New England ADA Center

October Newsletter

IHCD's Socially Sustainable Design Symposium and ADA Updates at ABX 2014

ABX2014 October 28th-30th logo IHCD is hosting a Socially Sustainable Design Symposium on October 29th at the Architecture Boston Expo, The symposium will explore themes such as ways that the power of architecture can extend beyond the dimensions of individual buildings to improve people's lives.  Learn more about the symposium.

 

Also, Kathy Gips, Director of Training at the New England ADA Center, will present the following two sessions:


ADA Updates 2014
Schedule: Tuesday 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
 

The ADA and the Regulations of the MA Architectural Access Board
Tuesday, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
 

On the evening of October 29th from 6:30 to 9:00 pm, you are invited to a reception at IHCD's office, located at 200 Portland Street in Boston, as part of the Socially Sustainable Design Symposium. Light refreshments will be served. To RSVP for the reception, please contact Willa Crolius at: wcrolius@ihcdesign.org or call 617.259.1655

Valerie Fletcher Speaks about IHCD's Upcoming Socially Sustainable Design Symposium on the Talking Information Center Network

Valerie Fletcher Valerie Fletcher, Executive Director at the Institute for Human Centered Design (IHCD), is featured on the Talking Information Center Network's (TIC) Mission Possible program speaking about IHCD's upcoming Socially Sustainable Design Symposium. TIC radio provides broadcasting around the globe 24/7 intended for people who are print impaired.


Listen to Valerie Fletcher on Mission Possible.

 

Photo: Valerie Fletcher.

ADA Coalition of Connecticut State Conference to Take Place October 22, 2014

ADA Coalition of ConnecticutThe ADA Coalition of Connecticut (ADACC) will be holding its state conference on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Newington Senior & Disabled Center at 120 Cedar Street in Newington, Connecticut.


Featured workshops are ' The Role of ADA Coordinator in Implementing the ADA', 'Public Rights of Way' and 'Municipal Responsibilities under the ADA'. View the conference flyer.

Disability Mentoring Day Highlights Opportunities for Students with Disabilities in Maine

Paul LePage, Governor of Maine. Disability Mentoring Day, a program of the American Association of People with Disabilities and part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, is a nationwide effort celebrated on October 15 to promote career development for students with disabilities. The Maine Department of Labor continues to raise awareness of the benefits of employing people with disabilities and to further the theme of the month: "Expect. Employ. Empower."

 

"I encourage Maine businesses to look for opportunities to connect everyone with meaningful employment," said Governor Paul R. LePage. Read the full press release.

 

Photo: Governor Paul R. LePage.

Listen to ADA Updates on the Talking Information Center Network (TIC)!

Kathy Gips and Helen O'KeefeNow you can listen online for ADA Updates from the New England ADA Center on the Talking Information Center Network! Some upcoming topics include, "What does the ADA Say about Medical Marijuana Use on the Job?", "The ADA and Voting Rights" and even "ADA Trivia - Employment" 


Listen to ADA Updates on the Talking Information Network (TIC) Mondays and Tuesdays during AM Update (7:30-8:00 AM) and on "Mission Possible" (Monday & Tuesday live 12:00-12:30 PM)

 

Photo: Kathy Gips and Helen O'Keefe work together to record a New England ADA Center ADA Update.

News From Outside New England

ADA Coordinator Training Conference, October 20-21, 2014 in Buffalo, New York

ADA Coordinator Training The ADA Coordinator Training Certification Program (ACTCP) is a unique program designed to meet the training and professional needs of ADA Coordinators. This two-day event will be held at the Hyatt Regency n down-town Buffalo. The conference will offer a variety of sessions including:

  • 2010 Standards for Accessible Design
  • Self-Evaluation & Transition Plans
  • Title I Reasonable Accommodations
  • Designing Accessible Web Courses
  • ADA Coordination for Higher Education

 

Registration is open to the public.  Register online at: www.adacoordinator.org

Seeking Human Resources Professionals for an Online Survey about Reasonable Accommodations in the Lodging Sector

Mid Atlantic ADA Center Human resources professionals please participate in the study, the "Provision of Reasonable Accommodations in the Hotel and Lodging Industry." The study is being conducted by Ellen Fabian and Paul Gold at the University of Maryland, College Park, with the support of the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center. Learn more about the survey!

National Federation of the Blind Reaches Agreement with U.S. Department of Education to Make Student Loan Information Accessible

National Federation of the Blind The National Federation of the Blind, the nation's leading advocate for equal access by the blind to information and technology, and three individuals have reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education that will make student loan information accessible to blind Americans. The agreement commits the Department of Education and the student loan servicers with which it contracts to make websites, forms, and documents related to the department's Direct Loan program equally accessible to blind applicants and borrowers. Read more!

DOJ Issues New Resource Regarding Rights of Voters with Disabilities

United States Department of Justice The Justice Department has published a new technical assistance publication about federal laws that protect the rights of voters with disabilities, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act. The publication, "The Americans with Disabilities Act & Other Federal Laws Protecting the Rights of Voters with Disabilities," is intended to help election officials, poll workers and voters understand how the ADA and other federal laws ensure equality in the voting process for people with disabilities. The publication is available in HTML and PDF versions.

Pledge to Support the Next 25 Years of the ADA and Beyond!

25 Years of the ADA 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

$500K for Studies on Expanding Paid Family and Medical Leave

U.S. Department of Labor Graphic The Family and Medical Leave Act guarantees unpaid, job-protected leave for workers to care for new children, ill family members or their own health. However, many workers cannot afford unpaid time off. On Sept. 24, the department awarded $500,000 to the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Montana and Rhode Island to undertake studies on the feasibility of paid leave. "Too many working families today can't afford to take the time they need to care for their families or themselves because they lack any form of paid leave," said Secretary Perez. Read the press release!  


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New England ADA Center, a project of the Institute for Human Centered Design


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.



Institute for Human Centered Design / New England ADA Center | 200 Portland Street | Boston | MA | 02114