The Administration for Community Living (ACL) and its partners are working together to help older adults and people with disabilities vote by providing resources, services, and legal assistance. Check out ACL’s updated voting resource hub for more information.
This year is the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act, a law made in 1973. This law makes sure that people with disabilities can use federal programs and have jobs. The federal government updated the law in 1986 with Section 508. Section 508 makes sure that information and communication technology (ICT) in the federal sector … Continued
People in the communities affected by natural disasters, including the fire in Maui, are beginning the hard task of recovery. This includes people with disabilities, who may need to find accessible temporary housing, replace assistive devices or medical equipment, and eventually rebuild or find new homes. Check out NARIC’s list of disaster information and services
A recently updated mental health toolkit from the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) provides an easy-to-follow framework for building a mental health-friendly workplace. It is built around 4 A’s: Awareness Accommodations Assistance Access Employers can take actions to improve worker well-being, including providing education, a flexible work culture, and employee assistance … Continued
The Access Board has published new guidelines under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA). They cover: Access to sidewalks and streets Crosswalks Curb ramps Pedestrian signals On-street parking Other parts of public rights-of-way These guidelines also review shared-use paths, which are designed mainly for use by bicyclists and pedestrians … Continued
On the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a new rule which requires airline lavatories to be more accessible. This rulemaking, allowed under the Air Carrier Access Act, would require airlines to make lavatories on new single-aisle aircraft large enough to permit a passenger with a disability … Continued
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently updated a technical assistance document, Visual Disabilities in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act. It includes guidance for employers about how the ADA applies to job applicants and employees with visual disabilities. Topics When an employer may ask an applicant or employee questions about vision impairment … Continued
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to require video conferencing platforms, like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Webex, to follow the accessibility requirements under the Communications Act and agency rules that oversee these types of services. Why was this needed? Millions of people use video conferencing for workplace conferences, classes, and talking with family and friends. … Continued
Mental Health at Work program Mental health is an important and often unaddressed part of a workplace. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is putting forward resources and information in a campaign called Mental Health at Work. This effort will help teach workers what their rights are and employers what they are required to do … Continued
Employers, how accessible is your onboarding process for new employees with disabilities? A new online resource from the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) can help. EARN’s Accessible Onboarding tool includes examples and tips to help employees feel welcome from the start. Onboarding may include Describing available transportation options Describing work location … Continued
