Bill DeMaio, Ted Kennedy, Jr, and Marc Anthony Gallucci.
The ADA Coalition of Connecticut (ADACC) held its 2nd Annual Conference with a full house in attendance. Designed to bring together ADA Coordinators, the day was also an opportunity for ADACC to launch its Connecticut Municipal ADA Coordinator Certification Program. The New England ADA Center's Kathy Gips provided comprehensive workshops covering the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design and Self-Evaluation Plans.
The National Council on Disability (NCD) convened its quarterly meeting in Concord, New Hampshire. Discussions during the two day meeting ensued around, among other things, Mental Health Services in Higher Education, Self-Driving Cars and Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Compliance. Charles J. Saia, Executive Director; Lorrie Ripley CAP Ombudsman; and, Collen Durkin-Blackburn, Accessibility Specialist, all of the New Hampshire Governor's Commission on Disability (GCD), attended the meeting.
President Barack Obama recently appointed Clyde Terry of Granite State Independent Living and Commission Member of the New Hampshire GCD as the Chair of the NCD.
The "How Can I Help You?" video was created in coordination with Concord Hospital as a learning tool for the medical community. It depicts both the "wrong" and "right" way to address a patient who is blind or visually impaired in a medical setting.
Vermont's Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (GCEPD) announced the employer award recipients for the "Spirit of the ADA" Awards. The Vermont "Spirit of the ADA" Award is given to employers who reflect the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act in their employment practices.
A Vermont prisoner has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the state for incarcerating him long past his minimum sentence. The inmate alleges he continues to be held because there is a lack of transitional housing accommodating prisoners with disabilities. The lawsuit, filed in federal court by Disability Rights Vermont on behalf of the prisoner, claims that the state violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as other laws.
Oce Harrison, Kate Thurman, Michael Muehe, and Nicole Horton Stimpson.
New England ADA Center Project Director Oce Harrison delivered a presentation on Universal Design in the Workplace: A Workshop for Employers.
Dr. Harrison spoke about the principles of universal design, and how they are being incorporated into the workplace to benefit everyone. The workshop was held in celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
US Representative Joe Kennedy, III introduced a bill that would require insurance companies to disclose to federal regulators how often they deny mental health or substance abuse claims, and cite specific reasons in their analyses for the denials.
During times of emergency and disasters, Mass Care will provide emergency relief and services to the community as a whole. A national Mass Care Strategy will be developed through a collaborative process led by the American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and under the direction of the National Mass Care Council.
To learn more, visit the National Mass Care Strategy web site.
The Direct Video Access program helps people who are deaf or hard of hearing get information in ASL about employment discrimination issues, including filing discrimination complaints. Call 1-844-234-5122 from 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, to be connected to an EEOC representative who is fluent in ASL.
Read more about the service and view an informational video.
In recognition of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 2015, President Obama released an official proclamation.
The proclamation reads, in part, "On this day, let us honor the efforts of those who agitated for the respect and dignity of all by picking up the inextinguishable torch of equality and carrying it forward into a future that recognizes the incredible talents and skills of people with disabilities."
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