p>
<p>Handicap parking passes allow a person to park their vehicle in designated parking spaces that are close to the building or venue they are attending. They also ensure that there is enough space for the person with a disability to enter and exit the vehicle comfortably and with ease. They can save time and energy for people with major disabilities and minor ones as well. These passes can be obtained through the state’s Registry of Motor vehicles. Each state has their own requirements and criteria for handicap parking permits (Ambardekar). Many of these requirements are alike and some common conditions that qualify one for handicap parking include:</p>
<ul><li>Lung Disease</li>
<li>Heart Disease</li>
<li>Substantially impaired movement like the use of a wheelchair, brace or cane</li>
<li>A disease that significantly limits your ability walk or to use your legs</li>
<li>Documented vision problems including low-vision or partial sightedness</li>
<li>Loss of one or both legs or loss of both hands, or limited use of these parts</li>
</ul><p>A person may feel like their disability is too minor but even minor disabilities can make one eligible for handicap parking.</p>
<p>If you feel you have a disability that may qualify you for a handicap parking permit, ask your doctor about your eligibility for a handicap parking permit. You can then get an application from your state’s Registry of Motor vehicles, fill it out with a signature from your health-care provider that certifies your disability and submit your application via email or in person (Ambardekar). These permits are not limited to only people with permanent disabilities, as people with temporary disabilities can obtain temporary handicap parking permits. For example, if a person were to have surgery that will temporarily impair their ability to walk for a few weeks, then they would be eligible for a temporary permit. These passes are only to be used on the vehicle where the driver or passenger in the vehicle has a disability. If used improperly you will receive a ticket for violating the handicap parking criteria.</p>
<p>These parking spots are misused by people who do not have a disability. Before illegally parking in a handicap space because you don’t want the longer walk to your destination, think about the consequences. Not the consequence of you getting a ticket, but the effect it could have on a person with a disability who needs that spot a lot more than you. Even if you are only staying for a few minutes, that spot could be needed the next minute by someone in a wheelchair or with crutches. By parking in that spot you could force them to find a spot that is a lot further or that has limited space, making it more difficult than it already is to get to their destination, while you, who are completely able, are taking advantage. For this reason it is very inconsiderate to park in handicap spots.</p>
<p>In addition to the pad of handicap parking tickets, there is also a parking lot complaint form used by the Architectural Barriers Board. They changed the name of the board in the 1980's to the Architectural Access Board, but they still carry the same purpose: to develop and enforce regulations designed to make public buildings accessible to, functional for, and safe for use by people with disabilities. These regulations first originated in the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 and have been updated since. The regulations are listed as Section 521 of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations and apply to all buildings and facilities in the Commonwealth that are open to members of the public ("AAB Rules and Regulations"). On this form there is a small list of some handicap parking requirements and regulations that a facility must follow when owning a public parking lot. These requirements include:</p>
<ul><li>Handicapped spaces must be the closest spaces in the lot to the entrance.</li>
<li>Handicapped spaces must be at least 12 feet wide or 8 feet wide with a 4 foot center aisle painted or striped yellow.</li>
<li>The sidewalk must provide a curb cut.</li>
<li>Handicapped spaces must be identifiable by a sign 5 feet to 8 feet above the ground to the top of the sign.</li>
<li>The total number of handicapped spaces must be sufficient to the lot size.</li>
</ul><p>On the form there is a formula to calculate how many handicap spaces are required in a parking lot based on the amount of spaces that are in that lot. If a parking lot does not meet the required number of handicap parking spaces or the spaces themselves do not meet the criteria, then a complaint form can be filled out detailing the requirement that the parking lot fails to meet, so the issue can be addressed and fixed for the better. These simple improvements can better the everyday life of people with disabilities.</p>
Bibliography
<p>“AAB Rules and Regulations.” <em>Mass.gov</em>, www.mass.gov/aab-rules-and-regulations.</p>
<p>Ambardekar, Nayana. “Handicap Parking Permits: Who Is Eligible and How to Get a Handicapped Parking Permit.” <em>WebMD</em>, 21 Jan. 2020, www.webmd.com/pain-management/handicap-parking.</p>
<p>“Massachusetts Office on Disability.” <em>Mass Legal Services</em>, www.masslegalservices.org/content/massachusetts-office-disability.</p>
Artifact Owner
Fitchburg Historical Society
Catalog Entry Author(s)
Chris Morales, Student, Fitchburg State University
Photographer(s)
Kisha G. Tracy
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
WARNING You Are Parked Illegally
disability
fitchburg historical society
parking
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6d6c50b511f0368c63918140d61d64cd
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Disability
Still Image
Catalog Entry
<p>Harry Doehla, a son of poor German immigrants, was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts on February 11, 1900. At age seventeen, just as he was preparing to start studying chemistry in college, he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and arthritis. This would lead him to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. In an article in <em>Guideposts, </em>Doehla said he “was crippled. <em>Useless</em>,” as all his plans and what he considered any future hope to secure a successful job and a living wage all went away. Later that year, Doehla decided to do whatever it took to help his family and experimented with trying to sell Christmas cards. With $4,400 given to him by his family and friends, Doehla was able to sell 19,000 boxes of Christmas cards, 7,000 more boxes than his original order of 12,000. Two more years of successful sales went by and, eventually, Doehla began making his own card designs as Doehla Greeting Cards Inc. was born. </p>
<p>As time went on, Doehla Greeting Cards Inc. continued to help Harry Doehla and his family make a lot of profit. By the 1950s, the company had moved from being managed in the Doehla household on Frankfort Street to having over 600 employees working at four factory buildings in the city of Fitchburg. However, due to the demand for more space that was not available, Doehla Greeting Cards Inc. set up a new headquarters in Nashua, New Hampshire in 1951, where the newly invested property would be, as noted in a history at the Fitchburg Historical Society, "large enough to handle all of its manufacturing operations under one roof and still allow the company to expand.” Doehla would continue to manage a part of the company until he passed away in New York City on October 8th, 1977. In 2012, one building of the old Fitchburg Factory was converted into Simmonds Hall, a residential living space for students attending Fitchburg State University.</p>
<p>As manager of the company, Doehla was seen as “kindhearted and caring. He hired the handicapped and provided good working conditions for his employees” (Fitchburg Historical Society 58). These good working conditions included enrolling “all his employees in a Blue Cross-Blue Shield plan,” providing a first aid room with a full-time nurse, and partnering the company “with a local physician who would spend one day a week at the plant conducting consultations and making diagnoses ‘free of charge to all personnel” (Shalhoup). This idea of a healthy and safe work environment for Doehla’s employees easily fits the World Health Organization’s 2010 idea for a healthy workplace as “one in which workers and managers collaborate to use a continual improvement process to protect and promote the health, safety and well-being of all workers and the sustainability of the workplace.” However, Doehla introduced all of these ideas at once when the company moved to the Nashua location, as opposed to gradually introducing things as time went on. This contradicts a 2015 study conducted by the <em>International Journal of Health Services</em>, where a company that “introduced a pre-existing program from its parent company… was met with some skepticism and resistance” by its workers (Wyatt 173). Regardless of the fact, Doehla’s ideas for a safe and healthy workplace were ahead of their time and proved to be one way that Doehla cared for his workers.</p>
<p>Another way Doehla was able to show his forward-thinking was with the recruiting of people with disabilities. While businesses will recruit people with disabilities in today’s culture, it does not mean that they are always welcomed with open arms. In a 2005 study focusing on discrimination against people with disabilities in the workplace, it was found that “Allegations of workplace discrimination were found to center mainly on hiring, discharge, harassment, and reasonable accommodation issues” (Chan). Along with this, discrimination showed to have a higher occurance to those with uncontrollable but stable disabilities, including visual imparment, cardiovascular disease, and spinal cord injuries. A 2007 study identified that “Job applicants with [a] disability were rated more negatively than applicants without disability in poor-fit conditions” including those that required contact with other individuals (Louvett). The idea of Harry Doehla breaking boundaries for those with physical disabilities, allowing them to have a safe environment in the factories of Doehla Greeting Cards Inc, shows how he perceived the need to counter such discrimination.</p>
<p>While Harry Doehla may not be with us today, his ability to defy his own perception of himself as “useless” and create a company revolving around a healthy and welcoming environment for all workers, whether they have disabilities or not, was a big step in the work industry. Doehla’s work environment was so welcoming that his company, an 1951 article in <em>The Christian Advocate,</em> was “noted throughout New England for its liberal wage policies and excellent working conditions.” His ability to consider the health and safety of his workers as well as not discriminate against those who are often seen as less abled should be recognized. Even outside of the workplace, Doehla was able to help unrecognized artists by having them submit their work so he could use them as designs in his cards and, as such, helped people “get started in the difficult and highly competitive field of commercial art." In the end, Doehla’s ability to be a successful millionaire by starting a greeting card company after his hopes and dreams were challenged by rheumatic fever shows how great of a story his life is. As said in the dedication of a Hydro-Therapy Pavilion in Doehla’s honor, albeit with language we no longer use due to its derogatory nature, “His life story should serve as a beacon of light and hope to crippled children everywhere." </p>
<p>The artifacts shown here include: Harry Doehla’s short autobiography in <em>Guideposts</em>, an article about Doehla in the December 13, 1951 issue of <em>The Christian Advocate</em>, a history of Doehla Greeting Cards Inc., a picture of the Fitchburg factory, a Christmas Card from the Doehla factory, and a short pamphlet about The Harry Doehla Hydro-Therapy Pavilion, established in 1969.</p>
Bibliography
<p>Chan, F., McMahon, B.T., Cheing, G., Rosenthal, D.A., and Bezyak, J. "Drivers of workplace discrimination against people with disabilities: The utility of attribution theory." <em>Journal of Prevention, Assessment and Rehabilitation, </em>vol. 25, 2005, pp. 77–88.</p>
<p>Fitchburg Historical Society. <em>Legendary Locals of Fitchburg, Massachusetts</em>. Arcadia Publishing, 2014.</p>
<p>Louvet, E. "Social judgment toward job applicants with disabilities: Perception of personal qualities and competences." <em>Rehabilitation Psychology,</em> vol. 52, no. 3, 2007, pp. 297–303. <span>https://doi.org/10.1037/0090-5550.52.3.297</span></p>
<p>Shalhoup, Dean. “From Teen to Greeting-Card Millionaire.” <em>The Nashua Telegraph</em>, 19 Dec. 2015, <span>www.nashuatelegraph.com/life/health-lifestyle/2015/12/19/from-teen-to-greeting-card-millionaire/</span>.</p>
<p>World Health Organization. "Healthy Workplaces: A Global Framework and Model: Review of Literature and Practices." Geneva, 2010. www.who.int/occupational_health/ healthy_workplaces/en/index.html</p>
<p>Wyatt, Katrina M. “Understanding How Healthy Workplaces Are Created: Implications for Developing a National Health Service Healthy Workplace Program.” <em>International Journal of Health Services</em>, vol. 45, 1 Jan. 2015, pp. 161–185.</p>
Artifact Owner
Fitchburg Historical Society
Catalog Entry Author(s)
Alexander Maggio, Student, Fitchburg State University
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Harry Doehla: Doehla Greeting Card Company
disability
fitchburg historical society
wheelchair
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056772a700c5a6eddda02c16632e5d2e
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Disability
Still Image
Catalog Entry
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Priscilla Merriam was physically disabled and lived her life travelling the world in a wheelchair. During her travels she spread awareness about disability and how to properly treat people who were managing any sort of disability. Throughout her travels she made scrapbooks to highlight memories of her journeys and showcase the efforts she has made to spread disability awareness. Along her journey she would have meetings with people to discuss the issues she would face and highlight common oversights that people did not realize to help spread awareness about disability. I am hoping to help readers visualize the importance of empathy while also working together with other artifacts and entries to help envision a true harmony between individuals and their mindsets.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">The scrapbook is labeled “Great Britain,” but it is full of Pricilla’s adventures all over the world from pictures, postcards, menus, to even some journal entries listing all the locations she visited. She visited many countries, trying to establish a foundation of education on her beliefs regarding disability. Priscilla’s main goal was to create an equal society and to make sure that life was not as difficult as it had to be for those who are disabled. There was, and still is, so much discrimination shown towards people with disabilities. Although there has been a considerable amount of slight improvements, there is most definitely a good amount of accommodations that can still be acted upon, whether it is by installing a ramp, an elevator, or training guide dogs. As a society there is a need to understand that everyone is human and deserves respect as such. The whole outlook on the topic of disability is to inform people to broaden their perspective and to try to understand what it might be like living in a body that does not function in a so-called “normal” way. Yet, that most certainly does not mean that the body cannot function at all. Our society depends on our willingness and capability to go after what is difficult and make the world a better and more inclusive place for everyone, not just to those who we think are fit enough to deserve respect.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">In order to live active, integrated, productive lives, many people with disabilities require support and services. For decades people with disabilities were not able to get these needed services in their own home and community. One of the most challenging barriers encountered by people with disabilities is the dire lack of housing that is accessible, affordable, and integrated. This barrier forces many people into institutions. Some who are not forced into institutions, live in unsafe or substandard housing, live in desperation with family members, or pay extremely high rents and suffer financially. It was very quickly realized, not just by Priscilla but other speakers and activists as well, that something had to be done in order to not only help those with disabilities, but also help those who could potentially aid the cause once they opened their eyes to see how much help was actually required. Teamwork is essential.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Some ground work was done in order to help reduce the disparity of access to opportunity for people with disabilities in the form of legislation being passed. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 is one of several disability related laws and usually the one with which many Americans are most familiar. The purpose of the law is to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA guarantees this for people with disabilities in all aspects of everyday life, from employment opportunities, to being able to purchase goods and services, to participating in state and local governments' programs and services. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is another law that prohibits disability discrimination. This law is divided into several sections, all of which were put in place to help make accommodations to ease some of the hardships for those with disabilities. Employers need to remember to check for any relevant state and/or local nondiscrimination laws that may also apply. By understanding and fulfilling their responsibilities under the laws that prohibit discrimination based on disability, employers play an important role in delivering on America's promise of equal access to opportunity for all citizens.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">There have been many activists who have spoken about equality in multiple different aspects, whether it be problems that are more widespread and well-known or incidents that happen continuously without much knowledge or care to change. Priscilla Merriam was one of these activists who traveled all over the world to spread her view on equality and positivity Priscilla along with many others brought about changes and evolutions in the world, resulting in efforts to make the natural and social environment more healthy and stable for someone who is living with disabilities. As with any obstacle, there is almost always a solution to it, it just becomes a matter of how creative we can be to try and overcome it and mend the gaps together. There is no reason to treat people differently for characteristics that they cannot control, or just sit and watch them go through unnecessary struggles. I hope that one day the outlook that we are all human and that we must work together to adapt will be normalized instead of just being shut down with the theory of “survival of the fittest."</span></p>
Bibliography
“Laws & Regulations.” U.S. Department of Labor, www.dol.gov/general/topic/disability/laws.
Artifact Owner
Fitchburg Historical Society
Artifact Condition
The scrapbook is worn but still legible.
Artifact Material
This artifact is a scrapbook containing various entries from Priscilla Merriam.
Catalog Entry Author(s)
Cameron Davis, Student, Fitchburg State University
Gabriella Rico, Student, Fitchburg State University
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Priscilla Merriam: Great Britain Scrapbook
activism
disability
fitchburg historical society
priscilla merriam
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Disability
Still Image
Catalog Entry
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<p>An article written by Doris Kirkpatrick discusses the story of Tammy Marcinuk who grew up to become a champion skier despite being born deaf. Nineteen-year-old Tammy was always challenging herself by skiing down the toughest trails, down the tallest mountains, and pushing herself to be the best. Tammy’s love for sports didn’t stop at skiing, for she also actively practiced roller skating, water skiing, sewing, swimming, and dancing daily. Tammy was also a master at lip reading, so she didn’t need to rely on sign language or a piece of paper to communicate. Even though Tammy was born with a disability, she did not allow it to limit her determination and enthusiasm in becoming a champion in the Deaflympics. Her father and grandparents also skied stating, “Skiing is worth all this effort, she (Tammy) thinks she is carrying on a family tradition.”</p>
<p>This article was written in 1968, less than a year after Tammy had been rated the “top woman competitor” in the “International Alpine Ski Races for the Deaf” in Austria. Tammy won first place in three events at the competition including slalom, giant slalom, and downhill skiing. The invitation to compete was a huge honor to Tammy because she was the only one representing the United States. The year before she had won two gold medals during the Deaflympics where she was competing against fifteen other nations. Despite her success, Tammy remained very humble about her winnings saying, “It isn’t nice to show off,” even after being presented with a key to her home city of Fitchburg by Mayor George J. Bourque. Tammy traveled very frequently for all her ski events and was extremely busy but she always found time for “those whom Lady Luck has not smiled on.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When she was in Amsterdam, Tammy spoke at a school for children who are deaf and gave them encouragement to “live normally.” Tammy was always trying to motivate others to achieve their goals. At The Holy Family High School in Fitchburg, she planned on becoming an instructor for deaf children.</p>
<p>It is very unfortunate that Tammy was never brought into the same light as champions in the Olympics because she certainly deserved it. Many people in this world underestimate the abilities and capabilities of people with disabilities, whether it be physical or intellectual. The Special Olympics, Paralympics, and Deaflympics are all ways that we have tried to include people with disabilities in showing and representing what they can do. However, there has been much talk about if these events specifically for people with disabilities is bringing more attention to the person’s disability rather than their ability. Some people are happy with this separation, but others think that the individuals who are just as good as the elite competitors in the actual Olympics are just being held back from being recognized. Tammy and other countless amounts of people with disabilities will never be recognized to the extent that they should be because events like the Deaflympics never reach the front pages and receive little to “no live television coverage in the United States.” Personally, I think this is very unfair, and Tammy deserved to get the recognition she deserved for being an incredible athlete and winning “five gold medals in six international Deaflympic Games over a 24 year period starting in 1967.” In my opinion, people should not have to feel singled out because they have a limitation or disability. Tammy was completely capable of competing in the Olympics and taking home the gold.</p>
<p>Founded by Eugène Rubens-Alcaise, the first Deaflympics were held during 1924 in Paris. Around this time, according to Jake Clark in his article “The Deaflympics,” “hearing people thought the Deaf were ‘not smart’ or lacking in intelligence.” People who were deaf were seen as outcasts in society, and the founding of the Deaflympics was their way of being able to prove that they had amazing skill, smarts, and talent. The Deaflympics was not even called the Deaflympics when it was first founded; it was known as the “Silent Games.” Competitors use visual signs such as waving and flashing lights because they are not allowed to use a hearing aid, unlike the Olympics, the Paralympics, and Special Olympics. Jake Clark explains how athletes “have to work harder to fund their training and participation" in this event because the Deaflympics does not “draw the same media publicity” as the other events for athletes who are disabled.</p>
<p>Most people who can hear will never be able to understand or relate to someone who is deaf and the challenges that they have to face in their everyday life. Jake Clark brings to our attention that nearly “three out of every thousand American children are born deaf.'' For these children to grow up and become athletes who are capable of achieving the same accomplishments as hearing athletes it takes great determination, will, and strength. These athletes deserve to be broadcasted and noticed for their tremendous ability. Jake Clark also states, “an estimated twenty-eight million people in the United States have some form of hearing loss." Therefore there still needs to be more opportunities for the deaf to be recognized.</p>
<p>Tammy recently passed away in 2018, retiring from skiing in 1991. She was inducted into the 1993 USA Deaf Sports Federation Hall of Fame. In 1971 the late Mayor Harold Lemay proclaimed a day in her honor. Disabled athletes as a whole should be more included in society, because disabilities are very common, and we should be bringing more attention to these athletes' achievements. Tammy was never able to hear a crowd cheer her on, but was able to achieve incredible achievements even when life made the journey a little more difficult.</p>
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Bibliography
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<p><span>Clark, Jake. "The "Deaflympics" (Deaf Olympics)." <em>American Sign Language University</em>, asluniversity.com/asl101/topics/deaflympics04.htm.<br /><br /></span><span>“In Memoriam: Tammy Marcinuk.” <em>USA Deaf Sports Federation</em>, 12 Oct. 2018, usdeafsports.org/news/in-memoriam-tammy-marcinuk/.<br /><br /></span></p>
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Artifact Owner
Fitchburg Historical Society
Artifact Condition
This artifact is in really good condition with no rips, tears, holes, or stains on the article.
Artifact Material
This artifact is what seems like a typed and printed magazine article, written by Doris Kirkpatrick. There is some writing on the side of the article in pencil stating that this is a “Biog. Marcinuk, Tammy 1968."
Catalog Entry Author(s)
Jillian Garreffi, Student, Fitchburg State University
Editor(s)
Fiona Campbell, Student, Fitchburg State University
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
News Article: "Mettlesome Maid from Fitchburg - Tammy Marcinuk Surmounts a Handicap"
athletics
deafness
disability
fitchburg historical society
tammy marcinuk
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33d0332168ae5b78013568550bcb5de3
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Disability
Still Image
Catalog Entry
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;">A deaf Olympic skier named Tammy Marcinuk won five gold, one silver, and three bronze medals in six universal Deaf Olympic Games over a multi-year time span. Her journey is described here through both a newspaper artifact and an essay. Two differing points of view create who Tammy Marcinuk is and what made her so special.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">The first artifact, a newspaper clipping titled “Fitchburg Girl Honored for Deaf Olympics Feats,” describes the many honors Tammy Marcinuk received. The newspaper clipping appears to be from around 1971 and most likely from the </span><i><span style="font-weight:400;">Fitchburg Sentinel,</span></i><span style="font-weight:400;"> although no exact date is seen on the artifact, it can be assumed around this time as Tammy Marcinuk was honored by Mayor J. Harold Lemay who was mayor of Fitchburg during the years 1971-1972. The artifact itself praises Tammy Marcinuk and her accomplishments as “winner of three gold medals and one silver at the international Olympics” and her being “honored by local, state and federal officials” ultimately being “awarded a key to the city by Mayor J.Harold.” This artifact as a whole demonstrates the appreciation of Tammy Marcinuk despite her disabilities as well as the amount of respect that the city of Fitchburg had for her.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">This article demonstrates that there are no limitations to success with the right mindset. Tammy Marcinuk demonstrated that her perceived “disability” did not hold her back as seen in the newspaper clipping because she was still able to reach great heights of success despite being deaf. The audience of this article will see an inspiring story of a young woman who grew up in the same town as them, but who did not let her one difference, her seemingly strong limitation, keep her from pursuing a successful future. Ultimately, the article's main focus was inspiring a town of people, inspiring those with similar characteristics, and demonstrating the possibility of beating out any obstacle in the way.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">The second artifact is an essay by Kirkpatrick titled “Tammy Marciunk, A Winner,” which develops an elaborate picture of her skiing journey through detailed descriptions of her demanding schedule and lengths she went for skiing. The essay was written in 1967-1968 and contains information about Tammy's younger ages as well as more personal characteristics.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Tammy, deaf since birth, was picked to compete in the winter games. She and the other 14 skiers who were also deaf went over to Berchtesgaden, Germany by means of a $1000 collective donation. And after having early struggles, Tammy was able to become a decorated skier despite the struggles she faced. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Since the rise of awareness of deaf culture, more people are learning sign language as a way of communication. Individuals like Tammy were often misunderstood during her time. However, people who are deaf are more than capable of holding long-term jobs and full-time careers, communicating with others and learning at high levels. In the past, those with impaired hearing would be considered ignorant or foolish in any aspect of life. Although being deaf is very common among individuals, there is a lack of historical evidence about their daily lives and how they viewed other people like Tammy. There was not a large amount of representation of people with disabilities in the Olympics during this time and it is due to the fact that they were viewed as less capable than an able-bodied person.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Many deaf people enjoy talking about how people are becoming more familiar with deaf culture. The deaf culture contains hard of hearing people and fully deaf people. This community demonstrates that their lack of a sense is not a disability. They have the same amount of social skills and are often very educated because they do not allow their lack of sense to act as a barrier even though society expects them to. They might have a hearing impairment, but it does not stop communication as a whole. By changing people's perspective of the word “deaf,” they also try to remove the word disability from the typical stereotype that society places on them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Some people see the deaf community as disabled and not capable of everyday tasks. Tammy proves this wrong in so many ways with her skiing journey. Many people still view deafness as a life-altering disability but it is becoming more apparent that people can lead "normal" lives despite being deaf.</span></p>
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Artifact Owner
Fitchburg Historical Society
Catalog Entry Author(s)
Kylli Wade, Student, Fitchburg State University
Artifact Condition
Yellowing discoloration; address 81 View St., Fitchburg, MA typed out on a typewriter
Artifact Material
Newspaper
Editor(s)
Abby Murphy, Student, Fitchburg State University
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
News Articles: “Fitchburg Girl Honored for Deaf Olympics Feats” and “Tammy Marcinuk, A Winner”
athletics
deafness
disability
fitchburg historical society
tammy marcinuk
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a35692161b2b75dbf1ae69e28c7db1c7
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Disability
Still Image
Catalog Entry
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Wheelchair basketball, a modified version of running basketball, was created in the early 1940s for those with a disability involving the lower level of the body, such as leg amputation, limb paralysis, cerebral palsy, and many more. It was first played by veterans retired after World War II, however it has become more popular and is now played by more than only veterans. The height and size of the court was the same as a standard basketball court and was played in intervals of forty minutes. Not much differs between wheelchair basketball and running basketball aside from the scoring of points, which differs to allow teams to score easier. In terms of eligibility, any person who cannot stand in a running basketball game was able to participate in wheelchair basketball. It is important to note in the artifact photograph that all participants have a wheelchair and use a wheelchair for daily living/activities. There is a referee present as there would be in a standup running basketball game. Wheelchair basketball has been shown to be a fast paced, determined, competitive, and skillful activity for any who played. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Wheelchair disability was misunderstood in the 1900s. People with any disability were seen as unusual and treated below people everywhere. Especially those with disability of the lower limbs, there was confusion on how to help make everyday life easier for them. Public transportation was difficult as ramps were not easily accessible for all; some didn’t have ramps at all. Not all public transportation systems had ramps available to use. Often, the bus driver or a companion of the individualdisabled would have to help them walk on, as well as have an open space for the wheelchair to be placed. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">The Paralympic Games is an extraordinary event for skillful athletes with a physical disability and was one of the largest multi-sport competitions in the world. The first Paralympic Games took place in Rome, Italy in the early 1960s. The amount of positivity from the games was one to reckon with. The competitions took place every four years, just like the Olympic games. One of the sports played out of eight in the Paralympic Games was wheelchair basketball. It was highly inclusive to those with disabilities, especially of the lower limbs. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Wheelchair basketball introduced a new way for those with a lower-limb disability to feel included and maintain a physical activity. Being active relieves stress and can help increase a person's mood, however, physical activity can be a stretch for those in a wheelchair, often feeling out of reach and unattainable. Wheelchair basketball was a new outlet to get involved, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and feel as if their disability was not something that was in the way of them participating in physical activities. The photograph represents a community of people coming together to play a sport they all love. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Public restrooms were as well just as difficult for those with a wheelchair requiring disability, it is difficult for one to use the restroom by themselves in a space in which they are uncomfortable, because bathrooms were not always wheelchair accessible. In the 1990s, the Americans with Disability Act was created, which made it illegal to discriminate against those with any disability. As part of that, guidelines for public facilities to provide those with disability equal access and services that they may require were created. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Wheelchair basketball included those with a walking disability to engage in a physically strenuous sport. It offered a new way for those with disability to be able to participate, to feel healthier and happier. Society puts a label on wheelchair disability. To have the mindset that a disability can limit those to be able to engage or participate in regular activities is foolish, in fact, it is an understatement that those with disabilities can accomplish much more than the average person. Individuals with disabilities can live a life much greater than the average person. Wheelchairs are one of the fundamental stepping stones for creating new inventions and technology to help their everyday lives. It pushed the boundaries for thinking scientifically and rationally from the creation of new inventions like the ramp and activities such as wheelchair basketball.</span></p>
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Bibliography
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<p><span>Berger, Ronald J. <em>Hoop Dreams on Wheels: Disability and the Competitive Wheelchair Athlete. </em>Routledge, 2009.<br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Miller, Norman. “College Brings Disability Awareness to the Basketball Court.” 7 Apr. 1994.<br /></span><span><br />Shakespeare, Tom. </span><span></span><em>Disability: the Basics</em><span><em>.</em> Routledge, 2018.</span></p>
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Artifact Owner
Fitchburg Historical Society
Artifact Condition
Condition is fairly well, in a laminated sheet with little to no marks
Artifact Material
Photograph
Catalog Entry Author(s)
Amanda Calderon, Student, Fitchburg State University
Editor(s)
Anne Robinson, Student, Fitchburg State University
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Wheelchair Basketball in Fitchburg
athletics
disability
fitchburg historical society
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d279078a6e414a44cce2913063fd1519
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Disability
Still Image
Catalog Entry
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<p><span>This artifact contains the inspiring story of a man making a difference for blind children. Martin Eichinger is an American sculptor from Michigan. His father was an influence for him, being a graphic artist but his biggest inspiration was his 7th grade art teacher. Eichinger did post graduate work in sculpture at Michigan State University after studying design and anatomy at Ferris State University. He also studied classical sculpture in Europe. Although he is very familiar with anatomy, he does not consider himself a figurative artist. He refers to himself as a narrative artist and tries to portray art that is emotional and mythic: </span><span></span><span>“I want my sculptures to be mythological in that they speak to others who, like me, are formulating new values and are looking for a new sense of meaning in art and in life" (citation?).</span></p>
<p><span>Eichinger accomplished portraying meaning in his art for others in a sculpture at The Michigan School for the Blind in October of 1981. The artwork is located on the west side of the school campus near the Athletic Field. He wanted people to understand why he dedicates his life to art: “by sharing story and emotion through the human form I feel connected in a deeper way, both with the people who view it and, perhaps most importantly,</span><span> </span><span></span><span>to the sculpture I am working on. I feel that my artwork is complete once I sense that it has entered someone’s life in a meaningful way" (citation?). <br /><br />On October 14th, 1981, children at the school for the blind was able to feel the sculpture </span>called “Aqueous.” On and inside the "Aqueous" is braille so the children were able to “interact” and partake in viewing the work in some sense. Braille is a form of written language for blind people. Characters are represented by patterns of raised dots. Eichinger stated that he is interested in having his sculptures say more about us as a people, about our spirits or our aspirations. For a child who is blind, it is important for them to know they can still have hopes and dreams even though their life may be challenging on a daily basis. The same goes for those with any type of disability. The "Aqueous" sculpture is very accessible so even children in wheelchairs can go inside of it. The sculpture is smooth on the inside and rough on the outside. It is described to look like a curving ocean wave.</p>
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<p><span>The artifact shows an image of "Aqueous" on the top right. It also explains how Eichinger was inspired to do his sculpture because of a play <em>The Miracle Worker</em>. The play is about Helen Keller having a breakthrough (in ?). Although Eichinger has seen the play many times, it still has a deep impact on him. He explained how the play made him feel in the article saying it brought tears to his eyes. There is a meaningful relationship between Helen Keller and her teacher, which Eichinger says shows the meaning of the Michigan School for the Blind. Another reason he created the sculpture was because of a former graduate student of the school, Jerome Jackson. Jackson told his experience as a child at the school and how he would climb a fallen tree in the yard. He said it became so many things in his imagination. Eichinger thought of using his sculpture in the same sense for children’s imaginations. Using braille for the sculpture made it so the children could still use their imaginations but also understand the reality of it. </span></p>
<p><span>There was controversy over why Eichinger wanted to spend his money on an outdoor sculpture considering how fast it could get ruined because of weather changes. Despite this he went through with the sculpture. He spent hours upon hours of experimenting with different materials such as fiberglass and moulded rubber. He came to multiple problems while going through the process of building the artwork but had engineers and other specialists to help him. A big part of his process was trial-and-error. As he was going through the process of creating "Aqueous," he was in search of a poem to go along with it. Later on at a museum in Boston, a woman (who? and how is she related to Fitchburg?) came up to him and recited a poem that his artwork reminded her of. The poem is:<br />Mother of all, and mother of me;<br />Boundless bosom that is the sea,Hold me close, your ocean child,<br />Child of the sea, by thee beguiled.<br />This poem was perfect (how?) for his theme of "Aqueous."</span></p>
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Bibliography
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<p><span>https://www.jones-terwilliger-galleries.com/Artist_Entry/openeichinger.html https://wooarts.com/martin-eichinger/nggallery/image/martin-eichinger-sculpture-wooart s-com-02/ </span></p>
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Artifact Owner
Fitchburg State University
Artifact Condition
The artifact is in okay condition. It appears the artifact was photocopied and kept for future resource. It has a faded and aged look to it.
Artifact Material
This artifact is typed and printed in a newspaper. It looks like an old copy of the original since the color of the paper is a stained yellow. The artifact has a pen marking on it and is very faded. The article is cut off at the end as well.
Catalog Entry Author(s)
Erin Murphy, Student, Fitchburg State University
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
News Article: “Sculpture for MSB a ‘living’ work of art”
art and disability
blindness
disability
fitchburg historical society
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b164c4096434fa0e873547f31533272b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Disability
Still Image
Catalog Entry
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Art is something that is universal and can be appreciated by anyone, regardless of their background. However, art can have restrictions for some people, specifically referring to people with disabilities. People who are blind cannot appreciate all the art that is made, so sculptor Martin Eichinger thought of a creation that could be appreciated by not only people without disabilities, but also people who are blind and other people with disabilities. </span><span style="font-weight:400;">This sculpture, "Aqueous," a multisensory sculpture, was created by Eichinger and contains a poem written by a former WWII nurse by the name of Isabel Demmon. It came </span><span style="font-weight:400;"> to life in 1981 at the school of Lansing’s Cumberland elementary school for disabled children, most of whom are blind.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Martin Eichinger, an architect, built this sculpture with the intent to help the children with disabilities and include them, but also to educate people about disability and to help bring everyone together as a community.</span><span style="font-weight:400;"> Disability art refers to sculpture or any kind of creative work that explores disability in some context. </span><span style="font-weight:400;">It is created by people with or without disabilities, with the purpose in mind to reach out to the audience and include everyone in the community.</span><span style="font-weight:400;"> The major importance of this is the fact that disability art provides much needed access to those with disabilities, such as wheelchair ramps and braille, like the "Aqueous" sculpture. This is important because it can expose the marginalization and social mistreatment of disabled people and teach us how to include them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">An important aspect behind this sculpture is how it helps form a base of support for the emergence of disability culture, which means that we as people disabled and non-disabled are more alike than we think and we can take so much away from that. </span><span style="font-weight:400;">The superintendent of the school, Nancy Bryant, felt this sculpture was necessary so that all her students could have equal opportunity to explore their imagination and themselves. After talking to a graduate from her school, who described climbing a fallen tree as a place for endless imagination, she knew that every child should get that same opportunity to explore for themselves. </span><span style="font-weight:400;">The sculpture itself and the poem created by Isabel Demmon, a Fitchburg native, for this art piece helps us see the movement towards self-determination and the reshaping of the public's view of disability.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">The "Aqueous" sculpture is built to mimic a wave, and is accessible by everyone, including people who use wheelchairs, to get into to get a tactile experience. </span><span style="font-weight:400;">The "Aqueous" sculpture incorporates braille</span><span style="font-weight:400;"> and many different textures </span><span style="font-weight:400;">for sensory purposes for the visually impaired. Throughout the sculpture there is braille in forms of poems for the children to read. </span><span style="font-weight:400;">Throughout the sculpture there is braille in forms of poems for the children to read.</span><span style="font-weight:400;"> Braille, which is used for communicating with disabled people, usually the visually impaired, is a set of tactile symbols. Each symbol is based on a mixture of three rows and two columns. Many of the symbols have many meanings, which is determined by the context of the surrounding symbols.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Martin Eichinger’s incorporation of braille </span><span style="font-weight:400;">and other textures </span><span style="font-weight:400;">in this sculpture and many other disability art pieces is important for many reasons. Worldwide, there are over 285 million people that are visually impaired, 39 million being blind and another 246 million having low-vision impairments. Blindness is a disability that exists more often than one might think, and it affects many people on a global level. 10% of those who are blind can read braille, so with incorporation of braille into art and other everyday objects, we can help increase that statistic. </span><span style="font-weight:400;">This is important because people who are blind aren't getting the education they need, or the accommodations necessary to thrive. As important as it is for any child to learn how to read, children who are blind should be no different, which is why learning braille is important.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">With sculptures like this one, not only is it helping people with disabilities, but it also enlightens many people who are not disabled and allows them to be fully immersed in the complexity of it all. It allows us to learn more about the disabilities themselves, and see that these people are not more different than anyone else. An another example of an exposure to disabilities</span><span style="font-weight:400;"> is a festival called the "Blind Creations" conference in England; at this conference you can find many exhibits that pertain to disability. Some of these include a sculpture carved from concrete</span><span style="font-weight:400;">and an exhibit that is a sculpture</span><span style="font-weight:400;"> that says “seeing red” spelled out in braille. Both of these, which are similar to the "Aqueous" sculpture, help the disabled experience art and also </span><span style="font-weight:400;">also educate everyone about disabilities</span><span style="font-weight:400;"> and the different ways we can communicate through art. Some other art pieces include the Koru Gate, Go, Vision and Braille art. </span><span style="font-weight:400;">Some other art pieces created for those with blindness and vision disabilities include the Koru Gate, Go, Vision and Braille art. They all incorporate tactile art to be enjoyed by everyone. Disability art is made to include everyone and make every person who experiences it feel like they're accepted.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">These artifacts, which are from a scrapbook about Martin Eichinger, his sculpture, and Isabel Demmonn's poem, bring forth their contribution in helping those with the disability of blindness and vision impairment. </span><span style="font-weight:400;">The main intention and vision for the "Aqueous" sculpture was to make accessible art for everyone and help give those who don't normally have the opportunity to explore their imagination through art to do so. It also allows for a community to come together and explore each other's differences and learn more to bring everyone closer together.</span><span style="font-weight:400;"> Isabel Demmon's service to the country and the general public by being a nurse opened up the door for her to reach out to those with disabilities and help them without the use of formal medicine long after becoming a nurse. Her concept of the sculpture and her work led to inclusiveness of a community and created an opportunity of learning and love for the children and adults associated with the project and the disabled community itself as a whole, which was a very big step forward for those excluded due to disability.</span></p>
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Artifact Owner
Fitchburg Historical Society
Artifact Condition
The artifact is in very good condition. It seems to be the original copy that belonged to the member of the group that owned it. There are no apparent markings on the artifacts, and the pictures are in good condition. Although they are slightly faded, they are still clear and visible.
Artifact Material
The artifact is typed and printed on what seems to be the original news paper, which includes the text and pictures. The artifacts don’t have any markings on them. They are also protected by a plastic covering in a scrapbook.
Catalog Entry Author(s)
Chase Carlson, Student, Fitchburg State University
Editor(s)
Brooke Williams, Student, Fitchburg State University
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
"Aqueous" Sculpture
art and disability
disability
fitchburg historical society
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a5a0118b6fce5b57645a354cb1837077
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Disability
Still Image
Catalog Entry
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">This artifact is the original document that defines specific requirements of future buildings to have certain disability rules. The author of the documents, Nancy Goldman, listed the issues the disabled have, one of them being the accessibility of buildings. The photo shows future plans of how buildings would have to change to make sure the buildings are easily accessible.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">With these laws, people with disabilities had more opportunities to experience life for themselves; it was a step to improving how people with disabilities navigate spaces. Before the document was made, the disabled lived a more difficult life. They had a hard time accessing buildings, moving from place to place, and trouble reaching/working certain equipment. Eventually the </span><i><span style="font-weight:400;">Community Access Monitor Project</span></i><span style="font-weight:400;"> by the Massachusetts Office of Handicapped Affairs was made to help support them. It was created by: Nancy Goldman, materials development manager Elaine Ostroff, technical consultant Chris Palmes, cover designer Raine DeMuLouise, and the concept and reviewer of the book Kathy Gips, the head of the Massachusetts Office of Disability at the time.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">The page shown above is a list of requirements of what buildings must have to support the disabled. It would make sure buildings have easily accessible ways for them so they can have an easier time getting around, just as non-people with disabilities do. The owners of the buildings were not fond of the idea because they were the ones responsible for the modifications for the buildings. There was also the fact of how old the buildings were and therefore making it difficult to add new enhancements to them. That was not a reason to not make changes, however. For example, people with disabilities who are in wheelchairs will not have it as easy as an able-bodied person walking upstairs. This artifact helped achieve what people with disabilities need to get through life. Without it, it would be very difficult for them to live a normal life.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">For many years, buildings did not have much to help people with disabilities, from their interior to their outside features. Sidewalks would have a big bump between it and the streets, stairs as mentioned earlier, tight places to navigate, spaces too high up to reach, and work difficult for them that a non-disabled person could do. Even the simplest things that should be accessible make people with disabilities feel left out. For example, at Fitchburg State University there are elevators for those in wheelchairs, but the card scanner to access the elevator was too high to reach for someone sitting down.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">This artifact shows what people with disabilities need in a simple, straightforward way. Requirement lists were made for the building instructors to identify their problems and address how they could fix them. They would have to fill out an accurate representation addressing the problem and saying what they would do to fix the problems and make sure the issues were solved. One of the major rules was how there had to be a minimum measurement of twelve inches from the street to the sidewalk, that way it would be easier for people with disabilities in wheelchairs to go up and down.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">The government approved of these changes to future buildings, and the list of the requirements were approved. From the current buildings at the time to future buildings, they all must have the following: ramps connecting the streets to sidewalks to make it easily accessible and easy to use elevators and bathrooms to have enough room for them to use and for them to access. When those modifications are put into place, it would be time to survey the buildings. If the expectations were not met, the owner of the building would be called and told they had a certain number of days to fix it or else they would be fined. Even though the methods that were used were a little harsh, it worked. Buildings were changed greatly and made friendly for people with disabilities to use and access. Thanks to this artifact, almost all buildings in Fitchburg are now easily accessible to anyone no matter if disabled or not. There is still some work to be done to make buildings better accessible though, mainly parking lot renovations.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Sovereign Bank in Fitchburg for a while needed better handicapped parking spaces, years after the Community Access Monitor Project was put into place. Going through the minutes from the Fitchburg Disability Commission, there was a record from one of the meetings where the Commission tried to schedule meetings with the police department to find a good way to create these new spots for not only Sovereign Bank, but also at an Allied Health location. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Even though there are still some buildings and lots that could be improved to make easier access for people with disabilities, the Community Access Monitor Project helped improve many of the buildings’ conditions to provide better access for people with disabilities.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Without it, many buildings would not be like what they are today compared to the past buildings we have had. Knowing people with disabilities and seeing what they have to go through in terms of inaccessibility can be tough. But seeing what we have done to fix buildings to make it easier for them is great to see.</span></p>
Bibliography
“Community Access Monitor Project : Massachusetts. Office on Disability." <em>I</em><em>nternet Archive</em>, 2014, archive.org/details/communityaccessm00mass.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:400;">Fitchburg Disability Commission Minutes, 7 Dec. 2000. </span>
Artifact Owner
Fitchburg Historical Society
Artifact Condition
The artifact is still in great condition. It is still together in one piece with hardly any damage to it.
Artifact Material
Paper, binder
Catalog Entry Author(s)
Armando Libier, Student, Fitchburg State University
Editor(s)
Jason Langlais, Student, Fitchburg State University
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Action Plan For Buildings (or Parking Lots)
accessibility
disability
fitchburg historical society