October Newsletter

For the 25th anniversary of the ADA, Alpha One and AIA Maine collaborated to announce the SustainABLE for ME Maine Design Awards program. Projects were recognized for demonstrating creative sensitivity toward the accessibility of all users, and helping to create a more sustainable Maine.

Congratulations to the winning entries including all those who worked on 363House, Cross Insurance Arena, CASA Intermediate Care Facility, Ocean Ave Elementary School, and the Pine Tree Society's Camper Cabins.  To learn more about the winners and all of the projects submitted, navigate to SustainABLEforME.org.

Amica Insurance Company in Lincoln, RI hosted Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo & the RI Governor's Commission on Disabilities "A Better Bottom Line' Conference. The conference promoted employment of people with disabilities to RI employers and attempted to bust myths about people with disabilities. Some employers included, Ben & Jerry's, RI Public Transit Authority and Amica. The Governor said, " One size does not fit all when it comes to employing people with disabilities."

New England ADA Center Project Director Oce Harrison and Christine Rancourt Bruzzi from the Rhode Island Governor's Commission on Disability participated in the event.

Come explore the Boston shoreline with Outdoor Access! During this urban outing, enjoy scenic views of Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands and learn about the history of Fort Independence. Assistive equipment such as Terra Trek mountain wheelchairs and all-terrain walkers will be available to try. Bring a lunch or grab a hot dog from Sullivan's and collect the Castle Island passport stamp! Sighted guides available. $3 per person, $10 for families, $25 for groups.

Pre-registration required. Call DCR at 413-259-0009. 

The American Institute for Neuro-Integrative Development, which runs Giant Steps school for autistic youngsters and wanted to open "Next Steps" for young adults on the same property, has filed a lawsuit in state Superior Court in Bridgeport, Connecticut, seeking to overturn the Town Planning and Zoning Commission's (TPZ) decision to deny the plan.

Read more about Giant Steps' suit

The Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Rhode Island Disability Law Center are raising civil rights concerns about questions dealing with mental health and substance abuse posed to prospective lawyers seeking admission to practice law in Rhode Island.

The two organizations filed a complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice alleging that the state Supreme Court and its Committee on Character and Fitness are violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by requiring people seeking admission to the Rhode Island Bar to answer "broadly worded" questions about past drug and alcohol use, mental illness and other disabilities. 

Read more about the federal complaint

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration has published detailed guidance to help transit agencies comply with the ADA. The new circular has information about ADA requirements for public transit facilities, fixed route service, paratransit and commuter rail systems. Download the circular as a PDF file or watch a video about the guidance.

Depart of Transportation press release

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and Amazon.com have reached an agreement that will extend Amazon's ongoing captioning even deeper into its back catalog of TV shows and movies streamed through its on-demand entertainment service, Amazon Video. Amazon has already captioned 100% of its offerings on Prime Video, and under the agreement, Amazon is promising to continue to do so.

Read more about Amazon's agreement

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has released the latest edition of its federal sector "Digest of Equal Employment Opportunity Law." The Digest features recent Commission decisions and federal court cases involving disability discrimination, reasonable accommodations and violations of the Rehabilitation Act.

The EEOC press release

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The U.S. Supreme Court has paved the way for an Obama administration rule mandating minimum wage and overtime for in-home caregivers assisting those with disabilities to be implemented. Chief Justice John Roberts issued an order denying a request from industry groups who sought to delay the new rule.

Read more about the new wage protections