ADALive!

Under the ADA, facilities are required to be accessible so that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy the goods, services and programs that businesses, nonprofits and state and local government offer to the general public. Some people think that only new construction and alterations need to be accessible and that older facilities are “grandfathered in,” but that’s not true. J...

It’s been 25 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed. What steps have you taken to assure that your business is accessible to customers with disabilities? Graham Sisson, ADA Coordinator for the State of Alabama, and Dan Kessler, Executive Director of Disability Rights and Resources in Birmingham, Alabama, will explain how you can make sure that your business is accessible...

Last year, the ADA Legacy Tour and the colorful Road to Freedom ADA Bus, piloted by legendary photographer Tom Olin, visited nine cities across the United States between July 26 and December 2014. In 2015, an even more ambitious ADA Legacy Tour will travel to 39 cities and culminate in Washington, DC on July 26, 2015 as part of the celebrations of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabil...

Get a preview of what’s in store when you attend the 2015 National ADA Symposium from May 10-13 in Atlanta, GA. In honor of the 25th Anniversary of the ADA, this year’s Symposium is bigger and better than ever. Join Jim de Jong, Director of the Great Plains ADA Center as he chats with Sally Weiss from the Southeast ADA Center about the many speakers and seminars, along with cutting edge technology...

For the past 22 years, the annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultur...

In this episode, we will discuss: What is the definition of a service animal? Is a service animal the same as a companion animal, psychiatric animal or therapy pet? Does a business have to serve a customer who has two service animals? We will discuss some of the issues involving access for individuals with disabilities using service animals in places of business and in housing. Speaker: Rebecca Wi...

In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, this episode focuses on the Workforce Innovation and Employment Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA is designed to modernize and improve existing federal workforce development programs. Dr. Rebecca Salon and Elizabeth Jennings of the National Disability Institute’s LEAD Center will discuss the changes created by WIOA and the opportunities it pre...

Web access is not just making a website available to the public. It includes making that website accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities. Discover the “big picture” of what accessibility is, why accessibility is important, and some tools and resources to get you started on the path to a making an accessible website for all your visitors. Speakers: Celestia Ohrazda, Burton Blatt Inst...

Students with disabilities, including those who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, don’t usually know about their opportunities in higher education, what accommodations are available, and how to request them. This episode discusses what students with disabilities and their families need to know about access to higher education and the kinds of supports and services that are availabl...

In this episode we will discuss how to make a beach accessible to people with disabilities. This episode will examine challenges such as beach and wildlife protections alterations to an existing beach (including upgrades to parking, circulation path, and restroom facilities) and what defines an accessible route. Speakers: Jack Humburg, Boley Centers, Inc. Cheri Hofmann, Southeast ADA Center More I...

Playgrounds with accessible components included throughout the play areas make it possible for children with and without disabilities to choose where and how they want to play with each other. The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design went into effect on March 15, 2012. The Standards contain specific technical requirements for new or altered play areas, regardless of whether they are publicly o...

This episode about access to pools will provide people with disabilities, state and local government staff, businesses, and interested persons with an overview of why pool access is important, what people should expect to see in terms of access based upon new 2010 regulations, and answer some specific, real-world questions about access. Speakers: Barry Whaley, MLM Associates, Inc. and University o...

Planning for and responding to emergencies can be overwhelming. The key is preparation. This episode discusses what emergency managers and shelter operators need to know in order to prepare for housing people with disabilities and also talks about what people with disabilities need to do to prepare for emergency evacuations. Speakers: Marilyn Self, Regional Director, Disaster Support Functions for...

Voting is a fundamental right. In 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). This legislation is aimed at improving the general election process and sets forth new requirements for state election officials to follow. This episode will focus on the requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and HAVA to make polling places accessible to people...

What is the definition of a service animal? Is a service animal the same as a companion animal, psychiatric animal or therapy pet? Does a business have to serve a customer who has two service animals? We will discuss some of the issues involving access for individuals with disabilities using service animals in places of business and in housing. Speaker: Sally Weiss, Director for Knowledge Translat...

The Department of Justice has investigated hundreds of complaints about the failure to provide effective communication. Historically, they have received more complaints about failure to provide effective communication than any other issues they have dealt with. Join this episode to learn about the obligations of medical providers, lawyers, tax preparers, local and state government agencies, employ...

Equal access to meetings, conferences and events is one part of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) but this requirement is often overlooked or misunderstood. Join us for this episode where we will discuss issues that should be part of planning and hosting temporary events, such as conferences and workshops. Speaker: Karen Hamilton, North Carolina Council on Developmental Dis...

Since 2001, about 2.5 million men and women have served in the U.S. military. One-third of these service members served more than once. About half of all returning veterans have some level of service-connected disability. For many veterans, the transition to civilian life means learning to live with a disability. Today’s “yellow ribbon” spirit has resulted in better services, protections and treat...

This episode will address the legal and practical issues surrounding reasonable accommodations in employment under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA). Topics to be discussed include: definition of disability, the legal rights and responsibilities of employees and employers, and the process of requesting reasonable accommodations. Speakers: Jack...