Athens City Commission on Disabilities

10/24/2025

10/17/2025

The ADA does not protect censorship of disabled people, so trying again. 800% of the legally allowed distance between the curb cut and the street. Lots of holes that are dangerous for anyone using wheels, canes, crutches, etc. And now an added photo of the attempted correction.

10/08/2025

Boosting this critical story!

Local disability advocates, including SOCIL Board Members Alex Mathews, Rachel Bican, and Executive Director Davey McNelly were recently featured in an radio and news story by WOUB about the impact of Medicaid cuts. Please give it a read, and stay informed!

https://woub.org/2025/09/29/local-disability-rights-advocates-potential-impacts-medicaid-cuts/

10/06/2025

Hooray! The van accessible space is fantastic and increases the market reach for Kindred Market! Now, everyone go to there and buy all the things on Mondays this month to help SOCIL-Ohio keep their important work going!

Kindred Market is teaming up with SOCIL this month for their Common₵ents Program. Every Monday from now till the end of December, Kindred will be donating 1% of every purchase made to the Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living!

This funding will help SOCIL continue our adaptive sports program, pay for ramps and equipment for those with disabilities, support us in our advocacy efforts, and allow us to work one on one with those with disabilities to reach our goals!

We also recently partnered with Kindred to add a fully ADA accessible parking space in their parking lot. Many businesses aren't aware that federal law requires a van accessible parking space as shown in the second picture.

Image Description: Davey McNelly, a white person with a beard and a hat and using a power wheelchair, and Riley, standing and smiling with long brown hair, wearing a Blue Eagle T-shirt, pose outside of Kindred Market, a grocery store which sells healthy and ethically sourced food.
In the second picture, a correctly lined accessible parking space is shown, with a van ramp opening onto the space.

10/03/2025

One of the past recipients of the Athena Award and former member of the commission, Dr. jw Smith, speaks at the Appalachian Literary Arts and Storytelling Festival! The event takes place this weekend in Nelsonville, OH. This kickoff event is on the Library Stage at the Nelsonville Public Library!

09/24/2025

Look how much fun our current commission chair is having at the accessible Stroud's Run beach!

09/22/2025

Do you love playing or hearing music? Help the Alexander Inclusive Playground Project add some music making to the next phase of the playground!

Today we are celebrating the 5th birthday of Gibson, a student in the Alexander Local Schools district by launching a birthday campaign to raise money for musical instruments on the preschool/kindergarten playground. https://www.givepulse.com/event/670380
Our goal is $3,000 by the time of his birthday party (October 4) so that children with vision loss like Gibson can experience the joy of play through music.
(This is in partnership with Ohio University Center for Community Impac which is why this campaign is through GivePulse rather than our regular donation page. Thanks to all the students at Ohio University helping us spread the word!)

09/11/2025

This looks like everyone had a lot of fun! Be sure to head to Strouds Run to check out the beach and the accessible trail!

08/25/2025

One of our former members is now a member of the Blind Boys of Alabama, which sang backup for Buddy Guy on a recent recording!

Listen to “Jesus Loves The Sinner” here: https://buddyguy.lnk.to/aintdonewiththeblues Watch more videos by Buddy Guy: https://BuddyGuy.lnk.to/listenYD/youtub...