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Dates for having to meet Title II rule on web and mobile app accessibility finalized

Posted on April 25, 2024

The Federal Register published the Justice Department’s final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to improve web and mobile application (app) access for people with disabilities. The rule says how State and local governments can meet their ADA requirements as many of their activities are going digital. This rule will...

BaronHR to pay $2.2 million in EEOC hiring discrimination lawsuit

Posted on April 24, 2024

The staffing agency BaronHR, LLC will pay $2.2 million and will have to change its employment practices to prevent future discriminatory hiring nationally. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) brought the lawsuit on behalf of a class of Black, Asian, white, and other non-Hispanic workers, male and female workers, and workers with disabilities who were...

BART settlement will improve elevator and escalator access

Posted on April 19, 2024

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has settled a class action lawsuit brought by members of the disability community. The lawsuit said that BART has continually failed to provide full and equal access to its stations and services, which is against the Americans with Disabilities Act, BART has agreed to improve its elevator and escalator services...

Updated guidance on federal laws protecting the rights of voters with disabilities

Posted on April 19, 2024

The Department of Justice has updated their guide, The Americans with Disabilities Act and Other Federal Laws Protecting the Rights of Voters with Disabilities. This guide talks about the legal protections for people with disabilities that require full access to all aspects of elections, including registration and voting. For more information on this and other...

Justice Department to publish final rule to strengthen web and mobile app access for people with disabilities

Posted on April 9, 2024

The Attorney General signed a final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The rule clarifies the requirement that State and local governments need to make their websites and mobile apps accessible for people with disabilities. This rule will help people with disabilities use websites and mobile apps to access important...

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...

Share ideas about disability inclusion in small businesses

Posted on March 26, 2024

The Department of Labor wants to hear from people about how to support small businesses owned by individuals with disabilities or that plan to hire or have workers with disabilities. They're asking for ideas on how to support the success of small businesses and improve job opportunities for people with disabilities. Share your ideas ...

FCC wants feedback on ASL and multilingual emergency alerts

Posted on March 21, 2024

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is asking for people's opinions (until April 8, 2024) on its proposal to make emergency video alerts available in American Sign Language (ASL) and in certain non-English languages. The FCC decided on some new rules last year. These rules say that wireless providers must put out certain emergency alerts in...

EEOC releases two reports on the federal workforce and disabilities

Posted on March 21, 2024

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released two reports on people with disabilities in the federal workforce. One report focuses on the impact of telework on Personal Assistance Services (PAS), and how agencies changed their PAS programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. PAS are supports given to people with certain disabilities, like deafness or paralysis,...

Pacific ADA Center Newsletter – Breaking Waves, March 2024

Posted on March 15, 2024

This edition of Breaking Waves includes items about : Our new Center on Disability website. The Center offers education, support, and advocacy to advance the full and equal participation of people with disabilities in all areas of society. Center of Disability programs include the Pacific ADA Center and BeyondAccess Consulting, which offers customized training and...

Supporting employees with Long COVID: a guide for employers

Posted on March 15, 2024

The Office of Disability Employment (ODEP) released a news brief with resources on: Supporting employees with Long COVID, Accomodating workers with Long COVID, The impact of Long COVID on employment, especially on those with disabilities who are part of underserved communities, and Addressing the workplace challenges related to Long COVID. The news brief also includes:...

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month 2024

Posted on March 15, 2024

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. It focuses on how people with and without disabilities work together to form strong communities. It also highlights the importance of full inclusion of people with developmental disabilities (DD) in community life, the contributions of people with DD, and the ongoing need to remove barriers. The 2024 theme is...

Share your ideas about making AI hiring tools more inclusive

Posted on March 4, 2024

The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT) is working to make artificial intelligence (AI) hiring tools more inclusive. AI hiring tools can be good or bad depending on how people create and use them. PEAT helps organizations understand and deal with what AI hiring tools can do especially when it comes to job seekers...

Proposed rule to increase protections for airline passengers who use wheelchairs

Posted on March 1, 2024

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would greatly increase the rights and protections of airline passengers who use wheelchairs. Every year, more than 10,000 wheelchairs and other mobility devices are broken or damaged during air travel. The DOT proposed rule would do things including: Require training...

Accommodating employees with low vision

Posted on March 1, 2024

For Low Vision Awareness Month, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) February newsletter lists resources for employers who wish to accommodate employees with low vision. These resources include: Accommodating Cooks with Low Vision Choosing Among Options for Computer Users with Low Vision Magnifiers, Screen Readers, and Braille – Oh My! Visual Disabilities in the Workplace and...

A woman with brown hair and a tracheostomy tube smiles at the camera

Remembering Brooke Ellison

Posted on February 22, 2024

Brooke Ellison, an important disability rights advocate, died on February 4, 2024. One of the first quadriplegic Harvard graduates, she became an author, professor, and powerful voice for people with disabilities. She was very passionate about stem cell research and medical ethics issues and was recognized worldwide for her efforts. Brooke was Vice President of...

California’s Disability Rights Bureau

Posted on February 22, 2024

The Disability Rights Bureau of California enforces state laws that protect people with disabilities from discrimination. These laws deal with things like employment, housing, education, and public services. The Bureau works with other parts of the government and deals with different issues related to fairness and equality. If you have a problem related to disability...

Community partnerships: an effective inclusion strategy

Posted on February 22, 2024

The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) has information about creating and maintaining effective community partnerships. These partnerships can help with hiring, keeping, and supporting employees with disabilities. Businesses gain from working with national, regional, and local organizations. The website talks about: Organizations that can help businesses find applicants with disabilities, Tips...

Census Bureau won’t change disability questions in annual survey

Posted on February 12, 2024

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

Posted on February 8, 2024

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...

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