WASHINGTON –The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today issued four revised documents on protection against disability discrimination, pursuant to the goal of the agency’s Strategic Plan to provide up-to-date guidance on the requirements of antidiscrimination laws.

The documents address how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to applicants and employees with cancer,diabetes, epilepsy, and intellectual disabilities. These documents are available on the agency’s website at “Disability Discrimination, The Question and Answer Series,” http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/disability.cfm.

“Nearly 34 million Americans have been diagnosed with cancer, diabetes, or epilepsy, and more than 2 million have an intellectual disability,” said EEOC Chair Jacqueline A. Berrien. “Many of them are looking for jobs or are already in the workplace. While there is a considerable amount of general information available about the ADA, the EEOC often is asked questions about how the ADA applies to these conditions.”

In plain, easy-to-understand language, the revised documents reflect the changes to the definition of disability made by the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) that make it easier to conclude that individuals with a wide range of impairments, including cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, and intellectual disabilities, are protected by the ADA. Each of the documents also answers questions about topics such as: when an employer may obtain medical information from applicants and employees; what types of reasonable accommodations individuals with these particular disabilities might need; how an employer should handle safety concerns; and what an employer should do to prevent and correct disability-based harassment.

The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws against employment discrimination. Further information is available at www.eeoc.gov.

Source:  http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/5-15-13.cfm

The free quarterly bulletin from ADA great lakes is out. Here are  some highlights:

2013 Accessible Technology Webinar Series
The Great Lakes ADA Center and the Pacific ADA Center, members of the ADA National Network sponsor the 2013 Accessible Technology webinar series. The next session is scheduled for May 23, 2013 at 1pm Central Standard time. The topic is Accessibility with WordPress with speaker Joseph Dolson.
More on the Series >>>

Save the Date

Charting the C’s Cross Categorical Conference
April 20-23, 2013 Alexandria, MN

WCAG Do Screen Readers Take Full Advantage?
May 2, 2013 Online

Accessible, Interactive Documents
April 23 – May 4, 2013 Online

Web Accessibility Training
May 21 – 22, 2013 Logan, UT

RESNA International Conference
June 22 – 24, 2013 Seattle, WA

New Accessibility Features in Adobe Acrobat XI
While the accessibility of PDFs is still being debated, there have been improvements made in Acrobat XI, the newest version of Acrobat Professional. Acrobat XI includes several new and improved features that make it much easier to create accessible PDF files. More on Acrobat XI >>>

Read the complete bulletin: http://www.adagreatlakes.org/Publications/ATBulletin/

The ADA National Network is pleased to announce the availability of a resource known as “TheAmericans with Disabilities Act Questions and Answers booklet”.   This document is designed to provide answers to some of the most often asked questions about the ADA.  Produced collaboratively by the 10 regional members of the ADA National Network, the information in this booklet has been adapted from “The Americans with Disabilities Act Questions and Answers” document produced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, October 2008 version.   It is available on-line in HTML format with an option to download/print a PDF version at:  www.adata.org

The ADA Legacy Project is pleased to request proposals for the design and development of its website.

Mission

The mission of The ADA Legacy Project is to honor the contributions of people with disabilities and their allies by:
preserving and promoting the history of the disability rights movement;
celebrating the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as other related disability rights legislation and accomplishments; and
creating opportunities for inclusion, access, and equal rights for the future.
Purpose

The purpose of the website is to help the world understand disability rights as a human rights issue by:
Preserving our history
Celebrating our accomplishments
Educating our future

Goals

Create a web-based platform to engage and empower the public through:
Preservation: provide a “one-stop” portal that offers links to existing disability history exhibits, programs, collections, and resources; encourages safe-keeping of individual and organizational material; and involves the community in telling the story of disability history
Celebration: raise public awareness of various milestones – including the 25th anniversary of passage of the ADA – with links and interactive maps to connect to local activities
Education: raise awareness of current issues facing people with disabilities and opportunities to create a future where all people are accepted and valued for who and how they are
Provide a platform to raise funds to support The ADA Legacy Project
Track data sets on website activities to monitor progress, assess the impact, and identify ongoing needs

Values
A platform that invites participation from the community
A platform that is accessible
A platform that offers fresh content on a regular basis

Implementation Phases
Phase One: July 2013
Phase Two: January 2014
Phase Three: July 2014
Phase Four: January 2015

Request for Proposals

Web designers and developers are invited to submit proposals, including concepts and budget, to Kristen Vincent. All proposals will be reviewed and considered by the Communications Committee of The ADA Legacy Project. Preference is given to applicants with disabilities.

Questions

Contact Kristen Vincent, Coordinator for The ADA Legacy Project, at kristen@adalegacy.com or 770/823-4848.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Get more information here.

Nonprofit arts groups in the Twin Cities seven-county metropolitan area can apply for grants of up to $15,000 to help make arts programming, activities and facilities more accessible to people with disabilities. The grants are intended to help involve more people with disabilities as participants in arts programs. In the first three years of the grant, VSA Minnesota awarded 52 grants to 40 organizations, totaling $602,985.

The ADA Access Improvement Grants for Metro Arts Organizations are made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the Legacy Amendment vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. This fund directs a substantial portion toward arts access and arts education. As in the past three years, the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) has designated a portion of its grant funds to be awarded in 2013 by VSA Minnesota (www.vsamn.org). Application deadlines are March 8 and May 17.

Eligible counties include in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties. Eligible projects might include a ramp, lift, elevator, automatic door opener; a legally accessible bathroom; a Braille guide to your facility and organization; a training for your staff, board, docents or ushers on practices that serve patrons with various disabilities; a captioned video about your programs; assistive listening units for your auditorium or conference rooms; a study of what potential patrons with disabilities need in order to enjoy your center as other patrons do – anything that helps to remove barriers and more effectively serve and attract artists, audience members, board or staff with disabilities.

Information meetings about the grant (listed below) are opportunities to ask questions, pose possible projects, and get copies of the grant. Informal RSVPs are being taken so enough copies of the guidelines and application will be available. Contact Jon at VSA Minnesota, 612-332-3888 or access@vsamn.org.  Or download grant forms at http://www.vsamn.org/forms.html.

Information meetings: (Check website for additional meetings)

Minneapolis: Friday, Jan. 25, 4:00-5:30 PM: Minnesota Fringe Festival office, 79 13th Ave NE #112; 612-872-1212,http://www.fringefestival.org

Minneapolis:  Tuesday, Jan. 29, 7:00-8:30 PM at Simply ArtAble, housed in Simply Jane Studio, 5411 Nicollet Ave.; 612-354-3961,http://simplyjanestudio.com

Bloomington: Thursday, Jan. 31, 3:00-4:30 PM at Bloomington Center for the Arts, Dakota Conference Room (off theatre lobby), 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd.; free parking on west or east sides of building; 952-563-8877, http://www.ci.bloomington. mn.us/main_top/2_facilities/rec_facility/cfa/cfa_facility.htm

Mahtomedi:   Saturday, Feb. 2, 10:00-11:30 AM at Wildwood Library, 763 Stillwater Rd; 651-426-2042, http://www.co.washington.mn.us/facilities.aspx?page=detail&RID=6.

Minneapolis: Mon., Feb. 4, 10:30 am to Noon: Hennepin Center for the Arts (Cowles Center for Dance) #210, 528 Hennepin Ave., 612-332-3888; www.vsamn.org

Minneapolis:  Tuesday, Feb. 5, 4:30-5:30 PM at MN African American Museum & Cultural Center (Carriage House), 1700 Third Ave. S.;612-872-1655, www.maamcc.org.

St. Paul: Thursday, Feb. 7, 11:00 AM – noon, Circus Juventas lobby, 1270 Montreal Ave.; 651-699-8229 (Kim ext. 205);kim@circusjuventas.org

Minneapolis:  Monday, March 18, 10:00-11:30 AM at Pillsbury House Theatre, 3501 Chicago Ave. S.; 612-824-0708, http://pillsburyhouseandtheatre.org

Note: A separate grant is also available for nonprofit arts groups served by the Lake Region Arts Council in Fergus Falls. A total of $8,000 is available, with a May 3, 2013, deadline, for groups located in Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse or Wilkin counties.

The Great Lakes ADA Center is pleased to announce a collaborative effort with the Southwest ADA Center and the RESNA Catalyst Project to provide a webinar focused on assistive technology and employment.  You are invited to join this FREE session to gain knowledge and insight into the role that assistive technology plays in employment success for people with disabilities.

Date:                 January 23, 2013

Time:                 2:00pm Eastern/1:00pm Central  (90 minute session)

Title:                  Assistive Technology and the Interactive Process

Presenters:       Andrew Winnegar, Consultant, Southwest ADA Center

David Altman, Program Coordinator, Nebraska Assistive Technology Partnership

Desirae Vallier, Technology Specialist, Nebraska Assistive Technology Partnership

Description:      It is important that employers understand new technologies, accommodation strategies and best practices to assist and support employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Technology Act States and ADA Regional Centers have valuable free services to assist employers and employees with job accommodations. Each individual employee accommodation solution requires research and time. The presenters will discuss how Assistive Technology (AT) demonstrations, equipment loans, and ADA support and technical assistance from the ADA Network may enhance the interactive accommodation process.

Cost: Free

CE Credit:          Continuing education credits are available through RESNA and individuals should contactjwallace@resna.org to apply for CEUs. There is a $16 fee to receive credit for this webinar.   A Certificate of Attendance is available at no charge by sending an email to adaconferences@adagreatlakes.org

Registration:    Go to www.adaconferences.org/RESNA

This program will be offered via the Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing System.  The session will be closed captioned via the web conferencing system.  Information about the webinar platform can be found at the www.adaconferences.org/RESNA website.

Questions regarding registration or the content of the program can be directed to adaconferences@adagreatlakes.org or by calling 877-232-1990 (V/TTY)

The ADA National Network is pleased to announce the January 24, 2013 Accessible Technology Webinar Series Session Titled:  iAccessibility.   This session will feature Paul Adam of Deque Systems, Inc.

Date:                   January 24, 2013

Time:                   2-3:30pm ET/1-2:30pm CT/12-1:30pm MT/11-12:30am PT

Description:       The latest iOS devices made by Apple come with no-cost, built-in accessibility features such as the VoiceOver screen reader; system wide Zoom; White on Black reverse contrast; Large Text in Mail, Notes,                    Contacts, and Messages; custom vibration patterns for incoming calls; LED flash alerts; Voice Control; FaceTime video calls; and Assistive Touch for physical disabilities.

Cost:                    Free

Webinar Platform:  Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing System

This session will be closed captioned via the web conferencing platform.

Registration:  Online at:  http://www.ada-audio.org/Webinar/AccessibleTechnology

Questions should be directed to 877-232-1990 (V/TTY) or by email at info@adaconferences.org

The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), one of the first laws passed by Congress addressing access for people with disabilities, requires that federally funded facilities be accessible according to established standards. The law applies to facilities designed, built or altered with Federal dollars or leased by Federal agencies. The ABA covers a wide range of government buildings, including post offices, social security offices, and Federal office buildings. It also applies to non-Federal buildings that are federally funded, such as schools, transit stations, local courthouses and jails, and public housing.

The Board enforces the accessibility standards of the ABA through the investigation of complaints from the public. Upon receipt of a complaint, the Board opens an investigation to determine whether the facility in question is covered by the ABA and if so, whether it meets the applicable accessibility standards. If a covered facility is not in compliance, the Board will pursue a corrective action plan and monitor the case until all necessary work is completed.

The new online submission form will make it easier and more convenient for the public to file ABA complaints with the Board. It also will improve how the Board monitors and tracks complaints. Members of the public are invited to view and try out the proposed complaint form which is available for comment until February 15. A published noticeprovides further details, including instructions on submitting feedback. The new form, which replaces an earlier one previously made available on the Board’s site, will be launched under procedures that Federal agencies must follow in collecting information from the public.

For further information, contact Lisa Fairhall, the Board’s Deputy General Counsel at fairhall@access-board.gov, (202)272-0046 (voice), (202) 272-0064 (TTY) or visit the Board’s website.

In light of the recent hurricane on the eastern seaboard, more employers may be considering developing emergency preparedness plans and need answers on how to include employees with disabilities.  A guide provided by the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) can help businesses that are developing emergency evacuation plans.  Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employers’ Guide to Including Employees with Disabilities in Emergency Evacuation Plans addresses the legal requirements for emergency evacuation under the ADA and focuses on identifying people who may need accommodations in an emergency evacuation based on the EEOC guidance, common accommodations, and plan implementation and maintenance.

Click here for additional resources on emergency preparedness and people with disabilities.

For more information and resources, visit www.AskEARN.org