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 A publication of the New England ADA Center                                                             April 2012

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 ADA Web Courses:
 
April 17
Join us for one of the most popular sessions in the ADA Audio Conference Series. Listen to an update on EEOC Enforcement and Guidance Activities and pose your questions to our speaker. 
 
ADA Webinar:
May 3
This session will review the scoping and technical provisions for accessible communication elements and features in the ADA and ABA standards and highlight updates to the specifications.
In This Issue
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ADA Comparison Document CoverComparison Guide for 2010 and 1991 ADA Standards for Accessible Design: Technical and Scoping Requirements

 

We created these two documents as a quick reference to understand the differences between the 2010 and the 1991 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.   

 

Comparison 2010 and 1991 ADA Standards for Accessible Design - Scoping Requirements   

 

Comparison 2010 and 1991 ADA Standards for Accessible Design - Technical Requirements 

 

Please contact us with corrections, questions and additions:
Spring Landscape in New England
Stories from Around New England 

Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Launch Event to be Hosted by Senator Jack Reed 

 
A ribbon cutting ceremony to officially announce the arrival of wheelchair accessible taxis to Rhode Island will be held Friday, April 13 at 1 p.m. at the Dunkin Donuts Center, 1 LaSalle Square, Providence. The state's transit system (RIPTA) has purchased 13 wheelchair accessible taxi cabs that will be given to 5 taxi companies for use by the general public. View the event invitation.
areas. View the event invitation.

Burlington Free Press LogoBurlington, Vermont Downtown Businesses in Spotlight for Compliance with the ADA    

 

Story from the Burlington Free Press 

 

A recent Americans with Disabilities Act compliance review of Church Street Marketplace restaurants by the Justice Department found that at least seven establishments might not be in compliance with the law. U.S. Attorney for Vermont Tristram Coffin said the department is in discussions with the restaurants about how to remedy the situation. Read the full story.

 

New Hampshire State Seal

The New Hampshire Governor's Commission on Disability Holds a Legislative Training Day

 

On Monday, April 2, 2012, the Governor's Commission on Disability held a legislative training day at the Legislative Office Building in Concord, New Hampshire. About thirty people took part in a lively event reviewing subjects such as:
  • The legislative process - how does a bill become law?
  • The importance of advocacy - insights of a lobbyist.
  • Communicating with your senators and representatives.

Some of the featured speakers included Senator Sylvia Larsen, Minority Leader, Rep. Cindy Rosenwald, Bob Dunn and Devine Millimet.

 

Wesleyan University Logo

Vigil Held at Wesleyan University to Remember Disabled Victims of Domestic Violence      

 
Story from the Middletown Eye

 

On March 31 at 6:00 PM local disability rights advocates held a vigil at Wesleyan University's Usdan Courtyard to honor the lives of disabled people murdered by their families and caretakers. This was part of a nationwide Day of Mourning. Eighteen cities participated by holding candlelit vigils in locations across the country. Read the full story.  

 

Work Without Limits Logo

Financial Education for Individuals with Disabilities - Train-the-Trainer Workshop   

 

May 22 & May 23 from 8:30am - 4:00pm

UMass Medical School, 333 South Street, Shrewsbury

 

The ability to understand and manage one's finances is a critical component for persons with disabilities, especially as they plan for employment and self-sufficiency. People who have taken this course and used the curriculum with their clients report that it was very well received and in some cases resulted in life changing behaviors among participants.

 

Who should attend?

  • Employment, Housing, Peer, Benefits and Work Incentives Specialists; Trainers; Case Managers; and IPS Master Trainers.
  • We encourage two people from each organization to attend; ideally, when implemented within your agency, this training is given in pairs. 

Cost:  $150.00 per person or $275.00 for two people from the same organization for this two-day training; includes breakfast and all materials. 

 

Hold your spot and pre-register today by sending an email to:  jason.stanislawzyk@umassmed.edu . Space is limited!     

 

Visit their web site to learn more about Work Without Limits. 

 

Twitter Follow Me Graphic
April's Most Popular Stories from the @NewEngalndADA
Twitter Feed

   
Steven Bassett, IHCD's Accessible ICT Specialist and Social Media Coordinator, has compiled a list of March's most popular stories from the New England ADA Center's Twitter feed. Click on the links below to learn more!

1. New - "Comparison Guide for 2010 and 1991 ADA Standards for Accessible Design"  @NewEnglandADA  http://ow.ly/a3qQs

"We created these two documents as a quick reference to understand the differences between the 2010 and the 1991 ADA Standards for Accessible Design."

 
2. "Is there any such thing as able-bodied?" http://ow.ly/a4BFD
 
Kids and youth coordinators who want to expand Paralympic winter sports came together in Spain this past weekend for an IPC Winter Youth Camp. © * IPC
Kids and youth coordinators who want to expand Paralympic winter sports came together in Spain this past weekend for an IPC Winter Youth Camp. © * IPC



3. EEOC: High school diploma requirement might violate Americans with Disabilities Act http://ow.ly/9SuuO

"Employers are facing more uncertainty in the wake of a letter from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission warning them that requiring a high school diploma from a job applicant might violate the Americans with Disabilities Act."

 

4. "A Free Cloud Library for Students with Disabilities"  http://ow.ly/a7oYv HT @INDATAproject

"Bookshare just celebrated its 10th anniversary as a provider of digital accessible materials to students with print disabilities. More than 190,000 people--mostly students--have access to the cloud-based library and its 135,000 titles."

 

5. "EEOC gets punched in the nose on 2 #ADA lawsuits http://ow.ly/9Suk8 #Employment

"By now, it's apparent the EEOC's taking an ultra-aggressive approach to enforcing the newly expanded Americans with Disabilities Act. The good news: Some recent court rulings might rein those efforts in a bit." 

 

U S Falg
Other Stories 

Department of Health and Human Services Logo
HHS Releases Fact Sheet on Affordable Care Act  

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Disability has released a fact sheet entitled "People with Disabilities and Serious Health Conditions: The Top 5 Things You Need to Know About the Affordable Care Act (ACA)." The fact sheet is available in  English and  Spanish. This resource highlights key aspects of the ACA which meet the needs of consumers with disabilities.

American Association of People with Disabilities Logo
American Association of People with Disabilities Accepting Applications for Youth Transitions Fellowship Through End of April
 

 

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), in coordination with The HSC Foundation, is now accepting applications for the  2012-2013 Youth Transitions Fellow position. The Youth Transitions Fellow will gain exposure to youth programs serving people with disabilities and will have the opportunity to facilitate collaboration among internship, fellowship, and apprenticeship programs based in the Greater Washington, DC area.  This paid fellowship position at AAPD is ideal for a recent college graduate with a disability who is looking to jump start a career and help peers transition facilities.  

 

The application deadline is April 30, 2012. Apply for the 2012 Youth Transitions Fellow position!  

 

National Institutes for the Blind LogoNational Institutes for the Blind Seeks Applicants for Fellowship for Leadership Development

 
The  Fellowship for Leadership Development, sponsored by National Industries for the Blind, is a salaried program that combines business-focused, on-the-job experience with professional development activities. Legally blind individuals who have an undergraduate degree, work experience, and passion for business are invited to apply. The deadline for application is April 30, 2012.  Read more about how to apply.

Seal of the President of the United StatesDeaf Student 'Speechless' After Obama Responds To Him In Sign Language

Story from Distinction  

 

 

Stephon stood just a few feet away from Barack Obama. The president, busy shaking hands, looked right at him. "It was like he was waiting for me to say something," he said later.

 

So the 26-year-old Prince George's Community College student took his cue and spoke to President Obama in his first language: American Sign Language. "I am proud of you," Stephon signed. The president, almost involuntary, instinctively, immediately signed back.

 

"Thank you," Obama replied.

 

Read the full story.

 


New England ADA Center IHCD Combined Logo

 

ADA National Network Logo

The New England ADA Center is a member of the ADA National Network funded by US Department of Education through National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research Grant # H133A110028.