Archive for the ‘ADA Coordinators’ Category.
Questions are asked even 20 years After the ADA
20 Years After the ADA and Questions are Still Being Asked
A Editorial by Joel Sheffel
Executive Director WSANA.org
It is now 20 years after the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) has been passed and both as a individual with a disability as well as an advocate for individuals with a disability allow me to ask some questions.
1. Do individuals with disabilities get treated with the same respect as those who do not have disabilities?
2. Are those with disabilities among those who might get passed up by the busses which have been specifically made so one could use public transportation?
3. If one does board a bus are Priority Seats not occupied by kids who think the seats are for them?
4. Do first responders treat those with disabilities with respect the way they should?
5. When meeting the general public are persons with disabilities considered part of the general public and not pitied or felt sorry for?
6. Why when transportation companies have been given federal funds are there so many elevated and inter city train stations which are inaccessible to those who are in wheelchairs or scooters or find stairs so very hard to walk?
7. Why are so many problems ending up in courts when federal and state laws are ignored?
If America is to become the great country it can be then high school and college youth need to be better trained and educated as far as proper behavior after leaving school and mixing with the general public on busses and even on the sidewalks.
Mean People
In Their Own Words – Mean People
This “In Their Own Words” is by Jennifer C., whose three-year-old daughter, Sierra, was diagnosed with autism at 20 months. You can read more of her writing at http://fingerprintsofautism.blogspot.com/.
My family went out to eat last night at a restaurant here in town. We usually go to kid-friendly ones that are pretty noisy already. If any of you have an autistic child you know how they cannot control their volume very well. Sierra is very loud and she doesn’t speak that well yet either, but she talks all the time and she squeals a lot when she is having fun. She was happy and being silly, a far cry from a year ago when she didn’t talk and just cried and yelled when we took her out. We try to teach her how to use an inside voice when we are out, but she does it for a minute and goes right back to being loud.
There were two elderly women sitting across the aisle from us who were just horrified by Sierra; they held their ears and shot glances at us, like my child was throwing knives at them. I do usually apologize for her being loud and I did to the other tables closer to us, but they were being nice about it. It wasn’t a constant loudness; she was being very good – eating her food and just being silly because other people were playing with her and her baby sister. When we were done, my husband got up to pay the bill and that’s when one of the elderly women said to me, “Can you keep your kid quiet or does she have to screech like that?”
I almost choked on my french fry. I have never had someone be so mean about it. If she had actually took a minute to look at Sierra, she would have noticed that she doesn’t talk clearly in any way and that she uses sign language while she is “screeching,” as she put it. That might have been a clue that maybe my child makes noise like that because she does not know how to communicate properly yet! I just said in a very loud and mad tone, “She is autistic and she does not understand how to be quiet!” Then she just gave me a blank look and said, “Okay”. I know she was a coward because she waited until my husband left the table to say it. I hope she was embarrassed. There was so much more I wanted to say but I just couldn’t get it out. I get so upset, then I start to cry and I didn’t want them to see me cry.
I think people are very judgmental about autistic children. They don’t look close enough to see that there might be something wrong with the child; all they see is an unruly child. If they walked in our shoes for one day, they would never be judgmental about another child and their family again. The next time you see a child crying by the gumball machines, it might not be that she is having a temper tantrum for candy; it could be my daughter crying because they changed what is in the machines. At the restaurant, she is crying because the chicken is stringy and she can’t eat stuff with strings hanging off. At the park, it’s because the other kids scare her. At the grocery store, it’s because we walked a different way through the store. Sierra very rarely cries because she can’t have a toy; she cries when her routine changes or when she has trouble communicating her needs, and she gets unruly when she is scared and or on uncommon ground. Imagine having to live life like that and you will think twice about being judgmental.
I love my daughter so much and I wish other people could see her through my eyes, how wonderful, loving, and smart she is, and how frustrated she gets trying to adapt in this world. It breaks my heart every day knowing that she will have to put up with mean people who don’t understand her and what autism is.
“In Their Own Words” is a series within the Autism Speaks blog which shares the voices of people who have autism, as well as their loved ones. If you have a story you wish to share about your personal experience with autism, please send it to editors@autismspeaks.org. Autism Speaks reserves the right to edit contributions for space, style and content. Because of the volume of submissions, not all can be published on the site.
What is Accessible Information Technology?
What is accessible information technology?
Accessible information technology is technology that can be used by people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. Each user is able to interact with the technology in ways that work best for him or her. Accessible technology is either directly accessible-in other words, it is usable without assistive technology-or it is compatible with standard assistive technology. Just as buildings that have ramps and elevators are accessible to wheelchair users, products that adhere to accessible design principles are usable by people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities.
Examples of accessible electronic and information technology:
- Accessible software applications may include features specifically designed for users with disabilities. However, they always give users more than one way of accomplishing a task. They use established standards for displaying menus and prompts that can be interpreted by assistive technology. They allow users to use the mouse alone, the keyboard alone, or a combination of the two. They rely on more than color to convey information. Installation instructions, user guides, and other documentation are available in alternate formats, such as large print, Braille, and electronic text.
- Accessible multimedia products, which may be distributed on videotapes, CDs, DVDs, or the World Wide Web, include synchronized text captions for spoken information and other audio content and provide synchronized audio descriptions for visual content. They offer more than one way to input commands or respond to prompts. For example, captions may be provided in addition to spoken instructions to allow children with hearing impairments who can read to participate. Providing keyboard commands for all functions of the software allows children with visual impairments to participate. Captioning and alternative ways of navigating can make a big difference in the ability of students with disabilities to use these technologies independently. Descriptive narration and audio navigation (talking menus) are also essential in order for those with vision impairments to access videos and DVDs independently.
- Accessible websites are designed to be usable by individuals with a broad range of abilities and disabilities; they are designed so that all visitors can navigate the site, access content, and participate in interactive web activities. Accessible web sites provide a text equivalent (typically a description) for all nontext elements, such as audio, video, graphics, animation, graphical buttons, and image maps. This allows those who cannot see the screen to access the information with a screen reader that can read the description of a picture but cannot “read” the picture.
- Accessible copy machines can be operated in more than one way using keypads, touch screens, or voice recognition. Height and position can be adjusted so that controls are within easy reach and the display can be viewed easily. Document feeders are located at desk height, putting them within reach.
New Suit to Make Gas Stations Accessible
Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, July 15, 2010 Justice Department Reaches Comprehensive Settlement with National Owner of Gas Stations Resolving ADA Claims
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced a comprehensive settlement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with QuikTrip Corporation, a private company that owns and operates more than 550 gas stations, convenience stores, travel centers, and truck stops in the Midwest, South and Southwestern United States. Under the consent decree, which was filed today along with a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, QuikTrip will create a $1.5 million compensatory damages fund for individuals who were victims of discrimination based on disability, as well as take various steps to make its stores accessible.
The Justice Department initially opened the investigation in response to complaints about inaccessible parking by two individuals with disabilities in the Omaha, Neb., area. The lawsuit filed by the Justice Department alleges that the investigation revealed a nationwide pattern and practice of discrimination on the basis of disability. QuikTrip Corporation worked with the Justice Department to amicably resolve the matter without active litigation.
“On July 26, 2010, we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ADA, a landmark civil rights law that ensures equal access and equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. Ensuring full and equal access to all businesses open to the public is a top priority, and the Justice Department is committed to vigorous enforcement of the ADA to ensure equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.
“Convenience stores and gas stations are a critical part of everyday life in America, and these facilities must afford equal access to individuals with disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Perez. “QuikTrip has worked cooperatively with the department so we could resolve this case without active litigation and has affirmed its commitment to serving individuals with disabilities by taking the necessary actions to achieve ADA compliance at all of its stores.”
Under the settlement, which remains subject to court approval, QuikTrip Corporation will:
- Make necessary modifications at its current stores over a three year period to achieve compliance with ADA accessibility requirements. QuikTrip has retained an independent licensed architect approved by the department to certify compliance with the ADA architectural standards for each of its current stores;
- Design and construct future stores so they comply with the ADA architectural standards and obtain a certification of ADA compliance for each future store from the independent licensed architect or a construction manager who has been trained by the architect on ADA compliance issues;
- Ensure that at least two fueling positions at each of its current stores and all fueling positions at each store opened after the entry of the consent decree are accessible to individuals with disabilities, including the fuel dispenser controls, self-service payment mechanism, call button and amenities. At QuikTrip stores opened after approval of the consent decree, two fuel dispensers will be on the shortest accessible route to the store entrance;
- Adopt, implement and train store employees on policies to ensure fueling and other types of indoor and outdoor assistance for people with disabilities, equal access for individuals who use service animals, and maintaining accessible features, such as accessible parking and routes;
- Ensure and maintain operation of remote notification systems for outdoor assistance after an initial testing and upgrade of notification systems that may take up to six months;
- Implement and maintain an ADA comment line and complaint resolution process and take appropriate corrective actions to resolve ADA-related complaints received from customers;
- Ensure the accessibility of its website, www.quiktrip.com ;
- Pay a maximum civil penalty in the amount of $55,000;
- Create a $1.5 million compensatory damages fund to compensate the complainants and other aggrieved persons who make timely claims to the Justice Department. Claims must be received within 180 days of entry of the consent decree by the court.
The consent decree was reached under Title III of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by businesses that are open to the public, including gas stations, convenience stores, and other retailers, both large and small. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at the website www.justice.gov/crt . More information about the settlement with QuikTrip can be found at www.ada.gov or by calling the toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TTY).
The DD Act of 2000
SUBTITLE A–GENERAL PROVISIONS42 USC 15001 SEC. 101. FINDINGS, PURPOSES, AND POLICY.(a) FINDINGS. -Congress finds that-(1) disability is a natural part of the human experience that does not diminish the right of individuals with developmental disabilities to live independently, to exert control and choice over their own lives, and to fully participate in and contribute to their communities through full integration and inclusion in the economic, political, social, cultural, and educational mainstream of United States society;(2) in 1999, there were between 3,200,000 and 4,500,000 individuals with developmental disabilities in the United States, and recent studies indicate that individuals with developmental disabilities comprise between 1.2 and 1.65 percent of the United States population;(3) individuals whose disabilities occur during their developmental period frequently have severe disabilities that are likely to continue indefinitely;(4) individuals with developmental disabilities often encounter discrimination in the provision of critical services, such as services in the areas of emphasis (as defined in section 102);(5) individuals with developmental disabilities are at greater risk than the general population of abuse, neglect,PUBLIC LAW 106-402-OCT. 30, 2000 114 STAT. 1679financial and sexual exploitation, and the violation of their legal and human rights;(6) a substantial portion of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families do not have access to appropriate support and services, including access to assistive technology, from generic and specialized service systems, and remain unserved or underserved;(7) individuals with developmental disabilities often require lifelong community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance, that are most effective when provided in a coordinated manner;(8) there is a need to ensure that services, supports, and other assistance are provided in a culturally competent manner, that ensures that individuals from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds are fully included in all activities provided under this title;(9) family members, friends, and members of the community can play an important role in enhancing the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities, especially when the family members, friends, and community members are provided with the necessary community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance;(10) current research indicates that 88 percent of individuals with developmental disabilities live with their families or in their own households;(11) many service delivery systems and communities are not prepared to meet the impending needs of the 479,862 adults with developmental disabilities who are living at home with parents who are 60 years old or older and who serve as the primary caregivers of the adults;(12) in almost every State, individuals with developmental disabilities are waiting for appropriate services in their communities, in the areas of emphasis;(13) the public needs to be made more aware of the capabilities and competencies of individuals with developmental disabilities, particularly in cases in which the individuals are provided with necessary services, supports, and other assistance;(14) as increasing numbers of individuals with developmental disabilities are living, learning, working, and participating in all aspects of community life, there is an increasing need for a well trained workforce that is able to provide the services, supports, and other forms of direct assistance required to enable the individuals to carry out those activities;(15) there needs to be greater effort to recruit individuals from minority backgrounds into professions serving individuals with developmental disabilities and their families;(16) the goals of the Nation properly include a goal of providing individuals with developmental disabilities with the information, skills, opportunities, and support to-(A) make informed choices and decisions about their lives;(B) live in homes and communities in which such individuals can exercise their full rights and responsibilities as citizens;(C) pursue meaningful and productive lives;(D) contribute to their families, communities, and States, and the Nation;114 STAT. 1680 PUBLIC LAW 106-402-OCT. 30, 2000(E) have interdependent friendships and relationships with other persons;(F) live free of abuse, neglect, financial and sexual exploitation, and violations of their legal and human rights; and(G) achieve full integration and inclusion in society, in an individualized manner, consistent with the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities of each individual; and(17) as the Nation, States, and communities maintain and expand community living options for individuals with developmental disabilities, there is a need to evaluate the access to those options by individuals with developmental disabilities and the effects of those options on individuals with developmental disabilities.(b) PURPOSE. -The purpose of this title is to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of community life, through culturally competent programs authorized under this title, including specifically-(1) State Councils on Developmental Disabilities in each State to engage in advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities that-(A) are consistent with the purpose described in this subsection and the policy described in subsection (c); and(B) contribute to a coordinated, consumer- and family-centered, consumer- and family-directed, comprehensive system that includes needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families;(2) protection and advocacy systems in each State to protect the legal and human rights of individuals with developmental disabilities;(3) University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service-(A) to provide interdisciplinary pre-service preparation and continuing education of students and fellows, which may include the preparation and continuing education of leadership, direct service, clinical, or other personnel to strengthen and increase the capacity of States and communities to achieve the purpose of this title;(B) to provide community services-(i) that provide training and technical assistance for individuals with developmental disabilities, their families, professionals, paraprofessionals, policy-makers, students, and other members of the community; and(ii) that may provide services, supports, and assistance for the persons described in clause (i) through demonstration and model activities;(C) to conduct research, which may include basic or applied research, evaluation, and the analysis of public policy in areas that affect or could affect, either positivelyPUBLIC LAW 106-402-OCT. 30, 2000 114 STAT. 1681or negatively, individuals with developmental disabilities and their families; and(D) to disseminate information related to activities undertaken to address the purpose of this title, especially dissemination of information that demonstrates that the network authorized under this subtitle is a national and international resource that includes specific substantive areas of expertise that may be accessed and applied in diverse settings and circumstances; and(4) funding for-(A) national initiatives to collect necessary data on issues that are directly or indirectly relevant to the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities;(B) technical assistance to entities who engage in or intend to engage in activities consistent with the purpose described in this subsection or the policy described in sub-section (c); and(C) other nationally significant activities.(c) POLICY. -It is the policy of the United States that all pro-grams, projects, and activities receiving assistance under this title shall be carried out in a manner consistent with the principles that-(1) individuals with developmental disabilities, including those with the most severe developmental disabilities, are capable of self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of community life, but often require the provision of community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance;(2) individuals with developmental disabilities and their families have competencies, capabilities, and personal goals that should be recognized, supported, and encouraged, and any assistance to such individuals should be provided in an individualized manner, consistent with the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities of such individuals;(3) individuals with developmental disabilities and their families are the primary decisionmakers regarding the services and supports such individuals and their families receive, including regarding choosing where the individuals live from available options, and play decisionmaking roles in policies and programs that affect the lives of such individuals and their families;(4) services, supports, and other assistance should be pro-vided in a manner that demonstrates respect for individual dignity, personal preferences, and cultural differences;(5) specific efforts must be made to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds and their families enjoy increased and meaningful opportunities to access and use community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance available to other individuals with developmental disabilities and their families;(6) recruitment efforts in disciplines related to developmental disabilities relating to pre-service training, community training, practice, administration, and policymaking must focus on bringing larger numbers of racial and ethnic minorities114 STAT. 1682 PUBLIC LAW 106-402-OCT. 30, 2000into the disciplines in order to provide appropriate skills, knowledge, role models, and sufficient personnel to address the growing needs of an increasingly diverse population;(7) with education and support, communities can be accessible to and responsive to the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families and are enriched by full and active participation in community activities, and contributions, by individuals with developmental disabilities and their families;(8) individuals with developmental disabilities have access to opportunities and the necessary support to be included in community life, have interdependent relationships, live in homes and communities, and make contributions to their families, communities, and States, and the Nation;(9) efforts undertaken to maintain or expand community-based living options for individuals with disabilities should be monitored in order to determine and report to appropriate individuals and entities the extent of access by individuals with developmental disabilities to those options and the extent of compliance by entities providing those options with quality assurance standards;(10) families of children with developmental disabilities need to have access to and use of safe and appropriate child care and before-school and after-school programs, in the most integrated settings, in order to enrich the participation of the children in community life;(11) individuals with developmental disabilities need to have access to and use of public transportation, in order to be independent and directly contribute to and participate in all facets of community life; and(12) individuals with developmental disabilities need to have access to and use of recreational, leisure, and social opportunities in the most integrated settings, in order to enrich their participation in community life.42 USC 15002 SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.In this title:(1) AMERICAN INDIAN CONSORTIUM. -The term ”American Indian Consortium” means any confederation of 2 or more recognized American Indian tribes, created through the official action of each participating tribe, that has a combined total resident population of 150,000 enrolled tribal members and a contiguous territory of Indian lands in 2 or more States.(2) AREAS OF EMPHASIS. -The term ”areas of emphasis” means the areas related to quality assurance activities, education activities and early intervention activities, child care-related activities, health-related activities, employment-related activities, housing-related activities, transportation-related activities, recreation-related activities, and other services available or offered to individuals in a community, including formal and informal community supports, that affect their quality of life.(3) ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE. -The term ”assistive technology device” means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improvePUBLIC LAW 106-402-OCT. 30, 2000 114 STAT. 1683functional capabilities of individuals with developmental disabilities.(4) ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SERVICE. -The term ”assistive technology service” means any service that directly assists an individual with a developmental disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. Such term includes-(A) conducting an evaluation of the needs of an individual with a developmental disability, including a functional evaluation of the individual in the individual’s customary environment;(B) purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of an assistive technology device by an individual with a developmental disability;(C) selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing or replacing an assistive technology device;(D) coordinating and using another therapy, intervention, or service with an assistive technology device, such as a therapy, intervention, or service associated with an education or rehabilitation plan or program;(E) providing training or technical assistance for an individual with a developmental disability, or, where appropriate, a family member, guardian, advocate, or authorized representative of an individual with a developmental disability; and(F) providing training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing education and rehabilitation services), employers, or other individuals who provide services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of, an individual with developmental disabilities.(5) CENTER. -The term ”Center” means a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service established under subtitle D.(6) CHILD CARE-RELATED ACTIVITIES. -The term ”child care-related activities” means advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities that result in families of children with developmental disabilities having access to and use of child care services, including before-school, after-school, and out-of-school services, in their communities.(7) CULTURALLY COMPETENT.-The term ”culturally competent”, used with respect to services, supports, or other assistance, means services, supports, or other assistance that is conducted or provided in a manner that is responsive to the beliefs, interpersonal styles, attitudes, language, and behaviors of individuals who are receiving the services, supports, or other assistance, and in a manner that has the greatest likelihood of ensuring their maximum participation in the program involved.(8) DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY.-(A) IN GENERAL. -The term ”developmental disability” means a severe, chronic disability of an individual that-(i) is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments;114 STAT. 1684 PUBLIC LAW 106-402-OCT. 30, 2000(ii) is manifested before the individual attains age 22;(iii) is likely to continue indefinitely;(iv) results in substantial functional limitations in 3 or more of the following areas of major life activity:
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