ADA, 20 Years Later

The 2010 Survey of Americans with Disabilities, conducted by the Kessler Foundation/National Organization on Disability, is the sixth effort over the past 24 years to: assess the quality of life of people with disabilities on a wide range of critical dimensions; measure the gaps between people with and without disabilities on these indicators; and track them over time. This year, three new indicators were added: technology, access to mental health services, and overall financial situation. While there has been modest improvement in a few areas, the general implication of the indicators is that twenty years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act there has yet to be significant progress in most areas. This lack of progress is especially true in the employment area. The Report states: "Employment rates for people with disabilities and without disabilities seem to be affected similarily by the economic recession, meaning that this is still the area where people with disabilities seem to be at the greatest disadvantage compared to the rest of the population...Among all working age (18-64) people with disabilities, only 21% say that they are employed full or part-time, compared to 59% of working age people without disabilities-a gap of 38 percentage points...People with disabilities report that they are still much more likely than people without disabilities to be living in poverty..." A summary of the survey can be downloaded in PDF format.

Promising Practices… Achieving a more welcoming, integrated and accessible One-Stop Career Center system

As one of the key principles of WIA, universal access offered the promise of a welcoming, integrated, and user-friendly system. Job seekers would be able to independently tap into all available employment services, resulting in fewer requests for specialized assistance and more efficient use of staff resources. Under WIA and the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations would be provided upon request; however, One-Stop Career Centers would streamline services so that a wide-ranging population of job seekers, including job seekers with disabilities, would have direct access to their resources, programs and activities. With the addition of Disability Program Navigators (DPNs) in One-Stop Career Centers across the nation, universal access moved into the spotlight. Read the full Brief to learn how DPNs throughout the country are helping to expand universal access in One-Stop Career Centers for a more diverse population of job seekers.

How Students with Disabilities Can Prepare for College

How Students with Disabilities Can Prepare for College Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology (DO-IT) Program https://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/college.html This publication addresses issues surrounding the transitions from high school to college and beyond for people with disabilities. It covers three phases: • Preparing for college while in high school. • Staying in college, which requires numerous self-management skills. • Preparing to move beyond college and into a career. Preparing for College: An Online Tutorial https://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/cprep.html College Survival Skills: Tips for Students with Disabilities to Increase College Success https://www.washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Academics/survival.html

Employment Transportation Options and Strategies:

Employment Transportation Options and Strategies: Opportunities for the Public Workforce System This document highlights some information on transportation initiatives and programs that can provide communities and One-Stop Career Centers with resources and suggestions to help customers address their transportation needs. The following resources from the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) and the Federal Transit Administration’s United We Ride (UWR) program offer transportation options and strategies for the public workforce system to help bridge the transportation gap to employment for individuals with disabilities, older adults, low-income and others with challenges to employment. There are several resources developed by CTAA targted specifically to the business community, including the recent publication, "Transportaion to Work: A Toolkit for the Business Community."

DOL OnLine Disability Non-Discrimination Law Advisor for Employers

On May 4, 2010, the DOL unveiled a new tool to help America's employers ensure their employment policies and practices do not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities. The online Disability Nondiscrimination Law Advisor, available at http://www.dol.gov/elaws/odep.htm, helps employers quickly and simply determine which federal disability nondiscrimination laws apply to their business or organization and their responsibilities under them. It asks users to answer a few relevant questions in order to take into account relevant variables, such as nature of organization, size of staff and whether the business or organization receives federal financial assistance. Based on the responses provided, the advisor then generates a customized list of federal disability nondiscrimination laws that likely apply, along with easy-to-understand information about employers' responsibilities under them. The advisor also can help employees, job applicants and people applying for or participating in Federally-funded programs learn more about their rights under these laws. In addition, it includes a Guide on Employing People with Disabilities that outlines resources available to help employers comply with disability nondiscrimination laws. The Disability Non-discrimination Law Advisor is one of a series of Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses, or "elaws," Advisors developed by the Labor Department's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, working with other department agencies, to help employers and employees understand federal employment laws. To access this set of advisors, visit the elaws website at http://www.dol.gov/elaws/.

Department of Justice ADA Video Gallery

Video: Ten Employment Myths U.S. Department of Justice ADA Video Gallery http://www.ada.gov/videogallery.htm#10_employmentmyths_captioned Many employers misunderstand the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are reluctant to hire people with disabilities because of unfounded myths. This seventeen-minute video responds to concerns expressed by employers, explaining the ADA in common sense terms and dispelling myths about this often overlooked pool of well-qualified employees. While you are on the site, check out the other ADA-related videos of interest.

OIG Report in DOL's Efforts to Provide Access to Persons with Disabilities

U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Audit Reports http://www.oig.dol.gov/cgi-bin/oa_rpts.cgi?s=&y=all&a=03 Information on DOL's Efforts to Ensure Access for Persons with Disabilities to the One-Stop Career System Report No. 25-10-001-03-390 (March 10, 2010) Access the website above and then search for the report titled “Information on DOL's Efforts to Ensure Access for Persons with Disabilities to the One-Stop Career System.” The full report is 13.5 MBs. The attachment represents a one-page summary that includes a link to the full report.

One-Stop Career Centers/Workforce Institute for Community Inclusion Web site

One-Stop Careers Centers/Workforce Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts-Boston http://www.communityinclusion.org/topic.php?topic_id=9 For over 40 years, the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) has worked to ensure that people with disabilities have the same opportunity to dream big, and make their dreams a fully included, integrated, and welcomed reality. As a leader not only in Massachusetts, but also nationally and internationally, ICI strives to create a world where all people with disabilities are welcome and fully included in valued roles wherever they go, whether a school, workplace, volunteer group, home, or any other part of the community. ICI projects and programs involve local, state, and national agencies, schools, institutes of higher education, national service programs, rehabilitation providers, multicultural organizations, employers, and many others. All of these partnerships work to further goals of independence and inclusion. This section of its website includes its work to help the general employment system reach job seekers with disabilities through comprehensive research, training, and consultation activities nationwide.

ADA Disability Handbook-Southwest ADA Center

Disability Law Handbook (New Edition) National Network of ADA Centers http://www.southwestada.org/html/publications/dlh/index.html. The Disability Law Handbook is a 64-page guide to the basics of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability related laws. Written in an FAQ format, The Disability Law Handbook answers questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act, the Rehabilitation Act, Social Security, the Air Carrier Access Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, and the Fair Housing Act Amendments. This publication is produced by the Southwest ADA Center, one of the ten National Network of ADA Centers funded by the National Institute on Rehabilitation and Research of the Department of Education, to provide technical assistance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability-related laws.

National Network of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Centers

The ADA National Network is a network of 10 regional ADA Centers thta provide expertise for up-to-date information, referrals, resources, and training on the Americans with Disabilites Act (ADA) to business, government entities, and persons with disabilities. http://www.adata.org/network.org

Fact Sheet: Workplace Accommodations: Low Cost, High Impact Job Accommodation Network UPDATED: September 2009

Fact Sheet: Workplace Accommodations: Low Cost, High Impact Job Accommodation Network UPDATED: September 2009

Auxiliary Aids and Services for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities: Higher Education's Obligations Under Section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Revised Sept 1998

The Office for Civil Rights provides information on postsecondary schools' obligations to provide auxiliary aids to qualified students who have disabilities under Section 504 and Title II of the ADA. It includes examples of different types of auxiliary aids and services including a section on "Questions Commonly Asked by Postsecondary Schools and Their Students."

Find an Assistive Technology Resource Center in Your State

State Assistive Technology (AT) Act programs work to improve access to assistive technology for individuals with disabilities through comprehensive statewide programs. These programs include device loans, AT reuse, device demonstrations and state financing activities. For examples of how some states have helped people with disabilities get assistive technology visit the website of the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP at http://www.ataporg.org/atap/projects.php. For a listing of AT manufacturers and distributors in your state visit ABLEDATA at http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=160163&ksectionid=19326.

Employer Resources - DPN FAQ's - U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration National Technical Assistance Project

How do I begin to build relationships with community service providers and sustain these relationships?How do I represent and educate employers on the ADA, reasonable accommodations, and hiring/retaining individuals with disabilities?

Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC)/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 2 Part Webinar Series

The Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC) National Network of 10 regional ADA Centers provides the most complete and experienced services for up-to-date information, referrals, resources, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to businesses, employers, government entities, and individuals with disabilities. Technical assistance specialists provide information and answer questions on employment, architectural access, effective communication and other issues. This two-part series provides: An overview of the services, resources and supports available to DPNs, One-Stop Career Center staff, partners and employers through the ten regional DBTAC ADA Centers. Updates on the New ADA Amendments the President signed into law on September 25, 2008. An ADA Primer for Workforce Professionals: Title I of the ADA -Employment; Title II of the ADA "Public Entities; Who is Covered by the ADA; Essential Job Functions and Qualifications; Reasonable Accommodations; Disclosure; and Disability Etiquette.

Job Accommodation Network (JAN) 2 Part Webinar Series

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a free consulting service designed to increase the employability of people with disabilities by: Providing individualized worksite accommodations solutions, Providing technical assistance regarding the ADA and other disability related legislation, and Educating callers about self-employment options. This two-part series provides both an overview and an in-depth exploration of the Job Accommodation Network. Part I covers basic information on the services and resources that JAN provides. Part II shares situations and solutions using real life examples of training and employment related accommodations provided to students, job seekers, and employees with disabilities

Reaching Out to Customers with Disabilities – an online ADA course for businesses U.S. Department of Justice

This course explains how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to businesses into ten short lessons: Lesson One: Policies, practices and procedures Lesson Two: Communicating with customers who have disabilities Lesson Three: New Buildings, additions, and remodeling Lesson Four: Removing barriers in buildings that are not being remodeled Lesson Five: Providing access when removing barriers is not readily achievable Lesson Six: Maintaining accessibility Lesson Seven: Transporting customers Lesson Eight: ADA compliance costs and tax incentives Lesson Nine: Enforcement of the ADA Lesson Ten: Information Sources

Employment of Individuals with Disabilities U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Competitive Workplace

Implemented in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University, this five-year project focused on promoting the employment of individuals with disabilities The Institute for a Competitive Workplace: promoted materials, participated in national conferences and roundtables, convened experts, and disseminated information to chambers and their business members so they could better understand the facts and the resources available to support their employment of individuals with disabilities. The direct links to these publications/products are available on this website.

Employers and the ADA: Myths and Facts September 2005 U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy

Being inclusive of people with disabilities—in recruitment, retention, promotion, and in providing an accessible environment—gives businesses a competitive edge. This document includes some of the common myths about how the Americans with Disabilities Act affects employers and research and facts that negate them.