Americans with Disabilities Act

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.

The 2010 by 2010 Campaign

This summer, while doing some research for an article about the 20^th anniversary of the ADA, I ran across a reference to the “2010 by 2010 Campaign.” Curious, I decided to investigate.

The 2010 by 2010 Campaign is a project of the National ADA Symposium. The project goal is to collect 2,010 “Proclamations of Recommitment” to the mission of the ADA by the end of 2010. Through the 2010 by 2010 Campaign, state and local governments, schools and colleges, businesses, organizations, service providers, and advocates are invited to join the Symposium’s “Proclamation of Recommitment” to the spirit of the ADA. The proclamation can be found at Proclamation of Recommitment and is also reproduced below.

Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

a Proclamation of Recommitment to Full Implementation of the ADA

On July 26, 1990, President George H. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities. This legislation established a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

The ADA has expanded opportunities for Americans with disabilities by reducing barriers and changing perceptions, increasing full participation in community life. However, the full promise of the ADA will only be reached if public entities remain committed in their efforts to fully implement the ADA.

On the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we (_name of public entity_) celebrate and recognize the progress that has been made by reaffirming the principals of equality and inclusion and recommitting our efforts to reach full ADA compliance.

NOW THEREFORE, the ______________ (County Board of Commissioners/City Council/Mayor/President) do hereby reaffirm our commitment to work toward full ADA compliance in _________________ (name of public entity).

Information about how to submit a proclamation can found at “Submit a Proclamation”. The list of entities that have already submitted a proclamation can also be found at “The List.” As of September 25, 2010, 1,578 proclamations have been received; only 432 more are needed to meet the goal.

At least 43 Nebraska entitles and 45 individuals have submitted proclamations; in Iowa 84 entities have done so. In Nebraska, signees include the cities of Grand Island, Lincoln, Omaha and Bellevue and the Governor and Legislature of the State of Nebraska. In Iowa, signees include the State of Iowa, the cities of Cambridge, Cedar Rapids, Ames and Des Moines, and Linn County.

The National ADA Symposium is a national initiative of the ADA Network and is hosted by the Great Plains and Rocky Mt. ADA Centers. The ADA Network consists of 10 regional centers established in 1992 by the U.S. Department of Education to provide information, training, and technical assistance on the ADA. The Great Plains Network serves the states of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri; the Rocky Mountain ADA Center provides information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota.