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Steps schools should take so all students can use ed tech

Posted on March 18, 2025

To help schools create more accessible digital learning environments, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services published a brief on digital accessibility that provides recommendations for districts to consider. The brief was produced under the direction of the Biden administration, not the current Trump...

Frequently asked questions on the rights of federal employees with disabilities in 2025

Posted on March 13, 2025

This Q&A answers questions being asked by federal employees with disabilities who work for Executive Branch agencies in response to recent federal actions. The Q&A was created by the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, the American Civil Liberties Foundation, and Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. To learn more, read "FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS on...

The intersection of disability and food insecurity

Posted on March 13, 2025

A new Rocky Mountain ADA Center post talks about how food insecurity rates are much higher among adults with disabilities compared to those without disabilities. The post discusses: Barriers individuals with disabilities face getting food, Current nutrition assistance and support systems, and Recommendations for dealing with food insecurity amongst individuals with disabilities. To learn more,...

People with disabilities more affected by natural disasters

Posted on March 13, 2025

U.S. Census Bureau data shows that after disasters, people with disabilities are more likely to: Be displaced, Never return home, and Receive scam offers. To learn more, read the article "Disability amid disaster: People with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by natural disasters."

Airlines challenge wheelchair accessibility rule

Posted on March 4, 2025

Some of the largest airlines in the US are looking to overturn a recent Department of Transportation (DOT) rule that requires higher standards for accommodating passengers with disabilities, especially wheelchair users. The rule's requirements include: New training for airline employees who work with travelers with disabilities and Higher penalties for mishandled mobility devices, including wheelchairs....

California Civil Rights Department has new resources on Californians’ rights

Posted on March 4, 2025

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) has new resources that talk about protections for people across the State, including those with disabilities. Through new fact sheets and trainings, they are letting Californians know about their rights and to report discrimination. These resources include: New sessions of CRD's Civil Rights 101 webinar series. In-depth guidance on...

Uber adds option for riders with service animals

Posted on March 4, 2025

The ride-sharing service, Uber, has a new feature to better accommodate passengers with disabilities. It now offers individuals traveling with service animals the option to self-identify in the app and automatically notify drivers at pickup. If a rider said they have a service animal and the driver cancels their trip at pickup, the driver will...

Aging, disability and ADA rights

Posted on March 4, 2025

The Rocky Mountain ADA Center has a new blog post, Aging and Disability. It discusses that as people age, they may begin to have new disabilities that are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. They would have rights and the protections provided by this law

Update on the Texas v. Becerra Lawsuit dealing with Section 504

Posted on February 27, 2025

This lawsuit was filed by 17 states and would invalidate many of the protections for people with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and its updated Section 504 regulations. Section 504 prohibits disability discrimination by the federal government and by those who get federal funding in areas like health care, education, employment, housing,...

Impact of artificial intelligence for people with disabilities

Posted on February 27, 2025

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has a new study on the impact artificial intelligence (AI) will have on people with disabilities. The report “Empowering or Excluding: Expert Insights on Inclusive Artificial Intelligence for People with Disabilities” discusses topics including how: Human auditing of AI decisions in employment is critical. The tech industry needs...

Accessible medical equipment changes and requirements

Posted on February 27, 2025

The Rocky Mountain ADA Center has a new blog post that talks about recent changes to requirements for accessible medical equipment for healthcare providers. This post includes a summary of these changes and answers to common questions. For more information, see the blog post, "Accessible Medical Equipment Changes and Requirements".

Storm season safety considerations for people with access and functional needs

Posted on February 26, 2025

The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has a new fact sheet, Storm Season Safety: Considerations for People with Access and Functional Needs. It talks about what tools and resources people with access and functional needs (AFN) should have to help them stay safe this winter. Individuals with AFN include people with disabilities, older...

FTC Order requires online marketer to pay $1 million

Posted on February 5, 2025

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will require software provider accessiBe to pay $1 million to settle complaints that it was not truthful about the ability of its AI-powered web accessibility tool to make any website compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) for people with disabilities. According to the complaint, accessWidget did not make...

Workplace accommodation and accessibility policy toolkit

Posted on January 21, 2025

The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy has a new resource, the Workplace Accommodation and Accessibility Policy Toolkit. It offers step-by-step guidance to employers on looking at their current practices and creating disability-inclusive policies that not only support hiring individuals with disabilities but also keeping and advancing them. The toolkit includes tools...

Justice Department reaches agreement with Nevada to make sure children with behavioral health disabilities can live in their homes and communities

Posted on January 15, 2025

The Justice Department has an agreement with the State of Nevada to settle the Department’s findings that Nevada violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C. by unnecessarily segregating children with behavioral health disabilities in institutional settings like hospitals and residential treatment facilities. This agreement will allow...

Agreements with Clark County and Washoe County to ensure polling places accessible for voters with disabilities

Posted on January 15, 2025

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada entered into agreements with the Clark County Election Department and with the Washoe County Board of Commissioners to deal with the results of reviews that identified physical barriers at polling sites. The agreements settle the United States’ investigations into Clark County and Washoe County not...

New resource to help state and local governments plan for ADA web rule compliance

Posted on January 9, 2025

In April 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published a rule that sets technical requirements for state and local governments to follow to make sure their websites and mobile apps are accessible to people with disabilities. This ensures people with disabilities can better access important public services like health care, education, and voting. The DOJ...

Federal employment discrimination laws and the use of monitoring technology in the workplace

Posted on January 3, 2025

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has a new fact sheet, “Wearables in the Workplace: The Use of Wearables and Other Monitoring Technology Under Federal Employment Discrimination Laws,” It talks about the use of wearable technologies in the workplace that can be used to track things like an employee’s location, heart rate, electrical brain activity, and if they're tired. The fact sheet reminds employers...

DOT adopts Access Board’s Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines

Posted on December 19, 2024

On December 18, the Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a final rule adopting the Access Board’s Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) as part of its Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards for new construction and alterations of transit stops in the public right-of-way. The ADA says the Access Board provides technical guidelines for accessible design that form...

Bell Road Tire to pay $64,500 to settle disability discrimination case

Posted on December 18, 2024

Bell Road Tire and Auto LLC, a tire company in Arizona, will pay $64,500 and undertake activities to settle a disability discrimination case. An Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation found cause to believe that the company violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by enforcing a 100% return-to-work policy, not taking part in an interactive...

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