A project of the Institute for Human Centered Design |
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September 2020 Newsletter |
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ADA Question of the Month |
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Question: I had a broken leg a few years ago from a motorcycle accident and needed pain medication. Unfortunately, I became addicted to Vicodin and started using "oxy" that I bought from a "friend." After struggling with addiction for a time, I sought help and have been in recovery for the last couple years. My employer doesn't know I am in Medical Assisted Treatment. I need to take a little extra time for lunch once a week for counselling. Do I need to tell my employer why?
The answer is at the end of the newsletter.
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Rhode Island Governor's Commission (GCD) on Disability Weighs in on the ADA and Face Mask Policies |
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In light of recent negative comments, the GCD's Bob Cooper and Denyse Whilhelm have provided insight to the face mask mandates. Their experience at the GCD lends a perspective important to understanding the face mask orders and how that affects people with disabilities.
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A Warning About Fake Face Mask Exemption Cards |
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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a warning about phony face mask exemption cards. Recently, the group called the Freedom to Breathe Agency issued such fraudulent cards that claim the cardholder is exempt from wearing a face covering. Our own Kathy Gips provides insights into the face mask debate.
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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 rights. Read more about how the ADA relates to programs and services provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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September is Recovery Month |
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On September 23rd, the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR) wants you to "Join the Voices for Recovery: Celebrating Connection." MOAR's 30th annual Recovery Day Celebration will be virtual. The event will feature artists and comedians in recovery.
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Massachusetts Opioid Screening and Awareness Day |
On September 22, the event will start with a virtual town hall from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Participants will learn from experts about opioid misuse and treatment, and will be able to take a free, anonymous, online screening for themselves or a loved one.
Image source: file photo.
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How the ADA Addresses Addiction and Recovery |
The magazine, Advances in Addiction Recovery, released an article that explains how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) addresses alcohol use disorder (AUD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD). The ADA applies to AUD and SUD differently. Author and New England ADA Center Project Director, Oce Harrison, illustrates the differences with stories about alcohol, opioids, cocaine, and marijuana.
Image source: file photo.
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New Hampshire Governor’s Commission on Disability (GCD) STABLE NH Council Convenes |
The GCD has convened the STABLE NH Council with Lorrie Ripley, CAP Ombudsman, facilitating the remote meetings. The council is tasked with both spreading the word about the benefits of these accounts and educating people across the state on STABLE NH accounts as a powerful financial tool for individuals with disabilities.
Image source: image courtesy of Louise McBride.
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Americans with Disabilities Act Coalition of Connection (ADACC) Virtual State Conference 2020 |
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The conference is being held as a virtual event this year. There are four Fridays of virtual lunch and learns for advancing and understanding ADA rights and responsibilities. ADACC has been able to secure speakers from around the country; experts like Kathy Gips, Lainey Feingold, Len Sandler, Linda Clemon-Karp, and Becky Gibson, as well as some local experts.
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Coming Soon: The Changing Reality of Disability in America: 2020 Report and Full-length Film |
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On August 19th the Institute for Human Centered Design (IHCD) will a virtual event showing the full-length documentary "The Changing Reality of Disability in America: 2020. The film attempts to document the experience of disability in America today. The research attempted to go beyond the data and tell stories of people who inform our understanding of what full participation requires today. The documentary shines a light on stories of those often left behind. The film and associated report will be released soon - check the IHCD website for updates.
Image source: file photo.
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Maine Woman with ALS Hopes More Businesses Become Accessible |
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Tammy Michaels has been on a mission to bring awareness to ALS and accessibility. As Michaels' condition progresses, she has found it’s not easy or safe to go to some of favorite places because of accessibility. New England ADA Center's Jason Angel offers insight on businesses' obligation under the American's with Disabilities Act.
Image source: image courtesy of WABI TV5.
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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 call. 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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EEOC Releases Technical Assistance Documents on Opioid Addiction and Employment |
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The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released two new technical assistance documents that address concerns about the employment provisions of the ADA and the opioid epidemic. The increase of opioid use and abuse in recent years poses unique challenges to the workplace. These documents aim to provide clarity to the public regarding existing legal requirements under the law.
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Smithsonian Offers New Resources for Museum Professionals |
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Documentary Charts The Transformative Work Of An Orchestra For Musicians With Mental Illness |
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The Me2/Orchestra (name chosen before the Me Too movement),is billed as the only orchestra in the world created by and for people living with mental illnesses. Musicians living with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder have found homes with Me2/. Filmmakers follow the formation of the Boston Me2/ ensemble, creating intimate portraits of their travails and triumphs.
Image source: image courtesy of NPR.
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"What Can a Body Do? How We Meet the Built World" |
A new book by the artist and design researcher Sara Hendren seeks to look beyond innovation. The author looks to re-center the people, behind the tools, who must work with their surroundings, their adaptations at least as miraculous as the technology that helps them.
Image source: image courtesy of The New Yorker illustrated by Simone Noronha.
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New Research Brief: Social Isolation and Loneliness During COVID-19 |
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Before the current pandemic, people with disabilities reported significantly higher rates of social isolation and loneliness than those without disabilities. In the report, researchers compared data from two cross-sectional samples collected before and after the first wave of “stay-at-home” orders. One finding suggests that social isolation and feelings of loneliness are associated with poor mental and physical health.
Image source: image courtesy of 123RF.com.
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Boston Lyric Opera Partners With CostumeWorks to Make Clear-Front Face Masks For the Deaf Community |
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The opera company is working with its costume shop partner to make clear-front face masks for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Bradley Vernatter, Boston Lyric Opera's chief operating officer said, "Along with the production staff at BLO, the artists at CostumeWorks took great care in designing and delivering a simple, elegant product to help potentially thousands of Boston's deaf and hard-of-hearing citizens."
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Fact Sheets: Population of People Living in Nursing Homes |
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The ADA Participation Action Research Consortium (ADA PARC) a research collaboration between several ADA Centers across the country. The collaborative examines factors that influence the participation of people with disabilities in their communities.
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Answer to the ADA Question of the Month |
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Answer: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures that people with disabilities, including people with addiction to alcohol and those in recovery from addiction to opioids and other drugs, have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. Someone in recovery from addiction to drugs is a person with a disability, and protected under the ADA. If an employer asks, one must be honest about their addiction. Since you are asking for extra time as a reasonable accommodation to attend an appointment related to your disability, you would need to disclose your disability (addiction). To learn more about rights for people with addiction or in recovery, click The ADA, Addiction, Recovery, and Employment.
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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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