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Census Bureau won't change disability questions in annual survey

The U.S. Census Bureau is not moving forward with changing its annual survey's disability questions. The change could have shrunk the estimated rate of disability in the United States by about 40%. The bureau said that most of the more than 12,000 public comments it received about the possible changes to its annual American Community...

FCC asks for comments about proposal that all mobile phones be hearing aid compatible

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) thinks it's possible for all cell phones in the US to work well with hearing aids. On January 26, 2024, they asked for people's comments about how this requirement could be put into effect. They want comments on topics including: Using Bluetooth to connect between wireless handset models and hearing...

New EARN Small Business Toolkit

The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) has a new toolkit to help small businesses find, hire, keep, and promote people with disabilities. Meant for small business owners and hiring managers. Small businesses are super important for the economy and communities. Most businesses in the US are small and employ almost half...

Pacific ADA Center Newsletter - Breaking Waves, February 2024

In this edition of Breaking Waves: Black History Month celebrates the strengths and talents of Black individuals. Black leaders supported disability rights through actions like protests and legal efforts. Black people and those with disabilities continue to face unfair treatment. A list of articles explores what it's like for people who are Black and disabled...

The Pacific ADA Center position statement on healthcare accommodations

The Pacific ADA Center provides resources, training, and support to improve awareness and understanding of the rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Pacific ADA Center serves Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada & the Pacific Basin. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a law that prevents discrimination against people with disabilities. Healthcare facilities,...

U.S. Access Board has new videos that explain the work they do

The U.S. Access Board has a helpful YouTube channel with videos about accessibility. Recently, they added three new videos: "Welcome to the U.S. Access Board" gives an overview of what the Board does. "Learn How to File an Architectural Barriers Act Complaint" covers filing complaints about accessibility issues. "Online Resources from the U.S. Access Board"...

Justice Department provides information on its activities to protect voting and fair elections

The Justice Department is providing information about what it's doing to make sure upcoming elections are fair and safe for everyone. It has different divisions that help make sure: All eligible people can vote without dealing with discrimination and intimidation, and Our elections are protected and free from problems created by outside groups and governments....

Departments of Justice and HHS letter urges state Medicaid leaders to cover Hepatitis C medications

The Justice Department and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) wrote a letter to state Medicaid heads. They want to make sure Medicaid programs follow the rules of the ADA and allow people who have both Hepatitis C (HCV) and substance use disorder (SUD) to get medications called direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). More than two...

Senators call for digital update to Department of Transportation’s service animal flight form

Senators Wyden and Duckworth think the Department of Transportation (DOT) is making it harder for people with service animals to travel. They want the DOT to use an easier, accessible online service animal travel form instead of the current difficult paperwork. The required form is currently only offered in a PDF format and is hard...

Agreement reached with the California Lawyers Association to increase accessibility of educational programs and events

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association (DHHBA) reached an agreement with the California Lawyers Association (CLA). The CLA will make their educational events easier for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to access. They will use captions, transcripts, and other things so everyone can participate, both in person and online. The...

American Cruise Lines to improve fleet accessibility in ADA settlement

The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Connecticut reached a settlement agreement with American Cruise Lines. The cruise line was not following the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Some people complained that the cruise ships weren't easy for wheelchair users to get around or access. The settlement will lead to improvements. The deal covers...

The unemployment rate for workers with disabilities is increasing

The last jobs report for 2023 showed that the job market is doing well, with many jobs added and a low unemployment rate. Even though there were fewer jobs added compared to previous years, it was still better than what experts expected. Workers with disabilities, who often face difficulties finding jobs, have seen improvements. More...

Lawsuit against Nevada Detention Center for ongoing mistreatment of people who are deaf

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed the lawsuit charging Clark County Detention Center staff with disability discrimination against a person who is deaf. The lawsuit says the police violated the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act. Even though the lawsuit is about one person, the ACLU says it's a bigger problem, and they want the...

When it’s more than the winter blues: Accommodating SAD in the workplace

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a kind of depression that gets worse when the weather is gloomy. SAD symptoms include sleeping a lot, feeling tired, being grumpy, not wanting to do daily activities, and having trouble with stress. If SAD affects someone's work, there are workplace accommodations that can help. They include using lights that...

Paige Winget

Justice Department files statement of interest in lawsuit about treatment for gender dysphoria in prison setting

The Justice Department filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit about not allowing treatment for gender dysphoria in a prison setting. The statement says gender dysphoria is covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)’s definition of “disability,” and prisons cannot deny the right medical care for people with gender dysphoria. The Georgia Department...

Justice Department's proposed rule to improve access to medical care for people with disabilities

The Justice Department sent to the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that aims to make it easier for people with disabilities to use medical diagnostic equipment (MDE). MDEs include things like medical examination tables, scales, dental chairs, x-ray machines, and mammography equipment. They...

Pacific ADA Center Newsletter - Breaking Waves, January 2024

This edition of Breaking Waves includes items on: The Pacific ADA Center's ADA Virtual Conference on Feb 27-28, 2024. It's a great learning opportunity for healthcare providers, employers, HR staff, ADA coordinators, and other professionals and service providers. The Office of Management and Budget wants to make sure government tech is easy to use for...

Government not meeting minimum accessibility standards on federal websites, GSA report finds

The General Services Administration (GSA) gave its report to Congress on federal website accessibility. The law, Section 508, says government agencies have to make their websites and digital things accessible. But many websites still have problems, like not describing images. The report says most agencies aren't doing well in following this law, and less than...

DHS Looking for public comments on its environmental justice efforts

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wants to identify, deal with, and promote environmental justice that may result from DHS programs, policies, and activities. The government should treat everyone fairly when they make decisions that could affect people's health and environment. This makes sure everyone is safe from unfair health and environmental problems. It also...

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