Tinian mayor: Let’s ensure equal access for everyone

Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan calls for equal access for everyone during his keynote speech at the celebration of the International Day of People with Disabilities last Wednesday at the CNMI Center for Living Independently building on Capital Hill. (IVA MAURIN)

Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan is calling for equal access for everyone in the CNMI and that includes services for people with disabilities.

As keynote speaker during the celebration of the International Day of People with Disabilities last Wednesday at the CNMI Center for Living Independently building on Capital Hill, Aldan challenged government agencies and private entities to extend accommodations to provide services to everyone, especially to people with disabilities.

“As one Commonwealth, let us keep each other accountable for ensuring equal access to everyone in our communities.” Aldan said.

The Tinian mayor is calling to ensure that the facilities and agencies in the Commonwealth are following the American Disability Act, for all the elder community members and those who have disability to have access to all the opportunities provided to the public.

The ADA, which became law in 1990, prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Standards have been established requiring for the construction and alteration of facilities to be made more accessible to PWDs.

“When I was elected into office as mayor of Tinian in 2018, I vowed to carry out a vision that I had as a lawmaker to make accommodations a reality for our island community on Tinian,” Aldan stressed. “What began as making sure that all public, private, and government entities have updated disability parking spots that were specific and clear…had turned into renovating public places to make it accessible to everyone.”

The mayor cited the Tinian fiesta grounds, which got destroyed by Super Typhoon Yutu, as an example. As they rebuilt the fiesta grounds, their special projects team engineered a new design that allows for a ramp to the stage to make it accessible to those in wheelchairs and for those who walk with canes.

Not only did the new design put the project in compliance with ADA, but it demonstrated to people who use wheelchairs and canes on the island that they are included in everything that the Tinian government does, and sets the bar and provides an example for other agencies to follow.

Aldan also promised that all projects that his office would do will include accommodations for PWDs.

“I vow to all of you here today, that every single project that will be done on Tinian by the Tinian Mayor’s Office will include accommodations for those with disability,” Aldan said. “… and I challenge all the other agencies and private entities out there to not only keep your disability parking spots up-to-date, but to further extend accommodations, to be able to provide services to everyone, especially those with disability and with impairment.”

In the CNMI, the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation leads in the provision of information and/or services for PWDs. For more information on these services, contact OVR at (670) 287-6609 or visit www.ovrgov.net.