Question: I have a service animal to steady myself while walking. Each week I go to a diner for breakfast with friends. In the past I’ve had my service animal sit on the bench next to me and I’ve given it a bit of my breakfast. Recently, the diner’s manager said I can’t have the dog sitting next to me. Is that right?

The answer is at the end of the newsletter.

Wednesday, September 28

1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. EDT

Zoom Webinar

Accessibility programs are essential to ensuring federal agencies are inclusive of employees with disabilities, especially within digital work environments. Presenters will discuss some common features, work processes, and evaluation, and implementation actions of successful document accessibility programs. Questions can be submitted in advance of the session or can be posed during the live webinar.

Register for Building a Successful Document Accessibility Program.

Image source: image courtesy of the U.S. Access Board.

Thursday, September 29

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. EDT

Live Event

MOAR and Friends will host an event to recognize the 32nd annual Recovery Month. Folks interested in taking part are asked to convene at the Parkman Bandstand, which is on the north side of the Boston Common. A brief ceremony to kick off the day will precede the march to Faneuil Hall where the day's events will include performances, artistry, speeches, honoring a members of the support community, and more.

MOAR and Friends 32nd Recovery Month Celebration Day September 29th.

Thursday, October 6

2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EDT

Zoom Webinar

Amusement rides are enjoyed by many people, including those with disabilities. The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards address accessibility for permanent amusement rides. Learn more about scoping and technical provisions for amusement rides. Additionally, U.S. Access Board staff Bill Botten and Bobby Stinnette will address requirements for accessible routes, que lines, parking and passenger loading areas, signage, sales, and service counters. Questions can be submitted in advance of the session or can be posed during the live webinar.

Register for U.S. Access Board Webinar: Accessible Amusement Rides 

October 12 - 13

Alexandria, Virginia

The Mid-Atlantic ADA Center will host ADACon 2022!, which is a comprehensive conference on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Alexandria, Virginia. The in-person conference offers attendees the opportunity to select from over 30 breakout sessions, network with other professionals with similar interests and concerns, and earn continuing education hours for professional development requirements. Conference session topics will cover ADA implementation and disability inclusion. A limited capacity pre-conference will be held Tuesday, October 11. Save $50 during early bird registration! Conference registration fee is $600 through August 8.

Register for 29th Annual Mid-Atlantic ADA Center’s ADA Conference.

Thursday, October 27

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. EDT

Zoom Webinar and Live Event

The Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) announces disability rights lawyer, author, and pioneer in both the digital accessibility legal space and in collaborative problem-solving, Lainey Feingold as keynote for this year’s summit. Since 1995, she negotiated several ground-breaking settlement agreements – all without filing a single lawsuit. She was recognized as both the Problem Solver of the Year and a Legal Rebel by the American Bar Association. Lainey is committed to MOD's vision of a more accessible digital world, and they are excited to welcome her as this year's keynote speaker.

Register for MOD: Accessibility in a Digital World – Disability Summit.

Image source: image courtesy of MOD.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office reached an agreement with Next Step Healthcare, LLC (Next Step), the operator of 21 skilled nursing facilities in Massachusetts, to resolve allegations that Next Step violated the ADA by turning away patients who indicated they were prescribed medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). Individuals receiving treatment for Opioid Use Disorder are generally considered disabled under the ADA, which, among other things, prohibits private healthcare providers from discriminating on the basis of disability. The healthcare provider allegedly denied admission to 548 patients who were prescribed MOUD.

Operator of 21 Massachusetts Skilled Nursing Facilities Agrees to Resolve Allegations of Disability Discrimination.

The Institute for Human Centered Design is inviting people who are legally blind working in different industries to tell us about their employment experiences during the pandemic. People with lived experience of legal blindness in the workforce, or looking for work, are invaluable User/Experts who can inform the process by sharing their personal experience. The survey is completely voluntary and you can stop at any time. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. You will receive a $25 eGift Card for sharing your time and expertise if you choose to provide your email.

Participate: Impact of COVID-19 on People Who Are Legally Blind: An Analysis of Change + Opportunity.

The state installed a mobility pathway at Popham Beach State Park to improve accessibility for people in wheelchairs or pushing strollers. Governor Janet Mills was there to see how the ramp works firsthand. "We just want to make sure that anyone of any age, any ability, has access to these beautiful state parks and beaches and monuments in the state of Maine," Mills said.

Mobility Pathway Installed at Maine’s Popham Beach State Park.

Image source: image courtesy of WGME 13.

A recent report found Plainfield’s historic Town Hall and Opera House lacks accessibility for those with disabilities. The report states, “It is evident that the Town of Plainfield has made efforts to make the facility accessible. However, our survey identified some areas that remain out of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).” As a result, the town hall likely will not be used as a polling place for the November election.

Report Finds Plainfield, Vermont Town Hall Not ADA Compliant for Voting.

Image source: image courtesy of the Town of Plainfield.

New England Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Center, a project of the Institute for Human Centered Design (IHCD), seeks an expert individual in all federal accessibility standards and regulations at their Boston, Massachusetts location. Successful candidates will provide advanced trainings on the ADA’s Title II, III, the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, and related New England state and federal disability rights laws (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Fair Housing Act). The position will also direct the ADA Center’s technical assistance (TA) on the ADA. Candidates will supervise and train, as needed, the two ADA Center staff with primary daily responsibilities for TA and training. Additionally, the position will also provide seasoned expertise as needed to IHCD’s design and consulting team and contribute to occasional development of IHCD’s tailored guidance products on accessibility and Inclusive Design.

IHCD and the New England ADA Center Seeks a Director of ADA Training and Technical Assistance.

The City of Portland announced that it is currently looking for its first Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (JDEI) Director. The JDEI Director will lead the City’s first Office of Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. As part of that role, this position will also act as advisor to the City Manager on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusive practices throughout the city of Portland, both within City government and throughout the broader community.

Portland, Maine Launches Search for First Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director.

Image source: image courtesy of Wikipedia.

Ableism and biases of disability can create difficulty when discussing disability. While there is increasing visibility of disability in mainstream media, it may be causing more harm than good. The harm can occur when media portrays an individual with a disability as inspiration or a subject of pity. Furthermore, people have more than disability as an identity. Factors, like gender, race, and privilege, need to be included in a centered discussion on disability.

How to Talk About Disability Sensitively and Avoid Ableist Tropes.

Image source: file photo.

Recently, a panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals became the first federal appellate court in the country to find that the 1990 landmark federal law protects transgender people who experience anguish and other symptoms as a result of the disparity between their assigned sex and their gender identity. The ruling could become a powerful tool to challenge legislation restricting access to medical care and other accommodations for transgender people, including employment and government benefits, advocates said.

Federal Court Rules Gender Dysphoria Covered by Americans with Disabilities Act

Image source: image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

The ADA-Knowledge Translation Center (ADA-KT) at the University of Illinois at Chicago, is conducting this research with the purpose of understanding different perspectives on how accessible and available ADA information, products, and services are available for Spanish speaking communities. This project is looking for participants who work or are involved with Spanish speaking communities. If you identify as a person with a disability, family member, professional on health, education, employment, or other professional that works across key areas of the ADA, disability rights and advocacy organizations, local churches, or other community spaces, you can be part of this research study. If you are interested in participating in this project, please contact Oscar Gonzalez at [email protected].

The U.S. Access Board has published a technical bulletin on accessible signage. The bulletin includes both the ADA Technical Guide to Signs and the ABA Technical Guide to Signs. The bulletin also answers common questions on tactile signs, visual signs, and pictograms. Vivid and detailed graphics of compliant signage are included to illustrate how various requirements can be met.

Technical Bulletin on Signs in Celebration of 54th Anniversary of the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)

The Frontline Initiative: The Diverse Voices of DSPs, is a recent publication focusing on issues affecting the direct support professional (DSP) workforce. This issue shares the voices of DSPs from underrepresented communities, and aims to broaden the understanding of lesser-heard voices. Topics covered include advocating for one's mental health, racism and discrimination, low wages, rural issues, DSPs with disabilities, self-care, and more.

Frontline Initiative: The Diverse Voices of Direct Support Professionals.

Image source: Image courtesy of Frontline Initiative. 

The ADA National Network has produced a Service Animal Resource Hub, which provides information and clarity on the often complex topic of service animals. It is a great resource whether you're new to service animals and need an introduction, or you're an expert looking to refresh your knowledge.

ADA National Network Offers New Service Animal Resource Hub.

Image source: file photo.

A California federal judge has ruled that Uber is not required to provide wheelchair-accessible vehicles, finding that it would be too burdensome on the company. The judge wrote that the plaintiffs did not present a reasonable modification of Uber's services and didn't provide enough evidence that the company had violated the law. The attorneys for the plaintiffs had argued that Uber has a “deep-rooted accessibility problem” and treats accessibility as an “afterthought.”

Judge: Uber Doesn't Have to Offer Wheelchair Accessibility.

Carl Croneberg, a deaf Swedish immigrant, helped write the first comprehensive dictionary of American Sign Language. He was the first to outline the idea of ​​deaf culture as a distinct part of society worth studying. Croneberg died August 7th at the age of 92. He assessed how deaf people implement sign language in everyday life. He traveled throughout New England and the South, interviewing deaf residents and conducting ethnographic research, paying attention to how language informed their lives to inform the dictionary project.

Carl Croneberg, Explorer of Deaf Culture, Dies at 92.

Image source: image courtesy of Scribe Story.