ADA HEADLINER - March 2012
Register Today for the 2012 National ADA Symposium
- Indianapolis, Indiana from May 30-June 1
SPOTLIGHT OF THE MONTH
Now is the time to update your training on the Americans with Disabilities Act!
The updated 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and the Title II Regulations become fully effective on March 15, 2012. These updates, in conjunction with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), directly affect all businesses, local governments, and covered employers. Now is the time to get training on these newest standards and regulations, and learn how the changes affect you, your business and your community.
Attend the 2012 National ADA Symposium - Indianapolis, Indiana from May 30-June 1
Visit ADAsymposium.org to learn more and to register today.
NEWS
National News
The Tax Access project is designed to provide a “Safe Place” where Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site coordinators and volunteers can ask questions and find resources on how to serve people with disabilities more effectively. The Tax Access project focuses on disability issues related to VITA services including facility access, program accessibility, and customer service. Check back often for What's New updates and resources during the 2012 tax season at adasoutheast.org/taxaccess.
Related Resources: IRS List of Tax Benefits for Individuals with Disabilities | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Tax Tips in American Sign Language (ASL) via IRS YouTube channel
President Obama has issued a memorandum for the heads of Executive Departments and Federal agencies to provide support for the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility Program. |
Related story: National Federation of the Blind Urges Congress to Reject Commercializing Rest Stops
Sources: The White House, National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
Obama administration officials are planning to fan out across the country starting this spring for a series of regional White House conferences to address disability issues. The regional meetings are expected to be held in Columbus, Ohio; Austin, Texas; Los Angeles; Denver; Atlanta; Boston; Minneapolis; Orlando, Florida; and Kansas City, Missouri, starting in mid-March, with some scheduled into the summer.
Source: Disability Scoop
This information outlines President Obama's proposed plans for funding programs and initiatives that will have a positive impact on people with disabilities.
Source: The White House
This executive order mandates executive departments and agencies improve their efforts to employ workers with disabilities through increased recruitment, hiring, and retention. (Note: See also Training Events & Tools in this newsletter for information on the Federal Disability Employment Across America webinar series.)
Source: Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
Regional News Around the Southeast States
Southeast Region News
- USDA Awards AgrAbility Grants to Expand Access to Farming for Americans with Disabilities
Responding to the needs of a growing population of farmers and ranchers living with a disability, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the AgrAbility program, awarded grants to help thousands of people with disabilities continue their chosen agricultural professions. Fiscal Year 2011 grant recipients from the Southeast region are:
- University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, $180,000
- University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, $180,000
- North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, North Carolina, $179,975
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, $180,000
Florida News
- SeaWorld, Universal Bar Teen with No Hands from Thrill Rides
A Michigan teen was visiting SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida when she was told she wouldn't be able to ride the park's Kraken roller coaster. It wasn't the first time she'd been denied theme park thrills.
Source: USA Today
- Dan Marino Foundation Plans Downtown Fort Lauderdale College
Plans for a downtown college for persons who are developmentally disabled could give students the real-world experiences they need to make it on their own.
Source: Sun-Sentinel, FL
- Arts Access Florida
Vacation planning for people with disabilities is available for St Petersburg-Tampa Bay and Miami and the Beaches, including disability profiles of cultural destinations that welcome visitors with disabilities.
Source: VSA Florida
- Florida Horse Farm Dedicated to Therapeutic Riding
A Florida horse farm provides therapeutic riding opportunities for people with disabilities as a way to improve their self-confidence, help them develop muscles and learn functional living skills.
Source: Tampa Tribune, FL
- Florida Capitol Complex to Be More Accessible
The State of Florida Capitol Complex will soon be ADA compliant following a settlement between an accessibility advocate and the Florida Department of Management Services.
Source: WTXL-ABC 27, FL
Georgia News
Kentucky News
North Carolina News
Tennessee News
- American Association of People with Disabilities Says Tennessee Law Unfair
A representative for the American Association of People with Disabilities visited Frankfort, Kentucky, to complain that the state’s new voter identification law is unfair to persons with disabilities because it raises hurdles to their casting their ballots in person.
Source: The Tennesseean (blog), TN
- Board Adopts ADA Service Animal Policy
Dogs and horses could become part of everyday school life once the Sumner County Board of Education approves a new policy allowing service animals on campuses.
Source: The Tennessean, TN
- New Charter School Aims to Serve Special Needs Students
If the charter is approved by Metro Nashville [Tennessee] Public Schools, a new school will offer a job training program for high school students 17 to 22 years old.
Source: News Channel 5.com, TN
- Basketball Player Inspires Tennessee Team
David Andrews, who has Downs [Syndrome], plays for his freshman basketball team at Germantown High School outside of Memphis, Tennessee.
Source: ABC News
Public Comment, Input & NPRM
Technology Access Highlights
Mario Romero, a researcher at Georgia Institute of Technology, has co-developed an app called BrailleTouch that could help blind people send text messages and type e-mails on touch-screen smartphones without the need for expensive, extra equipment.
Apple Corporation is leading a push for technology that's helping old-fashioned Braille replace text-to-speech audio for the blind. | More Information: Refreshable Braille Display with iPhone 4G Tutorial (YouTube video 3:23)
Consumer Guide on the Transition of Toll-Free Numbers for Video Relay Service (VRS) and IP Relay is now available in American Sign Language and in text. More Information: Use of Toll-Free Numbers for Video and IP Relay Service.
The Kiosk Group, Inc. has modified its collection of iPad kiosks to comply with new ADA requirements that take effect this March.
Source: GovPro Media
With the thousands of applications (“apps”) available online, a mobile device user can now turn even a smart phone into a viable tool as an accommodation either in the workplace or for personal use.
Source: HR.BLR.com
A Tennessee special-education teacher uses the application Xtranormal, designed for creating animated videos, to help her students practice social skills by creating interactions between the site's three robots. (Story includes video without captions.)
Source: WTVF-TV (Nashville, TN)
This site provides accessibility help, enabling computer users to make the most of the Internet, whatever their ability or disability might be.
Source: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
This website contains information about assistive technology innovations and practices across the United States and around the world. The site includes "John Williams' AT Tech News Blog." Williams is a journalist with disabilities who has been writing about assistive technology for over 30 years. Recent Article: Assistive Technology Enriches Martin Kline’s Life
On January 13, 2012, the Federal Communications Commission released a Report and Order adopting rules to implement certain closed captioning provisions of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA).
Business Connection
New ADA regulations may affect how meeting professionals plan for and address the specific needs of individual attendees.
Source: Meetings & Conventions
While many district courts have found that commuting to work falls outside of the realm of an employer’s obligation to provide reasonable accommodations for employees, some courts have opted to expand upon the ADA by ruling otherwise.
Source: Business Management Daily
Employers may require a job-related medical examination after you’ve made an offer but before the employee starts work.
Source: Business Management Daily
An employer has learned the hard way that insisting every function of a job is essential is a bad policy when it comes to employees with disabilities.
Source: Business Management Daily
Finding a reasonable accommodation is a two-way street. Both the employer and the employee are supposed to engage in the ADA’s interactive accommodations process.
Source: Business Management Daily
Written job descriptions can help employers follow wage and hour laws and discrimination laws.
Source: HR.BLR.com
A professional business consultant talks about the relutance of employers to hire workers with disabilities.
Source: New York Times, NY
USBLN “I Am, I Can, I Do” National Public Education Campaign: First Public Service Announcement (PSA) Now Available Online
The U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN) has launched their national public education campaign titled, “I Am, I Can, I Do.” The campaign includes a series of 30 and 60 second Public Service Announcements (PSAs) showcasing people with disabilities who 'Do!' when they aspire to their dream careers.
Press release: DOC: USBLN 'I Am, I Can, I Do' Campaign | PDF: USBLN 'I Am, I Can, I Do' Campaign)
PSA: 'I Am, I Can, I Do' [You Tube, captioned] from the USBLN
A few months ago, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) posted an “informal discussion letter” stating that employers requiring a high school diploma for applicants may violate the ADA. Due to the responses to this letter, the EEOC recently tried to shed some light on the issue. | What You Should Know: Questions and Answers about the EEOC and High School Diploma Requirements
Source: Human Resources Journal, EEOC
AT&T ranked number one in Careers & the Disabled magazine's 2012 list of "Top 50 Employers" for people with disabilities.
Source: Mobility Tech Zone
Monthly newsletter from the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Department of Labor.
Source: Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
A four-part webinar series focused on leading practices, practical methods, experience, and success for promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace.
Supported by: The Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) - Southeast in partnership with: ADA National Network; American Association of Peoples with Disabilities (AAPD); Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation – National Employment Team (CSAVR-NET); and US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®).
Web: ADAsoutheast.org/webinars/archives.php
This webinar presented by the ADA National Network on November 15, 2011 discussed how to provide effective communication for businesses. PowerPoint slides, resources, and an audio transcript are archived and PDF, Text and audio files are available.
An annual four-part webinar series focused on leading practices, practical methods, experience, and success
for promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace.
Supported by: The Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) - Southeast in partnership with: ADA National Network; American Association of Peoples with Disabilities (AAPD); Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation – National Employment Team (CSAVR-NET); and US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®).
Web: ADAsoutheast.org/webinars/archives.php
Archives of recent webinars available online from Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) include: Tour of EARN Services; Workforce Recruitment Program: Tapping the Talent of Students and Graduates with Disabilities.
Source: Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN)
Presented by the Great Lakes ADA Center and the University of Illinois at Chicago, this free, online workshop provides an enhanced understanding of people with cognitive disabilities and provides tools that can be applied in the workplace when addressing accommodations for people with cognitive disabilities.
Sources: Great Lakes ADA Center and the University of Illinois at Chicago
An illustrated guide to help small businesses understand the new and updated requirements of the revised ADA regulations. (Updated March 16, 2011)
Source: Department of Justice
Web: askjan.org/webcast/index.htm
Explore the skills, habits, and knowledge required by staff to serve a diverse range of businesses and career seekers, especially persons with disabilities. The archive of
this webinar, including recording, Microsoft Powerpoint, and transcript, are available from NTAR Webinars webpage.
Web: ntarcenter.org/content/webinars
Military & Veterans with Disabilities
The Wounded Warrior Home Project is an inventive approach to military housing, serving the needs of wounded soldiers and their families as they continue to serve on active duty at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. (Audio story and photos available.)
Source: National Public Radio (NPR)
Hospitality & the ADA
The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) has created a new video training program, Enabling Independence: Service for Guests with Disabilities, to show employees how to confidently and respectfully deliver great service to guests with disabilities. The 33-minute DVD training program provides information on new ADA Title III non-discrimination requirements that went into effect in March 2011.
Source: Hospitality Net
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has compiled a Top Five list to let hoteliers know about the new 2010 ADA Title III regulations.
Transportation and the ADA
Easter Seals Project Action (ESPA) has created a new section on its website that will provide answers to popular transportation questions.
Source: Easter Seals Project Action (ESPA)
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of technical assistance on transportation to transit agencies, riders, and advocates — download Topic Guides on ADA Transportation that brings together the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the U.S. Department of Transportation's ADA regulations, FTA determinations, and operational practices that comply with the ADA. Each Topic Guide is available as a webpage (HTML), a PDF file, and a plain Text file - Topics include:
- Equipment Maintenance
- Stop Announcement and Route Identification
- Eligibility for ADA Paratransit
- Telephone Hold Time in ADA Paratransit
- Origin to Destination Service in ADA Paratransit
- On-Time Performance in ADA Paratransit
- No-Shows in ADA Paratransit
The Topic Guides are funded by the FTA and developed by the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) and TranSystems Corporation.
Source: Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF)
dredf.org/ADAtg/index.shtml
The ADA National Network held a seven-session webinar series covering the "Topic Guides on ADA Transportation," which bring together the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) ADA regulations, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) determinations, and best operational practices for ADA compliance, as well as draw information from many other sources.
The webinar series is coordinated by Great Lakes ADA Center and Southwest ADA Center in collaboration with Project Action and DREDF.
Web: ADAconferences.org/Transportation/Archives/
ADA & Disability Solutions for Every Audience
Did You Know?? The Southeast ADA Center website makes it easier to find ADA Tools & Solutions – Choose the category that best fits who you are or the information you are trying to find. If you need more help, please contact our staff at 1-800-949-4232 [voice/tty] or e-mail ADAsoutheast@law.syr.edu.
LEGAL UPDATES & CASE LAW
Information to Help You Understand New ADA Regulations
This new Department of Justice document is designed to help Title II and Title III entities understand how new requirements for swimming pools, especially existing pools, apply to them.
Two letters, one to the American Hotel and Lodging Association and the other to the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, regarding accessible entry and exit for swimming pools and spas have been added to ADA.gov and are now available.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has compiled a Top Five list to let hoteliers know about the new 2010 ADA Title III regulations.
The Department of Education's (Department) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a Dear Colleague letter concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (Amendments Act). The letter and accompanying Frequently Asked Questions document (FAQ) provide additional guidance on the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) in elementary and secondary schools, given the changes to those laws made by the Amendments Act.
This new checklist is based on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. It updates the original ADA Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal (revised 1995), which was based on the 1991 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Businesses and non-profit organizations removing barriers before March 15, 2012 have the choice of using either the 1991 Standards or the 2010 Standards. Businesses and non-profit organizations removing barriers on or after March 15, 2012 must use the 2010 Standards. 83 pages
Department of Justice Publications Concerning the 2010 ADA Regulations
- What titles of the ADA are covered by the revised ADA regulations?
- What are some of the key changes in the revised ADA regulations?
The Southeast ADA Center, one of ten regional resources in the ADA National Network, has put together this summary of key changes about the revised and expanded regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
This document contains the following: (1) supplementary information (the preamble to the revised regulation); (2) the Title II regulation updated to reflect the 2010 revisions and the technical corrections (published March 11, 2011) which became effective on March 15, 2011; (3) guidance on the revised regulatory provisions; and (4) guidance on the original 1991 Title II regulation.
This document contains the following: (1) supplementary information (the preamble to the revised regulation); (2) the Title III regulation updated to reflect the 2010 revisions and the technical corrections (published March 11, 2011) which became effective on March 15, 2011; (3) guidance on the revised regulatory provisions; and (4) guidance on the original 1991 Title III regulation.
Compliance with the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design is permitted as of September 15, 2010, but not required until March 15, 2012.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) final regulations to implement the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) are now available. The Commission has released two Question-and-Answer documents about the regulations to aid the public and employers – including small business – in understanding the law and new regulations. The ADAAA regulations, accompanying Question and Answer documents and a fact sheet are available on the EEOC website.
A new technical assistance document, entitled, “ADA 2010 Revised Requirements: Effective Date, Compliance Date,” and a PDF file - ADA 2010 Revised Requirements has been posted on the Department of Justice ADA Home Page.
Legal & Enforcement Updates: Disability-Related
When a federal judge ruled that New York violated federal laws because it lacked wheelchair-accessible taxis, it may have set a new standard for what kind of municipal services in New York and other cities fall under the ADA.
Source: Thomson Reuters News & Insight, NY
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by the city of Arlington, Texas, asking the court to clarify whether sidewalks are programs or facilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Frame v. City of Arlington)
Source: Star-Telegram, TX
The American Bar Association (ABA) has called on those who administer, score or report results of law school admission tests to provide adequate accommodations for those with disabilities. ABA Resolution (PDF 10 pages, 150 KB) | Related Resource: ABA Commission on Disability Rights
A letter from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) warns that requiring a high-school diploma from a job applicant might infringe on the ADA. | EEOC Informal Opinion Letter
Source: The New American
In this Americans with Disabilities Act case brought by an applicant to the City of Atlanta's police department, Roe argues that he was denied the position because of his HIV-positive status while the City asserts that Roe was not a qualified individual and that he did not show that he was not a direct threat to others. (No. 11-11758. United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit) (Unpublished Opinion. February 1, 2012)
Sources: Leagle.com, Keen News Service, Atlanta Journal Constitution
Forbes alleged that, during examinations, St. Thomas School of Law failed to provide an environment that would best have accommodated Forbes's post-traumatic stress disorder and, after she failed to satisfy academic requirements, wrongfully denied her petition for readmission. (Unpublished Opinion)
Source: Leagle.com
Clinton Knowles appeals the district court's grant of summary judgment to his employer, the Sheriff of Sarasota County, Florida, in his employment-discrimination suit brought under the ADA, the Florida Civil Rights Act, and the Rehabilitation Act. (Unpublished Opinion)
Source: Leagle.com
Recent Settlement Agreements Reached
U.S. Department of Justice v. Fox Point at Redstone Association
The Justice Department announced a $20,000 consent decree that resolves a lawsuit alleging that a Park City, Utah, condominium association and its management company violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to grant a resident’s request for a reasonable accommodation. More: Justice Department Settles Disability Discrimination Case Involving Disabled Veteran in Utah.
Source: Justice Department
A North Carolina company rescinded a job offer to a recovering drug addict because of his disability, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Recent Charges and Lawsuits Filed
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it is charging Bank of America with discriminating against homebuyers with disabilities. Bank of America allegedly applied discriminatory lending requirements for borrowers with disabilities. HUD, and Charging Party, v. Bank of America (PDF 10 Pages, 896 KB)
Heartland Automotive Services, Inc., the nation’s largest Jiffy Lube franchisee, violated federal law by refusing to hire an applicant at a Memphis [Tennessee] store because of his hearing impairment, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged.
Source: LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
The Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD) has filed an ADA lawsuit against CNN. | GLAD vs CNN Closed-Captions Lawsuit
Sources: SF Gate.com, Hassell Inclusion (blog)
Case Law - Legal Briefs and Resources
ADA Case Law - Legal Briefs
from the Southeast ADA Center and BBI - Syracuse University
- Hosanna-Tabor v. EEOC (Jan. 12, 2012)
Keyword: Ministerial Exception
- White v. Interstate Distributor Company
Keywords: Essential Job Functions, Modified or Accommodated Positions
- AAPD v. Harris
Keywords: Voting, Effective Communication, Program Access
- MacDonald v. United Parcel Service
Keywords: Definition of Disability, Major Life Activity, Substantially Limited
- Picard v. St. Tammany Parish Hospital
Keywords: Definition of Disability, Interactive Process
- Harrison v. Benchmark Electronics Huntsville, Inc.
Keywords:Medical or Disability-Related Inquiry
- Carmona v. Southwest Airlines Company
Keywords: Discrimination, Definition of Disability, Qualified Individual
- EEOC v. Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School
Keywords: Retaliation, Discrimination
- Soliday v. 7-Eleven, Inc.
Keywords: Employment, Legal Concepts
Search ADA Case Law by Topic, Court, and/or Audience and get additional Legal Resources.
Complete the Survey on Legal Briefs from the BBI Legal Team and Southeast ADA Center to help improve the quality and usefulness of our published legal briefs.
Web: ADAsoutheast.org/legalissues.php
The biweekly e-Newsletter is a free publication (subscription required) that summarizes the most current information available about disability law and policy, including events, press releases, court decisions, reports, and academic and news articles.
Source: Law, Health Policy & Disability Center
Web: ADAportal.org
Olmstead Decision News
Alabama will shut down most of its mental health hospitals by the spring of 2013 in a sweeping plan to cut costs and change how the state’s psychiatric patients receive treatment.
Source: New York Times
The U. S. Department of Justice wants Ellisville State School in Mississippi and the other state-operated regional mental health facilities to revamp the way they educate children.
Related News: Change for the Better | Change Not Easy
Source: Laurel Leader Call, MS
The Justice Department has issued a Findings Letter that concludes that Mississippi is violating the ADA's integration mandate in its provision of services to people with developmental disabilities and mental illness.
The Department of Justice has created this technical assistance guide to assist individuals in understanding their rights under Title II of the ADA and its integration mandate, and to assist state and local governments in complying with the ADA.
A new website from the U.S. Department of Justice dedicated to enforcement of the Supreme Court Decision in Olmstead v. L.C. (1999).
This new technical assistance guide is created to assist individuals in understanding their rights and public entities in understanding their obligations under the ADA and Olmstead.(NEW June 22, 2011)
President Obama talks about the 12th anniversary of the Olmstead court decision.
Sue Jamieson is an attorney with the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Mental Health and Disability Rights Unit. She was the lead attorney in the Supreme Court decision of Olmstead v. L.C. Twelve years later, Sue writes about this historic decision in the White House blog.
TRAINING EVENTS & TOOLS
UPCOMING Webinars, Webcasts & Audio Conferences
The Access Board and ADA National Network partner to conduct this webinar series – Learn about the work of the Access Board, its guidelines and standards, and accessible design through monthly webinars and audio conferences, which also provide an opportunity to earn continuing education credits (CEUs).
Contact for more information:
ADA National Network - Great Lakes ADA Center
Phone: (877) 232-1990 [voice/tty] •
Email: gldbtac@uic.edu
Source: AccessibilityOnline.org
Each session is 90 minutes and held from 2:00-3:30 p.m. (Eastern). All sessions will have a written transcript as well as a digital recording of the session archived on this site. The program is available in three formats:
– Teleconference, Streaming Audio via Internet, Real-time Captioning via Internet.
Contact for more information:
ADA National Network - Great Lakes ADA Center
Phone: (312) 996-1174 [voice/tty] • Email: gldbtac@uic.edu
Source: ADA-audio.org
These webinars will focus on key concepts, strategies and instructional technology that may be used to develop course materials that are universally designed. Universally designed course materials often provide benefits on multiple levels, including accessibility, content retention, varied learning styles, as well as platform and device independent delivery.
All sessions are scheduled on 3rd Thursday of the month from October 20, 2011 through May 5, 2012.
Web: ADAconferences.org/IBHE/
JAN Webcasts are available at no cost. All Webcasts begin at 2:00 pm eastern and are 1 hour. You must register to attend. One registration is equivalent to one login. All registrations are processed on a first come first served basis. Topics include: disability etiquette, assistive technology, management techniques, and the latest on accommodations and the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Web: askjan.org/webcast/index.htm
Each session is 90 minutes and held from 2:00-3:30 p.m.(Eastern). All sessions utilize an online conferencing system.
Web: ADA-audio.org/Webinar/ADALegal
A free online webinar series that explores some of the latest technological trends and their accessibility for people with disabilities. Each session is 60 minutes and held from 2:00-3:00 p.m. (Eastern).
Web: ADA-audio.org/Webinar/AccessibleTechnology
Courses & Tutorials Online/Web-based
The Office of Personnel Management, in partnership with the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) and the USDA TARGET Center, has developed this webinar series to assist agencies in implementing Executive Order 13548. Joint Memorandum Outlining Resources for Implementing Executive Order 13548 [PDF, 3 pages]
Training Modules Available:
- Introduction to Reasonable Accommodations
- Who Is Responsible?: Disability Program Manager and Selective Placement Program Coordinator Responsibilities
Web: www.dm.usda.gov/oo/target/eotraining/
If you are a member of this program, don't forget to check the ADA Coordinators' Training Sources to find opportunities that meet your credit requirements for program completion.
If you are not a member of the program, you can still benefit from the training opportunities listed on the website.
Source: University of Missouri School of Health Professions Disability Studies and Policy Center and the Great Plains ADA Center
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) announces the first two in a series of fully-accessible training modules. The Modules and supporting documents are in JAN's Multimedia Training Library.
- JAN's Interactive Process
This 23-minute training module, transcript and handout provides a sample step-by-step process that employers can use to help them successfully accommodate applicants or employees.
- JAN's Understanding and Applying the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act and Its Regulations
This 43-minute video provides you with information on the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) and uses real-life examples from the Job Accommodation Network case study library.
Web: askjan.org/training/library.htm
$FREE Webcourses and CEU/CRCC credit offered by ADA National Network
Web: ADAsoutheast.org/training/courses.php
Produced by the New England ADA Center, this free, self-paced web course (available 24/7) provides an overview of disability rights laws. The course takes approximately two hours and includes real life scenarios, quizzes and a final exam.
Web: DisabilityRightsCourse.org
Cost: Free (Registration required).
Presented by the Great Lakes ADA Center and the University of Illinois at Chicago, this online workshop provides an enhanced understanding of people with cognitive disabilities, makes sense of the ADA and legal responsibilities related to people with cognitive disabilities, and provides tools that can be applied in the workplace when addressing accommodations for people with cognitive disabilities.
Web: ADAgreatlakes.org/Presentations/CognitiveDisabilities/slides.asp
An online course developed by the U.S. Department of Justice that explains how the ADA applies to businesses. Putting these lessons into practice will allow you to comply with the ADA and welcome a whole new group of customers to purchase your goods, products, and services.
Web: ADA.gov/reachingout/intro1.htm
Want More Training?
Check out Training & Events Calendar for the most current ADA and disability-related events in the Southeast Region and across the United States.
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) has launched a Public Service Announcement (PSA) in its new campaign to stop the bullying of students with disabilities in schools. Watch the anti-bullying PSA “30 Seconds” [YouTube video] at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-1yVFH3gn8&feature=player_embedded
Source: American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
Policies in Practice Profile: Matthew Staton Discusses His Workplace Accommodations
The Department of Defense Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) interviewed Matthew Staton, a veteran with a disability, about the workplace accommodations provided by CAP [YouTube, captioned, 3:46 min.] | Visit CAPTEC - CAP You Tube videos [captioned] (22 captioned videos)
The Campaign for Disability Employment launches a Spanish micro website (¿Usted que puede hacer?) and the "Yo Puedo" Public Service Announcement (PSA). Find disability employment related resources in Spanish and watch the "I Can" PSA - "Yo Puedo" - in Spanish. The video (TV) and radio PSAs are available in English and Spanish. Download broadcast quality PSAs for What Can You Do? Campaign.
Web: www.ustedquepuedehacer.org; www.plowsharegroup.com/media_downloads/cde.php
Share these PSAs from the ADA National Network - the leaders in providing information, guidance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- I Am – ADA Public Service Announcement #1
- You're Hired – ADA Public Service Announcement #2
- Where's Brett? – ADA Public Service Announcement #3
- Service Animals Are Welcome – ADA Public Service Announcement #4
- Good Morning Class – ADA Public Service Announcement #5
- Day in Student Life – ADA Public Service Announcement #6
Web: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrukJTUmc_A
This 17-minute video for employers uses a question-and-answer format to explain the ADA in common sense terms and refute unfounded misconceptions and fears that many employers may have about hiring people with disabilities. The new video and other ADA accessible streaming videos are available at the ADA Video Gallery.
The Disability Law Lowdown (DLL) project of the ADA National Network has posted a podcast about self-advocacy for high school students with disabilities. Jacquie Brennan discusses a new information sheet published by the Pacer Center (pacer.org) that provides valuable information for high school students about how to plan for their future by taking an active role in IEP meetings and transition planning, whether the transition is to employment, post-secondary education, or independent living. It is important that students learn to advocate for themselves so that goals are set and plans are made that include their own desires and needs.
The Disability Law Lowdown Podcasts are back online with new host, Lex Frieden, from the Southwest ADA Center (ILRU). Topics will include talking about the international aspect of disability and disability rights, and the new regulations from the Department of Justice and the Access Board.
The DLL is a project of ADA National Network that is a free podcast series available to download in English, Spanish (Español), and American Sign Language (ASL) and covers a wide variety of disability-related topics. Each podcast is archived, including show notes and a full text transcript. To subscribe or listen to podcasts, visit Podcast Series: DisabilityLawLowdown.com.
Past topics in the Disability Law Lowdown Podcasts Series include:
- New Employment Guidance from the EEOC (June 15, 2011) (English)
- New Regulations for Titles II and III of the ADA (English)
- Service Animals (program in three parts) (English)
- Genetics Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA) (English)
- Filing Closed Captioning Complaints - Part 1 (ASL)
- Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and Service Animals (ASL)
- El Titulo numero 2 del ADA (Spanish/Español)
- La Verdad sobre la ley de Discapacidad (Spanish/Español)
Source: DisabilityLawLowdown.com
Bi-weekly videos on disability law delivered with American Sign Language (ASL), captioning, voice-over, and transcripts. Subscribe via web or iTunes.
Web: ASL.DisabilityLawLowdown.com
College students with disabilities share strategies they use to succeed in staying in school, graduate and land jobs. Use these closed-captioned videos as part of a training (each video is 7-9 minutes) and share them with other students and professionals. Watch the videos online at the New England ADA Center website or request a DVD via email adainfo@newenglandada.org.
Web: adaptiveenvironments.org/neada/site/student_videos
On-Site Training Events
Register Today for the 2012 National ADA Symposium
Now is the time to update your training on the Americans with Disabilities Act!
The updated 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and the Title II Regulations become fully effective on March 15, 2012. These updates, in conjunction with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), directly affect all businesses, local governments, and covered employers. Now is the time to get training on these newest standards and regulations, and learn how the changes affect you, your business and your community.
Attend the 2012 National ADA Symposium:- Indianapolis, Indiana from May 30-June 1
Visit ADAsymposium.org to learn more and to register today.
This new resource give Federal Employers information and tools that can assist them in learning more about disability employment and to make the recruitment, hiring and retaining process of WRP candidates an easy and mutually beneficial experience.
Source: Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
Search a wealth of ADA training materials, including case studies, courses, handouts, case law updates, statistics, quotes, and solutions for specific audiences.
Web: ADAcourse.org
A publication from the Department of Justice, includes the latest chapter on: Emergency Management for State and Local Governments.
Web: ADA.gov/pcatoolkit/toolkitmain.htm
The Campaign for Disability Employment, a collaborative of leading disability and business organizations funded by ODEP, recently unveiled a series of new products designed to promote the hiring, retention and advancement of people with disabilities and dispel negative stereotypes about disability and employment. The new products include posters and discussion guides to accompany the Campaign's “I Can” public service announcement (PSA). The discussion guides and posters, as well as other outreach tools, can be ordered free of charge on the Campaign's website.
Source: Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
PUBLICATIONS
New Publications
EEOC Issues Revised Publications on Employment of Veterans with Disabilities
The revised guides reflect changes to the law stemming from the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.
Source: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
This fact sheet highlights issues Veterans should keep in mind as they re-enter the workforce, including if and when to tell an employer about a disability, requesting workplace accommodations and how work may affect disability benefits payments.
Source: Northeast ADA Center
New resources have been added to ODEP's Integrated Employment Toolkit, including original photographs of workers who represent Integrated Employment success stories.
Source: ODEP
A collection of career development exercises and activities designed to help sharpen the communication and other "soft" skills of young workers (ages 14-21), including those with disabilities. The skills addressed include communication, networking, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking and professionalism. Available for download in English or Spanish.
Source: ODEP
Employer Resources, developed by the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University under its Employer Demand Project, are now available online. The Employer Demand briefs and toolkit are designed to provide employers with resources on incorporating people with disabilities into the workplace and improving employment outcomes for all workers.
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has developed this resource to provide valuable information for individuals, community employment agencies, policymakers and others pursuing integrated employment for youth and adults with disabilities.
Source: Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
The Schedule A hiring fact sheet can help youth and young adults with disabilities who are seeking a job with the federal government.
Source: ODEP
Leading Practices on Disability Inclusion
The U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN) released these booklets with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce which highlights 20 real-life, successful corporate strategies that can be used by businesses of all sizes to create a more inclusive workplace, marketplace, and supply chain.
The WRP is a recruitment and referral program that connects federal and private sector employers nationwide with highly motivated postsecondary students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to prove their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs. The program is co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the U.S. Department of Defense with the participation of many other federal agencies and sub-agencies.
Newsletters Links
This month’s Business Sense invites businesses both large and small to enter the What Can YOU Do? Video Contest to showcase their inclusive employment programs and practices.
Source: Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
A bi-monthly newsletter from the U.S. Access Board is now available in HTML format.
The JAN E-News is a quarterly online newsletter of the Job Accommodation Network (JAN).
IS Election Connection is the newsletter formerly known as HAVAccess. IS Elections is the new name for the website of information on accessible voting, polling place access, and other disability access requirements under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
The Great Lakes ADA Center is part of the ADA National Network. The January - March 2012 issue is now posted.
Stay up to date on everything happening at Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA) by subscribing to the monthly electronic newsletter called Extra. Information on new products, services, training opportunities, facts and reports to help those creating and improving accessible transportation for people with disabilities. To be added to the mailing list, sign up online at www.projectaction.org. Or call ESPA at (800) 659-6428.
The biweekly Disability Law & Policy e-Newsletter is a free publication that summarizes the most current information available about disability law and policy, including events, press releases, court decisions, reports, and academic and news articles. Subscription required.
Source: Law, Health Policy & Disability Center
For more publications:
Publication Lists, and Newsletters.
Articles of Interest
Leaders of The Arc met with White House officials to discuss issues facing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle, CA
Andrew Dawson’s hands are the stars of The Articulate Hand, a piece of performance theater about how various people's hands have become impaired and what effect that has had on them, both practically and psychologically. (Story with video – no captions)
Source: CNN.com
Some high schools have organized unified sports teams that combine special-needs students and general-education students.
Source: New York Times (subscription required)
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia apologizes for a doctor's insensitive statements denying a 3-year-old girl a kidney transplant based on her mental disability, but there is still no decision on whether she will get the transplant.
Source: NBC Philadelphia, PA
Across the country, adults with intellectual disabilities lack access to dental care.
Source: ABC News.com
I AM PWD, a partnership to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the media, marked the end of its three-year campaign on January 11 with a bi-coastal industry summit held via videoconference.
A new Fox Television series, "Touch," follows an 11-year-old boy who happens to have autism.
Source: Star News (blog)
Two more autism-friendly performances of Broadway musicals will be offered this spring and fall following the success last year of the first showing of a Broadway show specially altered for those diagnosed with the disorder.
Source: Washington Times, DC
The founders of a new school are looking for young children who may have an autism spectrum disorder. They are targeting low-income, minority families, who are often the least likely to seek out a diagnosis for their children.
Source: New York Times
Shielding a child with disabilities from life experiences is a sensitive subject that is often ignored by many well-meaning parents.
Source: Huffington Post
Some upscale retirement communities around the country have declared the main dining rooms off-limits to their residents who are in poor health or have disabilities.
Source: AARP News (blog)
RESOURCES
Bookmark for Future Reference
The Workforce Recruitment Program database of over 2600 qualified college students with disabilities is a key resource for both federal managers responding to President Obama's Executive Order 13548 and for private sector employers seeking to diversify the pool of candidates for their summer and permanent positions.
The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) recently developed a webpage addressing the latest research, policies and practices related to Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) — tools that secondary school students use, with counselors and parents, to identify higher education and career goals and strategize how to achieve them.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced the launch of TSA Cares, a toll-free helpline (1-855-787-2227) to answer questions travelers with disabilities and medical conditions may have before arriving at the airport.
As part of student engagement initiative from Easter Seals Project Action, the new Accessible Transportation for Students Online Community allows students, their families, educators, human service providers, and transit professionals to learn from each other.
In the latest Ask Project ACTION posting, find out about getting snow cleared from bus stops.
The New York (NY) Disabilities Film Festival is the largest festival in the country dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. Initiated in 2007, the festival presents award winning films by and about people with disabilities in multiple locations throughout each hosting city.This year, ReelAbilities will hold film festivals in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Washington DC, New York, Philadelphia, and Richmond. Atlanta ReelAbilities – dates to be announced.
Various resource lists are available in Word and Text formats from the Southeast ADA Center. Topics of interest, include: Employment-Related and ADA Definitions, Federal Employment and Disability, ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), the Olmstead Decision, Voting Rights, Arts Facilities & Museums and more.
Quotes
“The state, counties and federal government have spent a lot of money making polling places accessible. Voting is an amazing experience and it is wrong — wrong — and it is mean-spirited to place a photo ID barrier between a citizen with a disability and a voting booth.”
— Jim Dickson, Vice President of Organizing and Civic Engagement for the American Association of People with Disabilities, quoted in The Tennessean article: Tennessee Voter ID Law Will Create Barriers for People with Disabilities.
Find these and more Notable Quotes for use in your speeches and presentations.
RESEARCH
Research Update
GAO examined 14 local initiatives identified by experts as among the most promising or innovative efforts in which local workforce boards collaborated effectively with employers and other partners to achieve positive results. Full report, text version, and summary available.
Source: Government Accountability Office (GAO)
This report (PDF 1.6 MB) presents the results of a workshop held to explore technological innovations in accessible transportation and to better understand the requirements of pedestrians and travelers with visual impairments or other mobility disabilities.
Source: Federal Highway Administration (FTA)
The study examined predictors of such inactivity in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as how inactivity related to their sibling's well-being and the sibling relationship. (American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: January 2012, Vol. 117, No. 1, pp. 67-79.)
An Annual Report on Charges, Litigation, Regulatory Developments and
Noteworthy Case Developments from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Related article: EEOC actions, enforcement trends focus of report on agency.
Source: Business Insurance.com
Despite ADA requirements that students with disabilities receive accommodations during tests like extra time or altered test formats, this report found that those with disabilities often face significant barriers.
Source: Government Accountability Office (GAO)
The report sets forth specific recommendations for the production and distribution of accessible instructional materials including printed and digital books, journals, course packs, articles, tests, videos, instructor-created materials, and Web pages, as well as any hardware, firmware, software, or other means of accessing such materials-to students who are blind or have other disabilities. | Comments on this report (postsecondary accessible instructional materials) from the National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
Source: U.S. Department of Education
About five percent of school-age children in the United States have a disability, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis from the U.S. Census Bureau. Released in November, the brief offers an in-depth look at children with disabilities, ages five through 17, who live in community settings.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Employers in the U.S. hospitality industry are often reluctant to hire people with disabilities because of prejudices and stereotypes that these individuals are incompetent at doing the job or that they are more costly to employ than people without disabilities, according to a new study (hospitality industry and hiring people with disabilities) by the University of New Hampshire.
Sources: Medical Daily, University of New Hampshire
Check out this popular resource that highlights examples of effective ADA implementation and support for improving access to technology for individuals with disabilities.
Statistics & Facts You Can Use
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is currently previewing its Disability and Health Data System (DHDS), a new online interactive system that helps quickly translate state-level, disability-specific, data into information that can be used by state health departments, national disability and health organizations, and policymakers.
Source: Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Mathematica Policy Research has prepared a study in demography describing the working age population with and without disabilities by residence type.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received a record 99,947 charges of employment discrimination and obtained $455.6 million in relief through its administrative program and litigation in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011.
A recent poll released by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Northeast ADA Center at Cornell University's ILR School found that a majority (67%) of HR professionals have included veterans in their organization's diversity plan or policy during the past 12 months. However, only 17% of HR professionals said their organization hired a veteran who disclosed a disability either before or after time of hire.
Source: HR.BLR.com
Now available in PDF format. More information on NOD Survey of Employment of Americans with Disabilities.
This 2011 collection of survey data and administrative records related to people with disabilities offers statistics to support research related to policy improvements, program administration, service delivery and protection of civil rights. Also available for download: 2011 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium [PDF 158 pages, 55.6 MB]
Source: Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC)
Connect & Network
UNTIL NEXT NEWSLETTER ...
Wishing you success in your ADA activities from your Southeast ADA Center!
Credits & Acknowledgements
Principal Investigator: Peter Blanck, J.D., Ph.D.
Project Director:
Pamela Williamson
Assistant Director:
L. Elaine Sutton Mbionwu
Director - Knowledge Translation:
Sally Weiss
Distance Learning Coordinator:
Cheri Hofmann
Materials Development/Support:
Mary Morder
Technical Assistance:
Rebecca Williams
Director of Research:
Meera Adya, J.D., Ph.D.
Legal/Case Law:
William Myhill, J.D
Business Leadership Council:
Michael Morris, J.D.
Web/Instructional Design:
Marsha Schwanke
Disclaimer
Accessibility cannot be guaranteed for external websites. The Southeast ADA Center provides these links as a courtesy and does not endorse, take responsibility, or exercise control of the organization nor vouch for the accuracy of the contents of the destination link. The contents of this electronic newsletter were developed under Grant #H133A110021 from the Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). The information, materials, and/or technical assistance are intended solely as informal guidance, and are neither a determination of your legal rights or responsibilities under the ADA, nor binding on any agency with enforcement responsibility under the ADA.
ADA Public Service Announcement (PSA) Series from the ADA National Network
