MTC-ABAG's "Accessible Futures" Conference addresses critical issues

More than 150 people took part today in MTC's and the Association of Bay Area Governments' "Accessible Futures: Sharing. Listening. Learning"  — a disability-led community conversation on housing, transportation, the environment and other critical issues at the Bay Area Metro Center in San Francisco.

The first day of the two-day conference saw a gathering of the Bay Area's disability community to identify the unmet needs and gaps in policies, services and advocacy for persons with disabilities. 

"Let's get to work," Commissioner Dorene M. Giacopini told the participants during the conference's opening. "It's easy to get frustrated. It's easy to point out what's broken, but this conference isn't just about the problems. It's about organizing for solutions. So, let's build and focus our energy on shaping a future that works for all of us. Your voices matter, your experiences matter, and your ideas will shape what is to come next."

Bay Area agencies need to listen to those who face challenges every day as they navigate the region, said MTC Chair and Pleasant Hill mayor Sue Noack.

"At MTC, we believe accessibility is not just a feature of good design, it's a fundamental right," Noack continued. "Whether it's navigating a transit system, accessing public services or engaging in civic life. We are working to ensure every person can move freely, participate fully and reach their full potential. The future we are working toward must be shaped by the people who face these challenges every day."

Walter Park, a disability advocate from San Francisco who lobbied for the conference, said the early moments of the gathering Monday were telling as to the needs of the community as a microphone was passed around to participants.

"People were so happy to have a moment to speak," he observed. "People here are so eager to talk about their experiences, and that tells me institutions are not listening to them. It's about taking that strength in voice and bringing it to the institutions." 

As the conference progressed Monday, attendees broke off into groups for various discussion topics, which included:

• Transportation: Understanding the Transportation Landscape and Mobility Challenges Around the Region
• Understanding Affordable Housing and Opportunities for Impact
• Understanding Climate Actions and Expanding Access to Public Spaces Around the Region
• Ensuring Accessible Recreation Across the Region
• Economic Empowerment: Barriers and Opportunities to Employment

"The promise of the Bay Area, its prosperity, its mobility, its opportunity, it's still unevenly distributed," said Dr. Victor Santiago Pineda, an internationally known disability rights expert, who spoke to participants. "In this room, I see friends, neighbors, policy makers, tech experts, designers, innovators, and I know that each one of you has a piece of the puzzle (to solve issues)."

The input gathered Monday and Tuesday will result in a conference resolution, highlighting unmet needs and broad principles, as well as solutions.

"That resolution will go to all 101 Bay Area cities and counties," said Richard Skaff, a disability advocate from Marin County, who pushed for the conference with Park. "From there it will go statewide and national. This will be a reflection of our community. Maybe events like these will expand across the country."

Skaff said the event is important in that it recognizes the disabled community, recognition that is often lacking.

"This conference shows that MTC and ABAG are saying, 'We believe that those of us who make policy and procedural decisions throughout the nine-county Bay Area need to sit and listen to a population that is often invisible,' " he said. "We want to change the invisibility of our community."