ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ -  At the July 25th Atlantic Highlands Borough Council meeting, on the eve of the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Equalizers, advocates for people with disabilities, presented an Equalizer award to Borough Administrator Adam Hubeny in recognition of his excellent implementation of accessibility in the Borough Hall renovation.

(l-r) Carolyn Schwebel, AH Borough Administrator Adam Hubeny, Jane Reynolds, Mayor Fred Rast

Mayor Frederick J. Rast, III, read aloud the Equalizers letter praising  the Borough's accessibility accomplishments, recognizing Adam Hubeny, and presenting a $3000 check to Library Director Jane Reynolds for the Friends of the Library.

In presenting the award, Equalizers Executive Director Carolyn Schwebel stated: "Atlantic Highlands has been more cooperative than any other area town in achieving accessibility compliance."

Hubeny responded to an ADA lawsuit not defensively, but with determined efforts to provide the fullest ADA-compliance.  Schwebel stated that Adam  exceeded our expectations in his empathic awareness and attention to detail of access requirements. In a recent tour of the renovated borough hall, Adam commented, “I kept saying to myself how would I feel about not having access.”

After Schwebel commented that in the recent tour she was able to access the courtroom dais a perceptive council person recognizing the implications of integration told Carolyn, "Now that you got on the dais, you can run for office!" Schwebel responded, "But I live in Middletown, which doesn't provide that access."