2009 ADA Anniversary Tool Kit Available Online

The DBTAC – Network of ADA Centers is pleased to announce the release of the 2009 Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Anniversary Tool Kit.  Together with our Affiliate Networks and Partners, we have accomplished significant results toward voluntary ADA compliance.  The Tool Kit captures our collective achievements and offers informative materials designed to help you plan and publicize your ADA activities during the ADA Anniversary and throughout the year. The Tool Kit includes:

• Overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008
• ADA - Findings, Purpose, and History
• The Americans with Disabilities Act from a Civil Rights Perspective
• Americans with Disabilities Act Resources and Publications
• Americans with Disabilities Act and Olmstead Resources
• ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) Summary and Resources
• Statistics You Can Use
• The White House Agenda on Disabilities
• Tips on Writing a News Release
• Sample Proclamation:  ADA Anniversary
• National DBTAC Initiatives

The 2009 ADA Anniversary Tool Kit can be downloaded at http://adaanniversary.org/.

Everyone Welcome, Please Plan to Attend!!!

In recognition of the 19th anniversary of the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Minnesota State Council on Disability (MSCOD), ADA Minnesota, VSA arts of Minnesota, Access Press and the Minnesota Department of Health MCSHN are hosting an ADA Celebration on Friday, July 24 from 10:30 am to 1:00. This celebration will take place in the Mississippi Room at the Minnesota Department of Health, 1645 Energy Park Drive, Saint Paul.  

Please contact Katie at 651.361.7800 v/tty or 800.945.8913 v/tty by 4:30 pm on July 17th to register and/or request a disability related reasonable accommodation.

Keynote speaker is Janet Peters, Project Coordinator on Accessible Technology with The DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA Center. She has 15 years of experience and knowledge in the area of assistive technology and accessibility issues with technology.  She has worked with business entities, state and local governments, and education institutions to advocate for equal access for individuals with disabilities. She has her certification in assistive technology from California State University – Northridge and an academic background in computer science and is currently obtaining a Masters of Education in Learning Technologies from the University of MN-Twin Cities.

Agenda
10:30:   Welcome & Introductions
10:45:   Presentation:  Janet Peters, Project Coordinator on Accessible Technology
11:30:  Accessible Technology Standards Law Update:  Jamie Taylor, Technology & Access Specialist with Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing Minnesotans
11:45:  Q & A Session
12:00:  VSA arts of Minnesota Entertainment & light refreshments

New Publication from DOJ-Accessible Information Exchange: Meeting on a Level Playing Field

The following information is forwarded to you by the DBTAC-Great Lakes ADA Center (www.adagreatlakes.org) for your information:

For more articles across the country regarding the ADA go to our "ADA In the Headlines" page at:  http://www.adagreatlakes.org/Headlines/

The US Department of Justice has issued a new publication in their “Expanding Your Market” series titled:   “Accessible Information Exchange:  Meeting on a Level Playing Field”.   This publication focuses on planning and conducting meetings and events that are accessible to people with disabilities.   This publication is available on-line at:  http://www.ada.gov/business/accessiblemtg.htm

The American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) is proud to announce the creation of the 2009 AAHD Scholarship Program. 

The AAHD Scholarship Program will support students with disabilities who are pursuing higher education. Preference will be given to students who plan to pursue undergraduate/graduate studies in the field of public health, health promotion, or disability studies, to include disability policy and disability research. Royalties from the Disability and Health Journal will fund the first year of the AAHD Scholarship Program.

Please visit www.aahd.us to read more about the Scholarship Program and to download the application.

If you would like to make a donation to the AAHD Scholarship Program, please send your contribution to American Association on Health and Disability, 110 N. Washington Street, Suite 328-J, Rockville, MD  20850.  Please indicate your donation is for the Scholarship Program.  For additional questions, please contact Roberta Carlin at rcarlin@aahd.us or 301-545-6140 ext. 206.

ANNOUNCING THE 2009 ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY WEBINAR SERIES

The DBTAC- Great Lakes ADA Center is pleased to announce that we are sponsoring a 2009 Accessible Technology Webinar series The goal of the series is to increase awareness about the importance of technology accessibility for people with disabilities. Each session is 90 minutes in length. They will be held from 1:00-2:30 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) on dates specified.   The entire program is delivered via an on-line conferencing tool (high speed internet connection desired).  There is a fee for participation ($50.00 Non-Profit Entities and $100.00 For Profit Entities).   Registration is available on-line at:  http://www.ada-audio.org/Webinar/AccessibleTechnology/   

CAPTIONING VIDEO FOR THE INTERNET – Monday March 9, 2009 1 – 2:30 pm CST

UPDATE OF THE 508 ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS – Monday May 11, 2009 1 – 2:30 pm  CST

THE WHY AND HOW TO CREATE ACCESSIBLE PDFs – Monday July 13, 2009 1 – 2:30 pm CST

AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE OF WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY - Monday September 14, 2009 1 – 2:30 pm CST

Questions regarding the program should be directed to Janet Peters, Coordinator for Accessible Technologies via email at jpete@uic.edu or via telephone at 877-232-1990 (V/TTY)

Making Workplace Accommodations: Reasonable Cost, Big Benefits

The Office of Disability and Employment Policy within the US Department of Labor has recently released a new fact sheet titled:  "Making Workplace Accommodations: Reasonable Cost, Big Benefits".   This fact sheet shares data collected by the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) through their customer service interviews.  

To view this fact sheet go to:  http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/publicat.htm

HUD AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT RELEASE NEW GUIDANCE ON "REASONABLE MODIFICATIONS" UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT WASHINGTON

New guidance released this week by the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Justice (DOJ) reinforced the right of persons with disabilities to make "reasonable modifications" to their dwellings if a structural change to their dwelling or to a common area of the building or complex in which they live is needed so that they can fully enjoy the premises.

ADA Audio Conference Series

The ADA Audio Conference Series provides in-depth information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Accessible Information Technology and other related topics. This program is designed as a springboard to enhance an individual's existing knowledge base or facilitate continued learning regarding regulations and trends under the ADA. For more information, click the link below.

ADA Audio Conference Series

Publications

Check out the Great Lakes ADA and Accessible IT Center's monthly Newsletter by clicking the link below.

GREAT LAKES CHRONICAL

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY BULLETIN

GREAT LAKES ADA CENTER PUBLICATIONS

The Great Lakes Center maintains resources that are available in our region as well as throughout the United States regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Accessible Information Technology (AIT). Such resources include written material, consultants, architects, educators, model programs, and other services specializing in accommodating the needs of people with disabilities. The information, materials, and/or technical assistance referred to on this page are intended solely as informal guidance, and are neither a determination of your legal rights and responsibilities under the ADA, nor binding on any agency with enforcement responsibility. For questions or materials about the ADA, disability etiquette, or Accessible Information Technology, call 800-949-4232 (V/TTY) to reach your regional DBTAC: ADA Center.

A New Grant for the Great Lakes ADA Center

The Great Lakes ADA and Accessible IT Center has been serving the region of Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Indiana since 1991 as a project of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Recently, we received funding to continue from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) in the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services.

The Center’s new goals include: 1) Increase employment outcomes for people with disabilities, 2) Increase community participation of people with disabilities, and 3) Help ensure full implementation of the ADA.

The Great Lakes ADA Center will also expand our 2001 initiative addressing accessible information technology in schools. The new Center technology activities will include more in-depth training and technical assistance to businesses regarding accessible and assistive technology.

The Center will also be creating a resource toolkit to aid students transitioning from post-secondary school to employment. The toolkit will be piloted with Wisconsin Technical Colleges and made available in the Great Lakes Region.