A project of the Institute for Human Centered Design
June 2021 Newsletter
ADA Question of the Month
Question: Unfortunately, my son was arrested for a non-violent crime and needs to serve a short sentence in a minimum security prison. He has difficulty walking, so the Department of Corrections placed him in a first floor cell. His cell is located in a maximum security wing of the prison. I am very worried that he is incarcerated with very dangerous people. Is this right?

The answer is at the end of the newsletter.
COVID-19 Updates
Employers Can Require Covid-19 Vaccine Under Federal Law, New Guidance States
Individual with rubber gloves filling syringe with vaccine from a vial.
U.S. employers could require all workers physically entering a workplace to be vaccinated against Covid-19, the federal government said Friday. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued updated guidance stating that federal laws don’t prevent an employer from requiring workers to be vaccinated. However, in some circumstances, federal laws may require the employer to provide reasonable accommodations for employees who, because of a disability or a religious belief, aren’t vaccinated. For example, the EEOC said as a reasonable accommodation, an unvaccinated employee entering the workplace might wear a face mask, work at a social distance or be given the opportunity to telework. See section "K. Vaccinations" for more information on this topic.

Image Source: image courtesy of WSJ/Kristopher Radder - AP.
New England ADA Center's ADA and COVID-19 Webpage
New England ADA Center IHCD Combined Graphic
People with disabilities have a right of participation in society even during a pandemic. We have collected resources to help people understand their ADA rights during the pandemic. Read more about how the ADA relates to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regional News
Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) Wants You to Get Out and Play in Parks Across the State
Massachusetts Office on Disability
MOD continues to promote, and partner with, organizations statewide, to continue to expand accessibility and equal access for all. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation's Universal Access Program (UAP) provides outdoor recreation opportunities in Massachusetts state parks for visitors of all abilities. This program has helped to create accessible recreation opportunities both indoors and outdoors. That includes accessible programs at pools and skating rinks. There are adaptive programs and outdoor events such as hiking and boating.  The UAP has also helped to design accessible paved rail trails and accessibility-designed hiking trails throughout state parks.

Massachusetts U.S. Attorney's Office Settles Disability Discrimination Case with New England Orthopedic Surgeons
US Department of Justice seal
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reached an agreement today with New England Orthopedic Surgeons (NEOS) in Springfield, Mass. to resolve allegations that the practice violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by turning away patients who were also being treated for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).
“The Americans With Disabilities Act protects healthcare access for people under medical treatment for Opioid Use Disorder,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell. “Health care providers must comply with the ADA, even when doing so is inconvenient or makes them uncomfortable.”

DLC Finds Abuse and Neglect in Death of Woman Discharged from Middleborough Hospital and Left on Boston Streets
DLC Disability Law Center. The protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities.
The Disability Law Center (DLC) has issued a major Death Investigation Report announcing the results of its investigation into the tragic death of CaSonya King, a Massachusetts woman and former information and data professional. Ms King died at the age of 44, within 30 hours of being left on Boston streets by High Point Hospital (HPH), which discharged her from a Middleborough, Massachusetts inpatient mental health unit against her will. June 8, 2021, is the third anniversary of her admission to High Point Hospital. The report attempts to confront the unanswered questions which have burdened the King family with confusion, sorrow and loss over the past three years,

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Resolves ADA Complaint with Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Recently the DOJ announced a settlement agreement with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The agreement resolves a complaint alleging that Maine’s restrictions on services placed a young man with intellectual disabilities (ID) at serious risk of having to move from his own home to a congregate setting. This agreement will help ensure that Mainers with ID and autism can receive the personal assistance they need in their own homes. 

Image source: file photo.
Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing's (MCDHH) COVID-19 Homebound Vaccination Program Vlog
Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
MCDHH has released a new vlog about Massachusetts’ COVID-19 Homebound Vaccination Program. The video resource provides information about the State's program available for homebound people who are not able to leave their home to get to a vaccination site, even with assistance.

New England ADA Center is Open and Provides Webinars on the Americans with Disabilities Act
New England ADA Center IHCD Combined Graphic
During this pandemic, compliance with the ADA is even more critical whether you are a municipality, non-profit organization, state agency or business. We are open for business and here to take your ADA questions. Let us help you ensure that everyone can participate in your services. The New England ADA Center provides webinars on the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact us at 800-949-4232 or info@NewEnglandADA.org with your questions or to request a training.

National News
Registration Closes Soon for the 2021 National ADA Symposium 
Due to the pandemic, organizers are offering a hybrid event. Registrants have the option to attend an on-site conference in Phoenix, AZ or a virtual conference or both. The Phoenix ADA Symposium is a 3-day event with multiple concurrent sessions to select from each day. It will feature Haben Girma, as the Keynote speaker. The registration deadline is June 25th. The Virtual Symposium has a flexible registration schedule. You may select either Single Day, Multi-Day or Full Conference options. Hurry, the virtual symposium registration deadline is July 19th.In person symposium registration deadline is June 25th.

Dr. Anjali J. Forber-Pratt Named Director of National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research
(NIDILRR)
Anjali and her service dog, Kolton. Anjali has brown skin, brown eyes and long, curly black hair that she is wearing in a ponytail that drapes over her left shoulder. She wears blue jeans and a teal long-sleeved cowl-neck sweater. Kolton is a black lab.
Dr. Anjali J. Forber-Pratt has joined the Administration for Community Living (ACL) as the director of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). She began her research career in 2006, and her primary area of expertise is disability identity development. A two-time Paralympian and medalist in the sport of wheelchair racing, Dr. Forber-Pratt has dedicated her life to helping others recognize their potential. Globally, she is involved with disability advocacy efforts related to access to employment, education and sports.

Image source: image courtesy of ACL.gov.
ADA Jeopardy: Learn, Connect and Celebrate 30 Years of the ADA National Network
ADA National Network, Americans with Disabilities Act Guidance and Training. Celebrating 30 years!
On Wednesday, July 7, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET, tune-in to a fun-filled, accessible virtual game of Jeopardy to help you learn more about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Connect and engage with the ten regional ADA centers in the ADA National Network as they answer ADA related questions. Attendees will have a chance to get in on the game by suggesting questions for the bonus round. If you have a question to suggest please submit it when you register and it may be selected as the "Bonus Round" question. Registration is free and required.

Image source: image courtesy of Pixabay.com
ADA National Network (ADANN) Releases State of the Science Conference Transcripts and Recordings
ADA National Network
The ADA State of the Science conference was a great success. The ADANN is happy to announce that the public now has full access to recordings and transcripts for all three days. Each video is the entire length of the day. However, every presentation has its own time-stamped link for each individual presentation. You can browse presentation details, bios, presenter slides, transcripts, and video links Due to the recording settings at the time of the event, ASL does not show for a few presentations. The ADANN will post an updated version once the ASL is edited into the videos.

Rethinking the Penalties and Rewards of Identifying as “Disabled”
Index card with the international symbol of accessibility
The CDC estimates that 61 million American adults have some kind of disability. That’s 25%, or 1 in 4 who have some kind of significant physical, cognitive, or mental impairment. Such a high population should enable disabled Americans to wield real influence on disability policy and practices, as well as cultural attitudes about disability. But not everyone who has disabilities readily identifies themselves as disabled, or thinks of themselves as part of the population generally understood to be disabled.

Image source: image courtesy of Forbes/Getty.
Fact Sheet: Addiction, Recovery and State and Local Governments
Boston City Hall
The ADA National Network has released the third factsheet in our ‘ADA, Addiction, and Recovery’ series! Learn more about how the ADA applies to state and local governments for people with addiction to alcohol and people in recovery from opioids and other drugs by visiting our newest factsheet: Addiction, Recovery and State and Local Governments.

Image source: file photo.
The ADA, Addiction and Recovery Frequently Asked Questions
frequently asked questions
The frequently asked question came from attendees of our ADA, Addiction and Recovery trainings. These attendees were: people in recovery, their family members, and addiction professionals. The questions cover the following topics: employment, state and local government programs, shelters, housing, recovery homes, healthcare, businesses and non-profits. Read our FAQs.
 
If you have an ADA question, call our toll free confidential number 1-800-949-4232, email us info@NewEnglandADA.org or visit our website www.NewEnglandADA.org.
Answer to the ADA Question of the Month
Answer: The Department of Justice (DOJ) regulates state and local governments, including the Department of Corrections. The Department of Corrections is responsible for the operation or management of juvenile and adult jails, detention and correctional facilities, and community correctional facilities, whether they are operated directly by the Department of Corrections or through contracts, licenses, or other arrangements. Under the ADA, inmates or detainees with disabilities must be housed in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs and classification. Accessible cells or housing units need to be available in all security classifications and/or program levels of a facility. The ADA National Network has great information on their Detention and Correctional Facilities fact sheet.
Stay Connected:
We strive to ensure the Newsletter and the content we share is accessible. Unfortunately we have limited control of external websites. Please email us at adainfo@newenglandada.org if you encounter any issues accessing the newsletter or related content.

Access New England features topics related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), originating from the ADA Center, our state affiliates, the ADA National Network, and national sources.

The New England ADA Center is a member of the ADA National Network funded by the Administration for Community Living through National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Grant  90DP0087.