SOUTH RIVER – The Mayor’s Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities continues to advocate for disabled residents in South River.
The committee was organized to review forms of assistance, guidance and programs for handicapped and disabled residents, as well as to provide an advisory report of its activities to the mayor and Borough Council for review, according to chairwoman Teresa Hutchison.
“The committee holds seminars, such as safety seminars and elder care seminars, for residents. We seek out available programs which may benefit residents and provide that information to the mayor and council. We also hand out information during [borough] events, for instance, we [had] a table with literature at … National Night Out,” said Hutchison, who has been involved with the committee for about a decade.
The committee is comprised of 10 members: John Brodzicki, Vice Chairwoman Lori Harris-Ransom, Douglas Heine, secretary Mary Ann Hoffman, Hutchison, Lynn Meloni, Danielle Oswald, Robyn Prasek, Alissa Roselli and Mary Wilk. The committee’s council liaison is Councilman James Gurchensky.
Hutchison said the committee, which was established 12 years ago, is planning a safety seminar and another elder care seminar in September.
“We have held informational seminars, such as fire prevention, safety and elder care seminars for residents and have made recommendations to the mayor and council regarding available programs for persons with disabilities,” Hutchison said. “We have also visited businesses in town to provide information to them concerning accessibility to their shops for persons with disabilities.”
Secretary Mary Ann Hoffman also mentioned the Special Needs Registry, which she suggested to members of the police department as a way to identify persons suffering with disabilities so that if first responders arrive at the home, they are aware and can assist those in need.
The committee holds its meetings once every three months at 7 p.m. on the second floor of the Human Services building, 55 Reid St. The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 24.
Contact Vashti Harris at [email protected].