Accessible Air Travel

wheelchair user in foreground facing view of passenger planes through window.

Secretary Buttigieg Announces Proposed Rule to Ensure Passengers Who Use Wheelchairs Can Fly with Dignity. (DOT, 2/29/2024)

The proposal will set new standards for prompt, safe, and dignified assistance, mandate enhanced training for airline employees and contractors who physically assist passengers with disabilities and handle passengers’ wheelchairs and specify actions that airlines must take to protect passengers when a wheelchair is damaged during transport.

AAPD Praises Department of Transportation Proposed Rule for Safe and Accessible Air Travel for Passengers with Disabilities.

Employment

3 Lessons for Employers on Disability Inclusion in a Post-Pandemic Workplace. (Forbes, 2-21-24)

What Makes a Disability Different? (Andrew Pulrang, Forbes Contributor, 2-29-24)

-Empathy for people with disabilities helps. Overestimating and overstating your limited understanding of disability is something to avoid.

Disabled Workers Saw Record Employment Gains in 2023, But Gaps Remain (CAP20, 2-22-24) Informative summary and analysis of the recent U.S. Dept. of Labor statistics release for 2023.

EEOC Settlement Agreement and Court Cases

Walmart Agrees to Pay $70,000 and Offer Job to Employee in EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit. (3-7-2024)

-Resolves Federal charges that the store unlawfully revoked employee's use of store's electric cart and kept him on unpaid leave for three years.

ADT Pizza to Pay $15,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination and Harassment Charge.

EEOC investigation found that ADT Pizza (Pizza Hut) discriminated against an employee by subjecting her to unwelcome and derogatory comments by a member of management based on her disability and she was constructively discharged because of harassment. (3-7-2024)

Voyant Beauty Will Pay $75,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Lawsuit. (2-27-2024)

The EEOC charged in its suit that Voyant terminated an employee on her first day of work upon learning that she is deaf.

Education

Justice Department Secures Agreement with Florida School District to Protect Civil Rights of Students with Disabilities. (3-5-2024)

The Justice Department announced a settlement agreement with the Pasco County School District in Florida to resolve the department’s investigation into alleged discrimination against students with disabilities in school discipline, threat assessment practices and referrals of students to law enforcement.

Justice Department Finds Nebraska School District Discriminates Against Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students. (2-14-2024)

Mental/Behavioral Health and Law Enforcement

Female 911 responder taking calls at a busy emergency response center.

Justice Department Files Statement of Interest in Lawsuit Concerning Unnecessary Law Enforcement Responses to Mental Health Emergencies in Bread for the City V. District of Columbia. (2-22-2024)

The statement explains that the ADA requires public entities to afford people with mental health disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from emergency response systems. This may require dispatching a different type of response to mental health emergencies when appropriate, such as mobile crisis teams staffed with behavioral health professionals, to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability.

Justice Dept. Says D.C. Police Response May Violate Rights of Mentally Ill. (Washington Post, 02-23-24)

FYI: Reports, Articles, Surveys, Resources

Administration on Community Living Releases NIDILRR FY 2021-2022 Organization Highlights Report.

States Offer Services for Disabled Kids, Then Their Families Wait 10 Years for Them . (LA Times, 3-1-24) -Features Kansas family.

Close up of Golden Retreiver service animal guiding his handler.

Southwest ADA Center is surveying people who use service or emotional support animals in the workplace. Participants will be compensated for their time and can provide interviews via Zoom or telephone. If you are 18 or older and wish to participate, please contact Jocelyne Fajardo at Jocelyne.Fajordo@memorialhermann.org or call 713-797-7118 to schedule an interview. Participation is confidential.

Illustration of hand filling out tax form.

Fact Sheet: Tax Incentives for Small Businesses

Tax Incentives are available to encourage compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Unfortunately, many business owners and employers are unaware that these incentives exist. This chart provides information about these Federal tax incentives. Make sure your business takes advantage of these valuable incentives!

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