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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...

BayMark Health Services to pay $55,000 in EEOC disability discrimination charge

Posted on December 18, 2024

MedMark Treatment Centers, part of BayMark Health Services which provides treatment for opioid addiction and substance use disorders, agreed to provide $55,000 to a former employee following an investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). According to the EEOC, a counselor at MedMark’s treatment center in Vallejo, California, asked for disability accommodations to...

Secretary Buttigieg announces new protections for airline passengers with disabilities

Posted on December 16, 2024

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued new protections for people with disabilities in commercial air travel to make sure they can fly safely and with dignity. The new final rule requires that airlines meet tougher standards for accommodating passengers with disabilities, especially for passengers who use...

Justice Department finds Arizona’s Department of Child Safety discriminated against parents and children with disabilities

Posted on December 16, 2024

The Justice Department announced its findings that Arizona’s Department of Child Safety (DCS) violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by discriminating against parents, including foster parents and other caregivers, and children with disabilities. DCS did not communicate effectively with parents and children with hearing disabilities and failed to reasonably accommodate the needs of parents...

Organization that handles the National Physical Therapist Examination settles ADA complaints

Posted on December 12, 2024

The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), which administers licensing examinations for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, agreed to settle complaints under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) involving requests for accommodations for test candidates with disabilities. The complaints said the FSBPT incorrectly reviewed requests for disability-based test accommodations and required test...

HHS secures agreement with University of California to ensure children with disabilities have equal access to early intervention program

Posted on December 12, 2024

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights announced an agreement with the Regents of the University of California about its University of California Los Angeles Intervention Program. It settles a complaint that the program violated federal disability rights laws (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title II of the...

EEOC sues Alto Experience, Inc. for disability discrimination

Posted on December 10, 2024

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit saying Alto Experience, Inc., a ride-hailing company violated federal law when it denied reasonable accommodations and employment to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who applied to work as personal drivers. The company currently operates in Texas, Florida, and California. Alto wouldn't hire qualified deaf and hard-of-hearing...

U.S. Access Board presents its findings on the risks and benefits of AI for people with disabilities

Posted on November 26, 2024

As part of the Developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Equity, Access & Inclusion for All Series, the Access Board will present its initial findings on the risks and benefits of AI for people with disabilities. The findings are based on the results of three recent AI hearings held in August 2024, research, and comments from the...

Inclusive hiring information for employers

Posted on November 26, 2024

The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) has tools, resources, and practical tips to help employers put inclusive hiring practices into action. Inclusive hiring means people with disabilities have equal access at every stage of the hiring process. This benefits both disabled employees and employers because they provide a welcoming work environment...

Flagstaff awarded $5M to improve Amtrak Station accessibility

Posted on November 12, 2024

The City of Flagstaff received a Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration for $4,989,600 for its Amtrak Station Accessibility Project. The project includes the reconstruction of the north platform and the addition of a new south platform, which will improve passenger accessibility, rail efficiency, and...

DOJ Files Statement of Interest in L.A. County foster care lawsuit

Posted on November 12, 2024

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a statement of interest in a federal lawsuit saying the foster care system operated by Los Angeles County and the State of California fails to provide youth with mental health disabilities with enough access to housing, behavioral health, and other services. Instead, it places them in institutions for care....

Cruz Construction to pay $56,000 for firing worker who requested accommodation for disability

Posted on October 31, 2024

Cruz Construction Co., Inc., agreed to pay $56,000 and complete other actions following an investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC found that the company fired an administrative assistant in July 2023, two days after she requested a reasonable accommodation for a disability. This action violates the Americans with Disabilities Act....

American Airlines to pay record $50 million fine over its treatment of passengers with disabilities

Posted on October 24, 2024

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a $50 million penalty against American Airlines for serious violations of the laws protecting airline passengers with disabilities between 2019 and 2023. DOT’s investigation into American Airlines uncovered cases of: Unsafe physical assistance that at times led to injuries and undignified treatment of wheelchair users, Repeated failures to...

I voted! sticker with braille translation

Disability and voting access resources

Posted on October 24, 2024

The Southeast ADA Center has updated its list of disability and voting access resources. It includes resources from many organizations, including the: U.S. Department of Justice, Great Plains ADA Center, National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), National Coalition on Accessible Voting (NCAV), American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD), and U.S. Election Assistance Commission. For more...

Catalyst Family, Inc. settles EEOC charge that it fired assistant teacher instead of accommodating his disability

Posted on October 24, 2024

In response to a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigation, Catalyst Family Inc., a non-profit company that runs child development centers in California, has agreed to: Pay almost $150,000 to a former employee, Revise its non-discrimination policies and procedures, and Conduct training for all managers, recruiters, and HR personnel. The part-time employee worked for...

U.S. Justice Department sues LA Fitness for disability discrimination

Posted on October 16, 2024

The Department of Justice sued LA Fitness under the Americans with Disabilities Act for preventing members with disabilities from accessing their pools and fitness equipment. The problems included having broken pool lifts and elevators and charging extra to people with disabilities. If you or someone you know had trouble accessing an LA Fitness gym because...

CDC website has accessible resources on emergency preparedness for people with disabilities

Posted on October 16, 2024

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) webpage on Emergency Preparedness and Disability Inclusion now includes resources to promote the importance of emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. It includes videos, audio recordings, easy-read summaries, and infographics. For more information, see the CDC webpage on Emergency Preparedness and Disability Inclusion.

Accommodating public safety workers

Posted on October 16, 2024

A recent article from ODEP’s Job Accommodation Network (JAN) gives examples of helpful workplace accommodations for public safety workers. These workers often have difficult, sometimes dangerous jobs. Having a disability can sometimes make this hard work even more difficult to do. For these frontline workers with disabilities, job accommodations can help them carry out their...

EEOC sues Victra for discrimination due to pregnancy and perceived disability

Posted on October 16, 2024

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged that Victra, the business name of ABC Phones of North Carolina and a nationwide retailer of Verizon mobile devices, violated federal law when it denied a worker’s request to leave new hire training early for an important medical appointment related to her pregnancy and withdrew her job offer....

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