News

California’s Brown Act Modernization Act will increase public meeting access

Posted on December 31, 2025

Governor Newsom signed SB 707, which modernizes the Brown Act and expands public meeting access. It includes changes designed to increase public participation and remote teleconferencing access. The bill mainly goes into effect on January 1, 2026, with some parts going into effect on July 1, 2026. The Brown Act was enacted in 1953 to...

FCC emergency alert message templates in 14 spoken languages and American Sign Language

Posted on December 31, 2025

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has created 18 Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) message templates in English, 13 other commonly spoken languages in the United States, and American Sign Language (ASL). The templates can be used by alerting authorities to create webpages that inform people about an ongoing emergency. The ASL alerts are supported with video...

New, free web course: Accessible Tourism and the ADA

Posted on December 31, 2025

The Rocky Mountain ADA Center has a new, free, online course: Accessible Tourism and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The course covers travel-related accessibility considerations, including digital access, transportation, lodging, and attractions, and the role of the ADA. Individuals who take the course will learn how communities and businesses can create travel experiences that...

Promoting the success of employees who are neurodivergent

Posted on December 18, 2025

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has two new briefs that outline ways to help promote the success of employees who are neurodiverse. Both briefs are part of ODEP’s Research Support Services for Employment of Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum, or the REYAAS, project. The first brief, Principles and Promising Practices for Hiring...

NCD’s 2025 National Disability Policy Progress Report

Posted on December 17, 2025

The National Council on Disability (NCD) released a new report, National Disability Policy: A Progress Report 2025. The report outlines key policy developments related to healthcare, transportation, education, employment, and other social areas and their impact on people with disabilities. The report also highlights emerging issues such as artificial intelligence and future work toward achieving...

Wearable devices in the workplace and the ADA

Posted on December 17, 2025

The Rocky Mountain ADA Center has a new report: Wearable devices in the workplace and the ADA. It covers how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to wearable devices in the workplace, including: Employers' responsibilities and considerations when requiring or asking their employees to use these devices, and The rights of people with disabilities....

National Center for Disability and Pregnancy Research

Accessible Pregnancy Action Plan

Posted on December 17, 2025

The National Center for Disability and Pregnancy Research has a new resource, the Accessible Pregnancy Action Plan. It is a tool to help pregnant women with disabilities or chronic illnesses outline their needs during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, and postpartum. The plan was created for people with disabilities who are considering pregnancy or who are...

10 things for businesses to know about the ADA

Posted on December 16, 2025

The ADA National Network has a new resource for business owners: 10 Things for Businesses to Know About the ADA. It covers how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to businesses, including how: Businesses' goods and services must be accessible to people with disabilities. Tax incentives can help businesses become more accessible. Service animals...

Tips for an accessible travel experience

Posted on December 16, 2025

The Rocky Mountain ADA Center created a guide with tips on how to make your travel experience more accessible and enjoyable. Tips for an accessible travel experience recommends: Tip # 1: Plan Early Tip # 2: Know Your Rights Tip # 3: Create an Inclusive Holiday Trip Tip # 4: Access for All Travel and celebration...

Snow removal and accessibility

Posted on December 16, 2025

In many parts of the country, snow season is here! The Great Plains ADA Center developed a guide with tips for small business owners about snow removal and customers with disabilities. Read the snow removal guide.

Higher thresholds for Section 503 and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA)

Posted on December 2, 2025

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs administers and enforces equal employment opportunity requirements that protect workers from discrimination. They apply to companies that have federal contracts or subcontracts above a certain dollar amount. Recently, these dollar amounts increased and, as a result, reduced the number of contractors having to meet these requirements. Under Section...

The difference between a reasonable accommodation and a reasonable modification

Posted on November 20, 2025

The ADA National Network has a new frequently asked questions page that talks about the difference between a reasonable accommodation and a reasonable modification. The information is available in both English and Spanish.

New website helps businesses understand the ADA

Posted on November 20, 2025

Small business owners or managers who have questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) can find answers on a new website created by the Northeast ADA Center. The site, Small Business at Work: Understanding the ADA and your business, offers practical tools for small businesses as they implement the ADA.

New JAN Workplace Accommodation Toolkit

Posted on October 15, 2025

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) Workplace Accommodation Toolkit helps employers follow the accommodation process under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act. The Toolkit has: An overview of reasonable accommodation and key concepts, Step-by-step guidance on the accommodation process, Guidance on documenting the accommodation process, including sample templates, forms,...

U.S. Attorney's Office District of Nevada

Justice Department reaches agreement with Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center to ensure accessibility for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing

Posted on October 15, 2025

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada secured an agreement with Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, LLC, to ensure that patients and their companions who are deaf have needed auxiliary aids and services, including qualified in-person or video remote interpreting services. The new internal policies will be enforced in all 190 affiliated...

New report shows workplace accommodations are usually low in cost and provide big benefits

Posted on October 8, 2025

The results of a survey by the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) show that workplace accommodations are usually inexpensive and broadly beneficial. Surveyed employers reported that the benefits of the workplace accommodations far outweighed the costs. Such benefits included: Keeping valuable employees, Improving productivity and morale; and Reducing workers’ compensation and training costs. Most employers report...

DOT will not enforce key provisions of rule providing protections for airline passengers who use wheelchairs

Posted on October 8, 2025

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) said it will not enforce key provisions of a rule issued in December that requires new consumer protections for passengers with disabilities who use wheelchairs or scooters. The Department is writing a new rule and will not enforce the current rule's requirements, including that airlines: Are liable for mishandled...

EEOC sues Barnes & Noble College Booksellers for disability discrimination

Posted on October 1, 2025

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is suing Barnes & Noble College Booksellers for allegedly firing a California employee with postpartum depression after denying her request for extended unpaid leave. The lawsuit claims the company failed to provide a reasonable accommodation and instead encouraged her to resign. This violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)....

New resource: “Benefit Your Business through Disability Employment”

Posted on September 26, 2025

The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability (EARN) has a new resource: “Benefit Your Business through Disability Employment.” The resource is for business owners who want to increase their customer base and talent in their workforce, and improve their employees’ productivity and performance. It covers the many benefits of recruiting, hiring, retaining, and advancing...

The spine of a book with "Regulations" written on it.

Administration halts two pending ADA regulations

Posted on September 26, 2025

On September 11, 2025, in the Federal Register, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it would not be pursuing 54 pending regulatory actions. Two of them concern the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They are: A rulemaking about accessible equipment and furniture in public accommodations and state and local government facilities, and A rulemaking about accessible...

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