November Newsletter

Adaptive Sports New England will coordinate the Fall 2014 Paralympic Experience for youth and adults who have visual or physical impairments on Sunday, November 16 from 1:00-4:30 PM at the Harvard University Athletic Complex. 

Call 617-982-2763 for more information, visit the Paralympic Experience page, and View the event flyer.  

Vermont's Include! curriculum is a product of the Vermont Statewide Independent Living Council, and builds on the successful Promoting Respect and Inclusion though Disability Studies Education (PRIDE) initiative. Available online, Include! has four units that help teachers, students and community ambassadors 1) learn about identity and belonging, 2) disability awareness, 3) civil rights and social change, and 4) exploring the disability experience through literature. Learn how your school or group can use Include! by visiting the Include! website.  

We invite New England cities and towns to submit proposals to become the recipient of an ADA Field-Based Training Day for 2015. The Field-Based Training Day offers hands-on experience in conducting an accessibility review and identifying solutions that would improve accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The deadline for applications is December 31, 2014. See more details and apply now!  

Representatives of the New England ADA Center joined more than 100 other participants at the Americans with Disabilities Act Coalition of Connecticut's (ADACC) 21st Annual Meeting and First State Conference in Newington, Connecticut. Workshops about the role of ADA coordinators, and the ADA obligations of municipalities were provided. The ADACC also presented the 2014 Spirit of the ADA Award to Jan VanTassel.

Photo: (L-R) Karen Kangas, Jan VanTassel, 2014 Spirit of the ADA Award Recipient, and Marc Anthony Gallucci. 

Now you can listen online for ADA Updates on the Talking Information Center Network! Some topics include, "What does the ADA Say about Medical Marijuana Use on the Job?", "The ADA and Voting Rights" and even "ADA Trivia - Employment" 

You can listen Mondays and Tuesdays on "Mission Possible" (live 12:00-12:30 PM) or by streaming the updates online.  

Kathy Gips, the New England ADA Center's Director of ADA Training and Technical Assistance, conducted workshops on 1) ADA Updates and 2) the ADA and Regulations of the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board at ABX in Boston. Other staff answered questions and provided resources about the ADA. ABX is one of the largest events of its kind in the country, drawing hundreds of attendees from the Boston Society of Architects and the regional construction and design communities.  

Photo: David West and Oce Harrison at the New England ADA Center's ABX exhibit space.

The ADA National Network/FEMA Webinar Series on the inclusion of persons with disabilities will present "FEMA Promising Practice: Including Emergency Management in Independent Living Centers to Maximize Potential for Whole Community Preparedness" on November 13th, 2014 at 2:30pm ET. The presentation will engage audiences on how offices of emergency management can work with disability organizations to increase inclusive emergency management practices and provide needed resources within local communities. 

Register for free online!  

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has brought charges against housing providers in New Hampshire and California, and reached settlement agreements with providers in Alabama and Michigan. The housing providers allegedly violated the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against applicants and residents with disabilities.

Read the full press release.

U.S. Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa has introduced the Universal Home Design Act of 2014. The bill requires the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) to develop guidelines setting forth the minimum technical criteria and scoping requirements for certain federally assisted single family houses, townhouses, and other specified kinds of dwelling to comply with universal home design. This includes architectural and other landscaping features that allow basic access to and within a residential dwelling by an individual with a disability who cannot climb stairs. Read more about the bill. 

Photo: U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, (D-Iowa).

Join others in their commitment for another 25 years of the ADA and beyond!

Take 1 minute and Sign the Pledge

Act Now by Using your smart phone, tablet, or computer and visit ADAanniversary.org

Alzheimer's Disease can have an impact on all individuals in the workplace, from those with the disease, to the people who care for and work with individuals who are diagnosed. Discover how you can make a difference in your workplace by increasing your awareness, demonstrating flexibility, and providing accommodations by joining the United States Department of Agriculture TARGET Discovery Series webinar on November 19 at 1:00 PM. 

The USDA TARGET Center impacts the lives of individuals with disabilities at the Department of Agriculture, and fosters an inclusive environment for all employees, job seekers and members of the public. Read more about the webinar!