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“What’s Your Connection?” Initiative Launched by Disability.gov

To celebrate its tenth anniversary,  Disability.gov has created the “What’s Your Connection?” initiative.  Described as a grassroots movement  the initiative emphasizes the connections among all people.

What’s Your Connection? will run from October 30, 2012 to July 31, 2013, and will use social media and grassroots tactics to spark conversations and build support for inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace and in their communities.

To learn how the initiative works, visit “What’s Your Connection? A tool kit is also available to help spread the word about this new grassroots movement.

Veteran’s Guide to Employment Rights Under the ADA Now Available

The Southeast ADA Center and its Kentucky Affiliate, MLM Associates, have created an employment rights guide for veterans with disabilities. The guide includes practical information to help veterans with disabilities understand their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA assures that all people have the same opportunities and rights.

The “Know Your Employment Rights Under the ADA A Guide for Veterans” guide  is now available as a PDF.  The guide discusses the following topics and more:

• the ADA’s definition of disability, which is broader than the military’s
• protecting veterans with disabilities from discrimination in their job search
• reasonable accommodations employers are required to make for veterans and other people with disabilities
• disclosing a disability to an employer or potential employer
• where to turn if a veteran feels his or her employment rights have been violated
• veteran employment initiatives and related websites

Another very helpful site for veterans is Understanding Your Employment Rights Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): A Guide for Veterans  from the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission.

The Practical and Legal Reasons Behind Designing for Accessibility

Writing for UX magazine, Gregory P. Care and Dan Ross  discuss The Practical and Legal Reasons Behind Designing for Accessibility. This informative article examines the benefits of designing their mobile apps and websites for accessibility, including avoiding legal liability.

Accessibility is a central and, in many ways, fundamental component of user experience, so designers of mobile applications and mobile websites should feel compelled to make their products accessible to users with disabilities. Inaccessibility can frustrate an individual with a disability and create a longstanding negative consumer association that can preclude that individual from taking full advantage of a mobile device, app, or website. Accessibility in this context makes good business sense, because it maximizes satisfaction and use by the growing number of individuals with disabilities who have mobile devices.

But it is more than just good business—it’s also a legal responsibility.