New England ADA Center
 March Newsletter

ADA Question of the Month - Do You Know the Answer?
Question :   My son lives in a condominium. The association has a no pets policy. My son was recently diagnosed with depression and an anxiety disorder. His psychiatrist recommended an emotional support animal. My son sent a letter to the association trustees but they turned down his request.  What are his rights?
The answer is at the end of the newsletter.

For the First Time in Massachusetts an Inmate Will Get Methadone
Geoffrey Pesce, will become the first man in memory to take methadone while incarcerated.  Pesce will get his medicine under a court order that applies only to him. Pesce is the plaintiff in a  successful suit  by the American Civil Liberties Union. Correctional officials prepare to meet new mandates to start offering methadone and another medication, buprenorphine, to some inmates.

Image source: Photo courtesy of Essex County Sheriff's Department Headquarters.

Fake Service Animals May Cost You in Connecticut
Service Dog A bill being considered by lawmakers would make it a crime in the state to misrepresent an animal as a service animal. Those in favor of the bill argue that some people have been pretending their animals are service animals to obtain the special treatment of people with legitimate disabilities.

Image source: File photo.

NH Governor's Commission on Disability (GCD) to Form a Workforce Focus Group

Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights (VCDR): Keep Calm and Lead On!  Hundreds Attend Disability Awareness Day

A Sign of the Times in One Massachusetts Community
A person's disability can be individual, but one community in Newton has come together in a big way. Neighbors of two-year-old Samantha Savitiz, who is deaf, have immersed themselves into American Sign Language. It is all in an effort to make one child feel like part of a community.  

Click here for more of the story.
Image source: photo courtesy of CBS Sunday Morning.

National News
Registration is Open for the 2019 ADA Symposium
This year's Symposium will be held in Grapevine, Texas (near Dallas) June 16-19. The event provides the latest information on regulations, guidelines, implementation strategies, and best practices related to the ADA. Sessions are presented by experts from the Dept. of Justice, EEOC, US Access Board, and Dept. of Health and Human Services. 
 
To register and learn more about the Symposium click here.

The Alcohol Crisis in America Has Been Overshadowed by Opioids, But Can No Longer Be Ignored
When talking about drug abuse and drug-related death in the U.S., most individuals think of it as separate from other drugs. But that doesn't change the impact that alcohol has on the body, the mind, or the shocking statistics of abuse and death that are attributed to alcohol use and abuse.

Image source: photo courtesy of Google open source images.

Indiana Manufacturer Offers Treatment Jobs to Applicants Who Fail a Drug Test
The program is said to be the first of its kind and is a potentially life-changing response to both the challenge of finding qualified employees and the devastating drug problem workers and communities are facing. As more employers see staff and applicants dealing with addiction, businesses must come up with creative solutions to maintain productivity.

Click here to read more.
Image source: image courtesy of HR Dive.

SURVEY: User's Needs for Communication Devices

By the numbers - Data on Disability in States, Cities and SubGroups in New England
Our research report on disability in New England has just been updated to include new data on states, select cities, and subgroups. The report highlights the true nature of disability statistics in New England and in each state. 

Click here to read more.

The Rocky Mountain ADA Center has updated both of their Service Animal and Disability Awareness and Etiquette web courses. Both courses now offer a more self-paced approach. Please don't hesitate if you have any questions. You can call the Rocky Mountain ADA Center at 1-800-949-4232 or visit our website at www.RockyMountainADA.org.

Fair Housing Act Section 504 and ADA Web Course Logo
This free course, available 24/7, covers the rights of people with disabilities in housing under the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The focus is on reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications. Duration: 2 hours to complete.
Start the web course  HERE!

Answer to the ADA Question of the Month

Answer:  The federal Fair Housing Act requires housing providers (including condo associations) to make a reasonable accommodation so that a person with a disability may have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling, including public and common use spaces.  Permitting an emotional support animal is a fairly common reasonable accommodation. The association may require reliable documentation that is necessary to evaluate if the reasonable accommodation is needed because of a disability. Please note that the ADA does not apply to private residential situations.
Learn more about the Fair Housing Act, the ADA, and Section 504.

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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.