A project of the Institute for Human Centered Design |
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ADA Question of the Month |
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Question: I learned sign language when I lost my hearing at an early age. Recently, I scheduled an appointment with my primary care physician at a small family practice. When I asked for a sign language interpreter, I was told they are very expensive and the staff person was not sure one could be provided. Does my doctor have to provide a sign language interpreter?
The answer is at the end of the newsletter.
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Getting Back to Work After COVID-19: Lingering Symptoms Present Challenges for Employers and the ADA |
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Some U.S. companies plan to move their workforces back to the office and even more are contemplating it in 2021. That means a whole new cohort of U.S. workers will be seeking workplace accommodations under the ADA because of disabilities acquired from COVID-19.
Image source: image courtesy of Shirly Ryan Ability Lab.
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Legal Expert Tackles Tricky ADA, COVID-19 Questions |
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A lot of employers are struggling with all the unknowns of COVID-19. How long will you need to take precautions in the workplace? What do you do when an employee comes down with the virus? What are your legal obligations? Employment lawyer David K. Fram tells employers it doesn’t have to be as complicated as they think.
Image source: file photo.
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New England ADA Center's COVID-19 Webpage |
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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.
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Governor's Commission on Disability (GCD) is NH's Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Resource |
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GCD navigated an office move, a pandemic, a change to staggered or remote schedules, and never ceased operations to continue to serve as NH’s ADA connection. Metrics show inquiries are up. In conjunction with the Governor’s lead to make customer service a priority, the GCD has also streamlined its webpage to make the ADA Information request form easier to find.
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Woman Files ADA Lawsuits in Maine as ‘Tester’ of Compliance |
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Deborah Laufer is described in the federal lawsuits as a “tester” for the purpose of asserting her civil rights and ensuring that places of public accommodation comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Her six lawsuits in Maine are among hundreds she has filed in more than a dozen states. Her lawsuits contend lodging establishments and their online booking services failed to identify accessible rooms, provide an option for booking an accessible room, and provide sufficient information about accessible features.
Image source: courtesy of Business Traveller.
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Webinar: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for Healthcare Providers |
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On Tuesday, December 1st or Wednesday, December 9th, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. the New England ADA Center will host a webinar for healthcare providers. The ADA applies to small and large healthcare providers. During this training we will discuss obligations under the ADA to ensure that people with disabilities can access the care they need using Department of Justice settlement agreements and scenarios to illustrate requirements. There will be time for questions. This training is free and open to the public. A zoom link will be emailed to all registrants. Email [email protected] or call 617-695-0085 to request accommodations.
Image source: image courtesy of U.S. Department of Justice.
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New England ADA Center is Open and Provides Webinars on the Americans with Disabilities Act |
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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 [email protected] with your questions or to request a training.
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Available Now: The Changing Reality of Disability in America: 2020 Report and Full-length Film |
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The Institute for Human Centered Design announces the release of "The Changing Reality of Disability In America: 2020." This project, both report and accompanying documentary film, is intended to spur conversation that needs to happen now. It is not intended as an iteration of all of the facets of the disability experience. That’s not possible. We have abundant individual stories that prove that personal and environmental factors can minimize limitations and support being fully engaged societal actors. Too often that experience remains an exception. The necessary quest for the opportunity for full participation continues to apply to all people with lived experience of impairment.
Our goal is to spotlight issues for people too seldom considered as central to understanding disability in America. We want to summon awareness that can help to inform policy as we act to rebuild from the 2020 COVID 19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests. We seek to stimulate research with neglected populations. We need to end doing harm and learn what works if we are to measure progress.
Image source: file photo.
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"Atypical" Actress puts Autism in the Spotlight |
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In 2019, Tal Anderson made her debut as Sid on Netflix’s hit show Atypical, which follows a teenager’s life on the autism spectrum. It was a dream come true for the 22-year-old, whose aspirations to act stretched back to her teen years.
Image source: image courtesy of Netflix and Tal Anderson
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Remote Work has Opened Doors for People with Disabilities |
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The COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges, but disability advocates are welcoming one societal shift that has huge benefits for many with accessibility needs: the ability to work from home. “We have seen entire corporations pivot to work from home in a matter of weeks,” says Matthew Cortland, a disabled lawyer and policy analyst.
Image source: image courtesy of the Christian Science Monitor.
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Guide to Car Modifications for People with Disabilities |
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People with disabilities have long known the struggle of finding safe, affordable travel that can also accommodate the things they need to travel. That is why many people with disabilities take travel into their hands by purchasing their own vehicles. A new resource breaks down: A state-by-state chart with grants and other resources on how to pay for vehicle modifications; Best cars for adaptive equipment and available discounts; The average cost of the most common vehicle modifications and more.
Image source: image courtesy of Boulevard Van City.
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Answer to the ADA Question of the Month |
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Answer: The Americans with Disabilities Act applies to small medical practices and large health care facilities. The health care provider has to ensure communication with patients with sensory disabilities is effective and therefore may find that an interpreter is necessary to communicate medical information to their patient. Considering the nature, complexity, and duration of the interaction between the patient and health care provider, a sign language interpreter is likely necessary for effective communication. A health care provider would not have to incur an undue burden where an accommodation may be expensive or difficult to administer. However, the provider would need to base their financial decisions on income of the entirety of the medical practice and not just the individual appointment to determine if the cost for a sign language interpreter is truly prohibitive. Tax credits are available to offset the cost of sign language interpreters and other ADA-related expenses. Read more on ADA obligations for Health Care Providers. To learn more, participate in our upcoming webinar. There are two available dates to participate in the ADA and Health Care Providers: December 1st or December 9th.
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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 [email protected] 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.
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