New England ADA Center
February Newsletter

ADA Question of the Month - Do You Know the Answer?
Question :   All state and local governments  must provide information to the public, program participants, program beneficiaries, applicants and employees about the ADA and how it applies to the public entity.  True or False:  t he notice is only required to be disseminated once? 
The answer is at the end of the newsletter.

SAVE THE DATE: 2019 State Employment Career Fair April 5, 2019

Participate: Looking for Parents with a Disability That Have Had Involvement with the Child Welfare System

Remembering Disability Advocate Tom Hopkins

National News
Research Opportunity for Adults who Use Wheelchairs Full-Time
Participate in the study: Falls and Fear of Falling in Adults who Require Wheelchairs for Locomotion. To participate you must be an adult who:  is at least 18 years old; has a neurological diagnosis (such as but not limited to post-polio syndrome, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis) for at least 6 months; use a wheelchair (manual or power) at least 75% of your mobility time inside your home and 100% of the time outside your home; has a computer with internet access; is able to read and understand English.
 
If you are interested in completing an anonymous on-line survey about your medical condition, falls, risk of falling, and fear of falling click here.

U.S. Department of Justice Reaches Settlement with Selma Medical Associates Inc. to Resolve ADA Violations
The Complainant alleges that Selma Medical refused to accept him for a new family practice appointment because he was being treated with Suboxone, which is a prescription medication used to treat opioid use disorder. Healthcare facilities cannot discriminate against people with disabilities who are in recovery from the illegal use of drugs.

Image source: file photo.

Municipal Liability Under the ADA for Website Inaccessibility
Many business owners have faced litigation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by disabled individuals who claim the businesses' websites are inaccessible. Now, many plaintiffs are turning their attention to municipalities and their websites.

Click here to read more.
Image source: image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

How the Americans with Disabilities Act Could Change the Way the Nation's Jails and Prisons Treat Addiction
The ADA says someone currently using drugs illegally is not considered an "individual with a disability," but the law also says that even current users can't be denied health care. But much of how the ADA applies in these situations is open to interpretation and "As we move forward, we're going to look at each arrival on a case-by-case basis,"  said   Essex County Sheriff Kevin  Coppinger .

Image source: photo courtesy of the ABA Journal by Shutterstock.com.

Mark your calendars and join the ADA National Network and regional co-hosts for a 1-hour Twitter chat about accessible parking. Tuesday, February 21, 2019. 10 am PST/12pm CT/1pm ET. Tweet your questions and answers about accessible parking along with the hashtag #ADANetworkChat.
Alex Zanardi Takes the Wheel in a New Way

The Rise of Buildings for the Deaf and Blind
Incorporating, sound, fragrance, or texture into design may provide a greater navigation of space. Architects are adapting to the need for more multisensory design.

Click here to read more.
Image source: image courtesy of The Economist by Andrea Ucini.

ADA Title II Action Guide for State and Local Governments - 7 Steps to Implement the ADA Graphic
State and local governments (public entities) have obligations under Title II of the ADA to provide people with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in all services, programs and activities.  The ADA Action Guide  leads public entities through a process to compliance with the ADA.

Answer to the ADA Question of the Month

Answer:  False: Public entities must provide the information not just once, but on an ongoing basis. Learn more about the ADA's provision of public notice in the ADA Title II Action Guide for State and Local Governments.

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New England ADA Center, a project of the Institute for Human Centered Design

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.