Authorizing City Council's Committee on the Disabled and the Handicapped to hold hearings to investigate and determine the needs of our disabled and/ or handicapped children; to make a determination as to their ability to make full use of our recreational facilities; and to determine and make suggestions to the appropriate City agency what must be done to make fully accessible the programs and our recreational facilities for our disabled and/or handicapped children and youth.

WHEREAS, There is a segment of our children and youth population who are disabled and/or handicapped; and

WHEREAS, Our recreational facilities may be in need of modifications to accommodate these children and youth; and

WHEREAS, There has not been a study made as to the accessibility of our recreational facilities these groups; and

WHEREAS, At the Town Hall Meeting on Friday, May 4, 2007 a statement was made that school age children who are disabled are not able to fully participate in the recreational programs and other facilities offered by the City due to the lack of accessibility and/or accommodations to their disabilities; and

WHEREAS, This body is sensitive to the needs of the handicapped and/or disabled and particularly sensitive to the issues arising from accessibility or the lack of accessibility in our recreational facilities; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council hereby authorizes City Council's Committee on the Disabled and the Handicapped to hold hearings to investigate and determine the needs of our disabled and/ or handicapped children; to make a determination as to their ability to make full use of our recreational facilities; and to determine and make suggestions to the appropriate City agency what must be done to make fully accessible the programs and our recreational facilities for our disabled and/or handicapped children and youth.

End