Alachua’s Hare Krishna Social Services.
Disability/Accessibility Task Force.
Last week, the first meeting of the Disability /Accessibility Task Force was held. These devotees, in partnership with Don Barnes from the Center for Independent Living, looked at various obstacles facing devotees and guests with mobility or other health issues. The goal is to make the temple property more welcoming for those with varying levels of ability.
The Task Force has created a list of areas to be improved upon over the course of the next year. But one solution has already been implemented. For those that find it difficult to stand on line for prasadam on Sundays and/or cannot comfortably use the picnic tables to eat, there will be plates of prasadam ready on a white table at the prasadam pavilion. Those that use wheelchairs can eat right at that table. There will also be some folding chairs there for those that can’t climb onto the picnic table benches. There is also the option of taking those plates to a picnic table to sit with family or friends. We will have devotees available to assist you with this transport or other needs. Those eligible to take advantage of these “ready to eat” plates of prasadam would include anyone with mobility issues (wheelchair, walker, cane, etc) and/or health issues that include extreme fatigue, sensitivity to heat, pain due to standing, or other mental or physical disability for which standing on line would cause distress. This could also include pregnant women, especially during their last few weeks. Please direct guests to this table if they are visiting with a family member with a disability like these.
If you are interested in assisting or supporting the Disability/Accessibility Task Force, please contact Radha devi dasi at Hare Krishna Social Services hkssalachua@gmail.com 352 727 8211 (9am – 9 pm)