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‘Save Our Space’ campaign kicks off
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Posted on May 07 2006
Good news for people with disabilities living in the CNMI.
The Governor’s Office of Disability Policy and Programs recently launched its newest project called “Save Our Space” awareness campaign.
ODPP special assistant Thomas J. Camacho said he had invited key government officials from the Department of Public Safety, the CNMI Council on Development Disabilities, and the CNMI Center for Independent Living for an initial meeting last week.
Camacho said the purpose of the campaign is to educate the public about the importance of saving designated accessible spaces or stalls for those people who really need them.
“The goal of the ‘Save Our Space’ campaign is to discourage individuals from parking illegally and thereby depriving individuals with disabilities of their legal rights,” said Camacho.
The first step in addressing this problem, he added, is by creating public awareness.
Camacho said part of the project would be the zoning of the handicap parking spaces in the CNMI. He said the group would be able to determine in due time the number of parking spaces available to people with disabilities. He also said the study would include the determination of the legalities of the parking space size for the handicap.
At least 500 to 1,000 flyers would be produced and distributed in the CNMI. They will be placed on car windshields on private and public parking facilities throughout the three islands.
“The CNMI has adopted the ‘Save Our Space’ campaign to educate the public about the importance of saving designated accessible parking spaces for those people who really need them. The fine for illegal use of accessible parking space in violation of Public Law 8-35 is $150,” said the flyer.
Camacho said the campaign would run ads and interviews with all the media. There will also be training to be conducted during the campaign. The target audience for the training will be the DPS Traffic Division Officers and Division of Motor Vehicle officers, private and public parking lot facility owners, physicians, and individuals with disabilities and their families.
