A project of the Institute for Human Centered Design
November 2021 Newsletter
ADA Question of the Month
Question: I am a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of combat. As an accommodation I need a service animal to help interrupt some of my behaviors. As I begin to go out again, I’m finding some places deny me entry because they say, “No dogs allowed.” Can they do that?

The answer is at the end of the newsletter.
COVID-19 Updates
A Practical Approach to Telework as a Reasonable Accommodation During the Pandemic
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has provided guidance dealing with requests for telework as an accommodation. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), telework has long been considered a form of reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. While the EEOC provides useful guidance about telework as an accommodation, the pandemic has created a multitude of new telework issues for employers to consider. For employers who are looking for guidance on how to address these issues JAN developed practical suggestions to providing telework accommodations.

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
Institute for Human Centered Design's (IHCD) Free Webcast: From Accessible to Universal Design and Back Again
in Memory of Eliza Forrest Kaye Bromfield
Institute for Human Centered Design
On Thursday, November 18, at 12:00 p.m. IHCD will host a discussion on accessible and universal design. While the necessity of minimum standards, such as the ADA Standards for Accessible Design, has been reinforced, it is also apparent that ultimate success requires the mindset of inclusive design. In this session Rex Pace, Senior Advisor for Accessible Design at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will share his experience and insights that have evolved while working on these issues in private sector, academic, and governmental roles.
The discussion will be followed by a Q&A session with is led by Gina Hilberry, AIA, Principal Architect of Cohen Hilbery Architects; Chris Downey, AIA, Principle, Architecture for the Blind; Emmanuel Andrade, MPA, RA, NCARB, Senior Project Manager at the Office of Planning within the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance. This webcast is part of the IHCD International Inclusive Design Webcast Series in Memory of Eliza Forrest Kaye Bromfield. 

ADA Coalition of Connecticut (ADACC) Offers Special Break-out Session on The ADA, Addiction and Recovery
ADA Coalition of Connecticut
As part of their annual conference, on November 18th at 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ADACC invites people to attend the break-out session, The ADA, Addiction and Recovery. The presenters from the New England ADA Center will delve into the ADA and explain civil rights and obligations as it applies to addiction and recovery. The learning objectives will be illustrated with scenarios about alcohol, opioids, cocaine and marijuana. People with addiction are people with disabilities, too.

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Reaches Agreement with Vermont Department of Corrections to Improve Access for Inmates with Disabilities
A recent settlement agreement between the DOJ and the Vermont Department of Corrections (VDOC) ensures that inmates with disabilities have equal access to Vermont’s correctional facilities, programs, services and activities. The agreement resolves the department’s investigation into complaints that VDOC does not provide accessible facilities for inmates with mobility disabilities, and does not ensure effective communication for inmates with hearing disabilities, as required under Title II of the ADA.

Federal Jury Finds Town of Cromwell Connecticut Discriminated on the Basis of Disability
Judges gavel and two law books on a table.
Recently, a jury in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport returned a verdict — $181,000 in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages — to Gilead Community Services, a Middletown-based nonprofit that since 1968 has provided residential housing in Middlesex County to thousands of people with mental illnesses and other disabilities. The town of Cromwell opposed the operation of a group home for men with mental illnesses in a residential neighborhood near the town’s school complex. The jury concluded that Cromwell’s opposition violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act.

The New Hampshire's Governor’s Commission on Disability (GCD) continues a STABLE NH
STABLE NH The Granite State's savings plan for people with disabilities.
The GCD is continuing the focus on disability and employment beyond the end of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. They continue to put a focus on the issue of employment and disability each time it educates on New Hampshire’s ABLE program, STABLE NH. The GCD uses every means at hand, including social media, to spread the word about this game changing program, which has a built-in opportunity for those with a disability who earn a paycheck.

Webinar: Developing Inclusive Exhibition Designs
tactile museum display
On Thursday, December 9, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. the Great Lakes ADA Center's Arts-n-Rec series will host the Institute for Human Centered Design's Executive Director Valerie Fletcher and the Director of Inclusive Cultural and Educational Projects Jan Majewski to discuss the important issues in designing museum exhibitions. Such exhibitions are to be inclusive for diverse audiences of people with a broad range of abilities and ages, from all societal groups. Topics addressed will include: inclusive physical space and furniture; effective communication of content, including media and digital and mechanical interactives; a sensory environment that is comfortable as well as engaging; and the critical role of staff training.

Image source: file photo.
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 ADAinfo@IHCDesign.org with your questions or to request a training.
National News
U.S. Access Board Issues Technical Bulletins on Lavatories and Sinks, Washing Machines and Clothes Dryers, and Saunas and Steam Rooms
U.S. Access Board
The Access Board has released technical bulletins that address specifications for clear floor space, knee and toe space, forward and side reach, operable parts, height, turning space, benches, and door in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Accessibility Standards. Each bulletin clarifies common sources of confusion, answers frequently asked questions, and offers recommendations for best practice. These technical bulletins are the latest installment to the Board's online guide to the ADA and ABA Standards, which currently covers the first six chapters of the Standards.

Olay Developed an Easy-Open Moisturizer Lid for People With Limited Mobility
Jar of Olay Regenerist Cream. Lid has wings on either side, a raised top with some texture for grip, higher-contrast product labels, and Braille text that reads "face cream."
Olay's new Easy Open Lid was created specifically to improve the product's accessibility with the help of "consumers with a wide range of conditions, from dexterity issues and limb differences to chronic issues causing joint pain and vision impairments," a press release from the brand states. It is also reported that Olay consulted physical therapists, occupational therapists, and user experts during the development process. The lid has wings on either side, a raised top with some texture for grip, higher-contrast product labels, and Braille text that reads "face cream."

Image source: image courtesy of Allure and Olay.
President Biden Appoints U.S. Special Advisor on International Disability Rights
Sara Minkara Special Advisor on International Disability Rights.
President Biden has announced that Sara Minkara has been appointed as the Special Advisor on International Disability Rights. Sarah is a blind, Muslim, first-generation American who has been recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative, Forbes 30 Under 30, and other international organizations for her advocacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Minkara’s role is critical to ensuring that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of persons with disabilities around the world.

Image source: image courtesy of United States International Council on Disabilities.
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs: Four things you need to know about your toilet
Large, oversized toilet sitting on the lawn in front of the United Nations building in New York City.
Who really cares about toilets? 3.6 billion people do. Because they don’t have one. Today, nearly half the world’s population live without access to this important sanitary facility that many of us take for granted. The U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs is gearing up for World Toilet Day on November 19th. They have provided four important details about your toilet.

Image source: image courtesy of the United Nations.
Participate: Study Regarding Traumatic Brain Injury Screening in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Settings 
Second Online Survey Graphic
Researchers are studying the implementation of traumatic brain injury (TBI) screening in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment settings. The module is a training on how to administer the Ohio State University TBI Identification Method OSU TBI-ID. You are eligible to participate if you: are 18 years or older; are able to read and understand English; currently work as a licensed addiction-focused professional who provides SUD treatment or addiction counseling or behavioral health treatment to individuals who have substance use disorders. Participation is voluntary. Responses will be kept confidential. For any questions about this study, please contact Kathryn at coxe.6@osu.edu.

Webinar: Creating Accessible Digital Documents 
On Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. the ADA National Network and other regional centers will host a webinar on the creation of accessible digital documents. Digital documents can often create barriers for people with disabilities. Many of these barriers are easy to remove with training around how people with disabilities use technology. In this course, participants will learn how people with disabilities use technology to access documents, the characteristics of accessible documents, and practical tips for ensuring accessibility.

Webinar: Understanding Transportation Barriers for Diverse Individuals with Disabilities and Older Adults
Person in black jacket sitting on bus passenger chair.
In 2020, The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) embarked on an initiative to shine a light on transportation challenges of diverse populations. The NADTC conducted a survey focusing on the transportation needs and preferences of people with disabilities, older adults and caregivers of different races, ethnicities, and cultures. This presentation will discuss results from the survey to inform participants about transportation barriers, modes, and potential solutions that respond to current and future mobility needs of diverse populations of older adults and people with disabilities. Registration is free and required.

Image source: image courtesy of Piqsels.
The ADA, Addiction and Recovery Frequently Asked Questions
frequently asked questions
These frequently asked questions (FAQ) 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.

Fact Sheet: The Americans With Disabilities Act, Addiction, and Recovery for Private Businesses and Nonprofits
ADA National Network
The ADA National Network has released the fourth factsheet in our ‘ADA, Addiction, and Recovery’ series! Learn more about how the ADA applies to private businesses, nonprofits and businesses that are open to the public and whose operations affect commerce for people with addiction to alcohol and people in recovery from opioids and other drugs. Examples include healthcare and nursing homes.

Answer to the ADA Question of the Month
Answer: No. A business can have a “no dogs allowed” policy, but they need to serve people with disabilities who have service animals. Where the general public is allowed to go, so too are people with disabilities and their service animals. If there is any uncertainty about your service animal, the business may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Should you experience discrimination based on your service animal then you may want to consider filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice or with your state’s human rights commission (under their comparable anti-discrimination laws). Read more about service animals on the ADA National Network’s 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@IHCDesign.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  90DPAD0011.