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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...

Resource for poll workers and voters with disabilities

Posted on September 30, 2024

The Great Plains ADA Center has developed a series of web pages to help poll workers train their volunteers and staff to understand the rights and possible needs of voters with disabilities. It provides an overview of training topics recommended for polling place staff and volunteers, including: Voting rights Voter assistance Disability awareness Disability awareness...

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...

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. Attorney’s Office reaches settlement with Chandler Nail Salon to end disability discrimination

Posted on April 8, 2024

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached a settlement with a nail salon in Arizona to address claims that the salon discriminates against people with mobility disabilities. This goes against the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The settlement requires Canvas Nails & Spa LLC to do three things: Approve a non-discrimination policy and put it up...

Providing an accessible workplace

Posted on December 21, 2023

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has a new article called "Providing an Accessible Workplace." The article talks about laws federal agencies have to follow to make sure individuals with disabilities can fully access job facilities, physical spaces, and information technology. Also, it provides information about where agencies can find more resources to help them...

Resources for an inclusive holiday season

Posted on December 19, 2023

The following organizations have resources that can help in planning holiday celebrations everyone can participate in: ADA National Network, Temple University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Community Living and Participation of Individuals with Serious Mental Illness, Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access, Office of Disability Employment Policy, National Assistive Technology Act Technical Assistance...

Bill seeks to make leased Guam government offices accessible for people with disabilities

Posted on December 18, 2023

Sen. Parkinson wants all Guam leased government offices to follow the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and has introduced Bill 191-37. This law would make offices accessible to everyone. Sen. Parkinson talks about how hard it is for people with disabilities when these offices aren't accessible. He says nobody should be stopped from using government...

Smithsonian improves online features to make things easier to access

Posted on November 22, 2023

The Smithsonian is using technology to improve museums and the resources people have access to. The goal is for everyone, no matter where they are, to get a better understanding of the changing world. New software will make things better for visitors, donors, volunteers, and others who deal with the Smithsonian. The aim is to...

Justice Department settles with Hawaii apartment builders over disability discrimination

Posted on October 30, 2023

The Justice Department reached a settlement with a Hawaii developer and others who were accused of not designing and building five multifamily housing complexes with the required accessible features. This violates the Fair Housing Act, which is a law that ensures housing is accessible to everyone. The agreement requires the companies to pay a fine...

Navy Blue circle with stethoscop and the words I'm a disability ally"

Become a Disability A.L.L.Y. — Information for Healthcare Providers

Posted on October 11, 2023

Healthcare practices serve patients with disabilities who may face extra problems in getting care. Providers, become an ally for people with disabilities by making small changes that can really improve their lives, starting with assessing your practice and building a more inclusive practice by using: Welcoming Spaces: Make sure your programs and physical spaces are...

Closeup of a cane on textured street with yellow lines

U.S. Access Board Releases Training Videos on Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines

Posted on October 11, 2023

The U.S. Access Board made five new videos on the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines. The first four videos offer a chapter-by-chapter review of the guidelines to better understand the accessibility requirements to make sidewalks, crosswalks, shared-use paths, on-street parking, and other pedestrian facilities accessible to people with disabilities. The fifth video, “What’s New in the...

Understanding how the ADA applies to historic properties

Posted on October 11, 2023

Old or historic public places must still follow accessibility requirements. Yet, the ADA does provide limited exceptions for qualified historic properties. The ADA considers a place historic if it has significant historical, architectural, or artistic value. Historic properties have specific, more flexible accessibility requirements, including accessible routes and entrances. Building owners can ask State Historic...

walking cane on a street with yellow markings

Final rule on accessibility guidelines for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way

Posted on August 11, 2023

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...

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