People in the communities affected by natural disasters, including the fire in Maui, are beginning the hard task of recovery. This includes people with disabilities, who may need to find accessible temporary housing, replace assistive devices or medical equipment, and eventually rebuild or find new homes. Check out NARIC’s list of disaster information and services
A recently updated mental health toolkit from the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) provides an easy-to-follow framework for building a mental health-friendly workplace. It is built around 4 A’s: Awareness Accommodations Assistance Access Employers can take actions to improve worker well-being, including providing education, a flexible work culture, and employee assistance … Continued
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 … Continued
On the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a new rule which requires airline lavatories to be more accessible. This rulemaking, allowed under the Air Carrier Access Act, would require airlines to make lavatories on new single-aisle aircraft large enough to permit a passenger with a disability … Continued
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently updated a technical assistance document, Visual Disabilities in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act. It includes guidance for employers about how the ADA applies to job applicants and employees with visual disabilities. Topics When an employer may ask an applicant or employee questions about vision impairment … Continued
Congressman Mike Thompson introduced the Access Technology Affordability Act. If passed, it would provide a refundable $2,000 credit to blind and vision-impaired people to purchase equipment that helps them to work. The Access Technology Affordability Act will provide those with vision loss the resources they need to get tools and equipment that will help them … Continued
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) has a new resource about the importance of including people with disabilities in company diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) activities. This helps employers understand how hiring workers with disabilities can benefit their businesses and increase workplace diversity. Topics What it means to be disability-inclusive … Continued
The National Council on Disability has a new report on the effects of natural disasters and extreme weather events on people with disabilities. The report found that people with disabilities are more affected by extreme weather events and environmental dangers in ways that are often not looked at by state, local, tribal, and territorial governments. … Continued
The Home Modification Toolkit: Lessons from the Field provides professionals with tools to increase home modification availability and awareness for older adults and persons with disabilities. The toolkit includes: Aging network efforts in home modification Enhancing home modification access and awareness Case studies and best practices of home modification efforts This resource was developed by … Continued
