• How can we make schools, parks, community buildings, streets and services accessible to people of all ages and abilities?
• How can we make sure that businesses are accessible to every customer?
• How can we retrofit aging buildings without breaking the bank?
• How can communities address the needs of people with vision and hearing impairments, sensory challenges, learning disabilities, chronic disease, and other special needs?
• What are the top accessibility needs in Bethel and White River Valley towns?

Whether you own a business, run a non-profit or church, teach at a school, or serve in town government, improving accessibility is essential to serving customers, clients, and community members. Vermont is aging faster than nearly every other state, so there's no time to waste. Join Bethel for All to learn about the most critical small town accessibility challenges, as well as solutions that don't break the bank.

• Steven Mifsud of Direct Access will share initial findings from Bethel's recent accessibility audit. He'll also share top recommendations for making buildings, businesses and spaces more accessible for people with mobility challenges, hearing or vision impairments and more.

• Peter Johnke of the Vermont Center for Independent Living will talk about resources available for towns, organizations and businesses in Vermont who want to make accessibility improvements.

Stick around for an interactive forum in the second half – we'll use interactive maps to brainstorm priority sites in Bethel that need improvements, and top ideas for improvements

• Register: https://bethelvtstrong.org/bethel-for-all-events/accessibility-forum
• Can't attend? You can still share your ideas and input online. Visit https://bethelvtstrong.org/bethelforall.
• Want to get involved? Come learn about upcoming walk audits, spring demonstration projects, and the Better Block project coming back to Bethel this year!

Accommodations:
We will offer live captioning at this event. Do you need additional accommodations? If so, please email betheluniversityvt@gmail.com and we will do our best to make arrangements.

Host: Bethel for All. This event is one of four accessibility forums organized by Bethel for All —a community-driven planning process making Bethel, Vermont a more connected, vibrant, welcoming and accessible place for all. Join us for the other three forums to learn about creating accessible public spaces and services, a thriving local economy, and cleaner watersheds. Bethel for All is a Vermont Better Connections project. https://bethelvtstrong.org/bethelforall

Bethel University Vermont (BU) is a free community pop-up university based in Bethel, Vermont and created by the Bethel Revitalization Initiative. We offer free courses by the community, for the community, during the month of March each year. Learn more about Bethel University and check out more free course listings at https://betheluniversityvt.org/.

Block Party!

Sep 28, 2024, 11 AM to 10 PM

Bridgewater Historical Society Program

Sep 29, 2024, 2 to 4 PM

Meditation Monday at the Brookfield Old Town Hall

Sep 30, 2024, 6:55 to 8:05 PM