News

Managing accommodations as employees are asked to return to the office

Posted on July 11, 2024

The Job Accommodation Network has a new resource, "Managing Accommodations during the Great Return to the Office". It talks about how employers need to set reasonable timelines for employees to return to the workplace after they've been teleworking, especially employees with disabilities. They may need time to make changes in their personal lives before coming...

FEMA help for survivors with disabilities

Posted on July 11, 2024

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a new factsheet, FEMA Assistance for Survivors with Disabilities. The factsheet covers: The disability-related items that FEMA may help with, When FEMA may provide financial assistance to help with disability-related items, and How FEMA can help with additional repairs and improvements for homeowners or a household member with...

GSA publishes final rule adopting new accessibility guidelines

Posted on July 11, 2024

On July 3, the General Services Administration (GSA) published a final rule adopting the U.S. Access Board’s Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) as part of the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards (ABAAS). The Architectural Barriers Act is a civil rights law that covers most federal facilities and requires them to be accessible to people with disabilities. All...

New guides to accessible parking

Posted on July 10, 2024

The California Commission on Disability Access (CCDA) has released two new guides to accessible parking. One is for business owners and operators and the other is for the construction industry. These guides offer tips for making parking accessible. They are not meant to be all-inclusive and should be used for general guidance and as a...

2024 National Disability Employment Awareness Month theme announced

Posted on June 27, 2024

The U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) announced this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) theme: “Access to Jobs for All.” NDEAM is observed each October to celebrate the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities and highlight inclusive workplace policies that benefit both employers and employees. Check out the video...

Hawaii nonprofits to pay $325,000 in EEOC disability discrimination lawsuit

Posted on June 27, 2024

Nonprofit organizations Opportunities and Resources, Inc. and ORI Anuenue Hale, Inc., got federal contracts to provide janitorial services on military facilities throughout Hawaii. They will pay $325,000 and take other actions to settle a disability lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). They received requests from Deaf employees for reasonable accommodations—such as...

New resources on protecting students with disabilities in K12 and higher education

Posted on June 26, 2024

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has three new resources for students, parents and families, and schools that cover the civil rights of students with sickle cell disease, epilepsy, and cancer. The resources explain how these students are protected by federal disability rights laws. For example, they provide information about legal...

New factsheet on job coaches as accommodations

Posted on June 26, 2024

The ADA Network Knowledge Translation Center has a new factsheet, Job Coaches as Accommodations: A Guide for Employment Service Professionals. The factsheet covers how employment service professionals, such as job coaches, may be considered a reasonable accommodation in the workplace under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It explains how to guide employers through the...

Justice Department finds civil rights violations by Phoenix Police Department and City of Phoenix

Posted on June 25, 2024

The U.S. Department of Justice found that the Phoenix Police Department and the City of Phoenix take part in activities that violate the U.S. Constitution and federal law. The unlawful activities include discriminating against Black, Hispanic, and Native American people, homeless people, and those having behavioral health crises. For more information, read the U.S. Department...

Marriott agrees to better accommodate guests with disabilities

Posted on June 13, 2024

Marriott International will change its reservations system under a deal reached with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado about alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The U.S. Attorney’s Office received complaints from individuals with disabilities and it found that Marriott’s centralized electronic reservations system didn't have the minimum number...

Registration open for Olmstead Anniversary Celebration

Posted on June 12, 2024

The Administration for Community Living , the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, and the Department of Justice are hosting an event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Olmstead decision. The event is on June 20th from 2 - 4 pm ET. The presenters will discuss: The impact of the...

Guide to help state agencies promote disability-inclusive employment

Posted on June 12, 2024

As part of its Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE), the Office of Disability Employment Policy has created a new resource for state agencies. The “A Step-by-Step Implementation Guide for State Agencies” contains information about: How state agencies can play a role in educating the public about the employment of people with disabilities. Campaigns, products, and...

Guide to educate employers about employees’ disability disclosure decisions

Posted on June 4, 2024

The Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) has a new guide for employers on the difficult decisions employees often face when deciding if they will disclose a disability in the workplace. The guide answers the questions: Why is Workplace Disability Inclusion Important? What is Disability Disclosure? Self-Identification and Disability Disclosure: What’s the Difference? What Can...

Feedback to better understand inequities faced by people with disabilities

Posted on June 3, 2024

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is asking the public for feedback. They want to better understand the inequities faced by people with disabilities and identify gaps in what is currently known. This information will be used in the development of the Federal Evidence Agenda on Disability Equity, which will help the...

$343 million awarded to improve transit stations accessibility

Posted on May 28, 2024

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded $343 million in federal funding to help eight transit systems make their rail stations more accessible as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The upgrades will include installing elevators, making platforms for level boarding, improving signage, and improving visual and audio systems....

New webinar to help improve accessibility of public school buildings

Posted on May 24, 2024

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights have a new webinar on YouTube, Accessible Public Schools. It covers ways school districts can increase accessibility of their school buildings and facilities for students and teachers with disabilities. The Justice Department worked with the Department of Education to develop...

U.S. Access Board signs agreement with disability and technology partners about artificial intelligence

Posted on May 23, 2024

The U.S. Access Board signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the American Association of People with Disabilities and the Center for Democracy & Technology to make sure the disability community is involved in activities related to Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI can increase accessibility, but it can also create barriers for people with disabilities. The...

Guide to help people who work for small state or local governments understand new web content and mobile app accessibility requirements

Posted on May 23, 2024

On April 24, 2024, the Federal Register published the Department of Justice’s final rule updating its regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This final rule has requirements about how to make sure that web content and mobile applications (apps) are accessible to people with disabilities. The new Small Entity Compliance...

Resources that support workforce mental health and well-being

Posted on May 17, 2024

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) published a special edition of its News Brief. It talks about the many resources the U.S. Department of Labor has to help employers, workers, service providers, and policymakers learn about and take action on workforce mental health and well-being. To learn...

DOT looking for comments on service animal transportation forms

Posted on May 16, 2024

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is looking for comments on the service animal forms airlines may require passengers to complete before traveling. It is asking for comments on renewing the Relief Attestation Form and on changes to the Air Transportation Form. Comments may also be made on ways to improve the quality and use...

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