This letter has an update as of October 14, 2024.: https://www.littlestownwatchdogs.com/post/update-on-our-sept-4th-open-letter

Dear Members of the Littlestown Borough Council and Littlestown Area School Board,

As residents of Littlestown and representatives of Littlestown Watchdogs, we are writing to call for a critical improvement in how meetings are conducted and shared with the community. Specifically, we ask that all council and school board meetings be streamed online and made easily accessible for all residents.

We understand the School Board has audio, which is a big step, but it is still simply not enough. Many are hearing impaired or might not know who is speaking. Discussions are very hard to follow, and sometimes, people simply can't digest audio-only.

We recently took the initiative to record, transcribe, and share a council meeting. We had a total of three people—one with video, one with audio, and one to compile both into a blog post along with a transcription in which software was used to transcribe the audio. We had the post up before midnight that same night with all three mediums for consumption. The response we received from the community was immediate and clear. Within just a few days, hundreds of people accessed the video, audio, and transcription that we posted.

These residents would have otherwise had to wait over two weeks for the official meeting minutes, which often leave out important context and discussions that affect the entire community.

This demonstrates a clear and overwhelming demand for accessible, up-to-date information regarding local government decisions. Waiting for minutes that don’t provide full coverage is not sufficient for a community that seeks to stay informed and involved.

Ensuring that borough and school board meetings comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is not just a matter of convenience; it is a legal requirement under Title II. The ADA mandates that public entities, such as councils and school boards, provide accessible meeting formats for individuals with disabilities, whether the meetings are held in person or online. This includes providing closed captions for video content, transcripts for audio discussions, and ensuring that documents are compatible with screen readers for the visually impaired. Noncompliance with these standards can lead to legal consequences, but more importantly, it excludes individuals from fully participating in the governance of their own community.

Making meetings ADA-compliant benefits not just individuals with disabilities but the entire community. Accessible meeting formats, such as captioned video streams and searchable transcripts, allow parents, busy residents, and those unable to attend in person to stay informed. By ensuring that meetings are ADA-compliant, borough councils and school boards foster a more inclusive, informed, and engaged community.

This is about accessibility for all, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to stay informed, regardless of their circumstances. This is not just for the disabled, elderly, or those with busy lives. It benefits everyone. Whether it’s a parent juggling work and family, or a resident who cannot attend meetings in person, making these meetings available online allows them to participate in the governance of their own community.

We believe that taking this important step would strengthen our community’s connection to local leadership and ensure that more people have the ability to understand and engage with the important decisions being made in the area.

We respectfully urge the Littlestown Borough Council and Littlestown Area School District to implement video streaming of all meetings as soon as possible. Doing so will ensure that no resident is left behind or uninformed.

Thank you for considering this request.

Sincerely,

Littlestown Watchdogs

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