The Accessible Communities Advisory Committee (ACAC) is hosting a planning meeting from noon to 1:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 5 at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2333 San Juan Ave., Port Townsend.

Robert Wheeler, parent of an adult with a developmental disability and a professional mediator, facilitates the open community meeting.

Sue Ammeter said representatives of a number of agencies throughout Jefferson County have been invited to participate, with a goal of assessing the needs of people with disabilities.

“We figured it was an excellent time to dialogue,” Ammeter said, who hopes that a lot of people participate.

She said the focus of the disability planning meeting is to discuss ways the ACAC can partner with agencies to request grants in 2017 that would make a difference to people with disabilities.

“Some of the questions we might ask of attendees: ‘What’s working in the world of disability?’ ‘What’s not working?’ ‘What do we need more of?’ ‘What projects or initiatives are coming up?’ ‘What areas of support or funding are needed?’” wrote Anna McEnery, developmental disabilities coordinator for Jefferson County Public Health, in an invitation.

The ACAC was created after Toby Olson, then the executive secretary of the Governor’s Committee on Disability and Employment in Olympia, had a brilliant idea, Ammeter said. Olson suggested the committee be given $100 out of every $450 ticket paid when people park illegally in spots set aside for people with disabilities.

The Legislature approved the Accessible Communities Act and Jefferson County was the first county in the state to receive approval to access funding through that law, Ammeter noted.

The Jefferson County ACAC membership includes people who have a disability and/or work in the field, volunteer or are a parent of a child with a disability.

“We pride ourselves that membership includes persons with a diverse range of disabilities who are knowledgeable in identifying and eliminating attitudinal, programmatic, communication and physical barriers encountered by persons with disabilities,” McEnery wrote.

The ACAC grant is overseen by Jefferson County Public Health on behalf of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners.

ACAC applied for and received a grant of $24,165 for the fiscal year of 2015-16. Some of the projects that have been assisted by the funding include a restaurant guide, cultural venue guide, accessible map of Port Townsend, accessible DASH website and people-first language rack cards that highlight respectful language when referring to someone with a disability.

There also have been brochures created that explain what service animals are, and give tips for emergency preparedness for those who are medically fragile.

The group also cosponsored “Becoming Bulletproof” at the Port Townsend Film Festival, and sponsored a movie about disabilities at the Rose Theatre during National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The group also has sponsored an accessible beach wheelchair and walker, which are housed at Fort Worden State Park.

Because lunch is being served at the Dec. 5 meeting, anyone interested in attending the event is asked to email McEnery at

AMcEnery@co.jefferson.wa.us.