EBlast
Let’s Do Lunch at the 2025 ADA Symposium!
Grab your boxed lunch and join us in Classroom 206/207 on Tuesday, June 17th.
This informal get-together is a chance to meet other members of the ADA Trainer Leadership Network, share your successes, challenges and questions with each other and with ADA Center staff, and enjoy the company of other awesome people, like you.
We can’t wait to see you in Atlanta!
Information about both the Virtual Symposium in May and the In-Person Symposium in June is available here: Great Plains ADA Center: National ADA Symposium.
Thank you to the 148 Trainer Leadership Network (TLN) members who participated in the 2025 Capacity Building Survey! According to the survey, more than:
- 94% of respondents feel they have access to current, relevant ADA information
- 86% feel prepared to present information about the ADA
- 86% know how to modify and/or apply training materials to meet the needs of different audiences
- 80% can identify emerging disability-related needs in their communities
TLN members who use available supports are improving understanding and implementation of the ADA in workplaces, schools, recreation settings and more!
The TLN Portal is the place to find the most recent versions of the TLN Curriculum modules, the accompanying facilitators’ guides, and instructions for designing, delivering, and reporting trainings. For learning opportunities and resources to help increase your ADA knowledge, check out the monthly TLN e-Blasts -which are directly emailed to members and available in the TLN Portal. Information is also posted in The ADA Trainer Leadership Network group on Facebook.
Need more support? Contact your regional TLN Coordinator; contact information is in the Portal. Additionally, ADA-related questions can be directed to your ADA Center’s Technical Assistance Line at 1-800-949-4232.
The TLN is just one of many programs and services offered by the ADA Centers. Each Center serves multiple states and territories with very limited staffing and funding. Through the TLN, the Centers ensure that more people learn about the ADA and how it contributes to the full inclusion of people with disabilities.
The New DisabilityStatistics.org
Join the Northeast ADA Center on February 26, 2025, 1-2:30 pm EST, for the launch of Cornell University’s new and improved DisabilityStatistics.org website! Learn:
- Highlights of the latest ACS disability data and insights into the estimates developed by Bill Erickson, the researcher who assists users of DisabilityStatics.org
- How to use the interactive maps, charts, tables, and summaries at DisabilityStatistics.org
- Plans for future development of DisabilityStatics.org
Free Webinar - The Year 2024 in Review
Join Chris Sweet and Joe Zesski of the Northeast ADA Center on January 23 from 1-2 PM Eastern for a look back at notable developments related to the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2024. They will share updates on ADA enforcement by different federal agencies, new technical assistance materials, and other federal efforts. Chris and Joe will also share what's new at the Northeast ADA and look ahead to some new resources coming in 2025.
Planning Inclusive Holiday Gatherings
It’s hard to believe it, but another year is coming to an end. As we enter the holiday season, how can we ensure that family members, friends, employees, and others in our community with disabilities are included in holiday gatherings? Here are a few suggestions.
1) Weave an Accessible Welcome Mat – Select a wheelchair accessible venue that is welcoming to all. If using an online registration/RSVP format, choose a one that is accessible to guests who use assistive technology, such as screen readers. Include in the invitation accessibility symbols or specific reference to possible accommodations to draw attention to accommodations guests may need to request, such as sign language interpreters, captioning services (CART), assistive listening devices, or handouts in alternate formats. Guests should also be asked about their dietary restrictions. Include an option to share “other” disability-related needs that may not be apparent.
2) Deck the Halls – Beyond just the room in which the gathering will take place, make sure the whole venue is accessible. The concept of “Universal Design” means creating an event, designing products, and delivering services for the widest possible audience, considering different ages, abilities, and other variations. Think about the whole process, from parking and passenger drop off, routes to the building, entrance, routes throughout the facility, meeting space, and restrooms.
3) Food, Glorious Food – Great food is one of the best parts of holiday gatherings. For non-plated events, be mindful of “reach ranges” for buffets and treats. Making these services accessible for guests with disabilities makes good business sense. People with disabilities, as well as the family members, friends, and colleagues, who often accompany them, represent a large consumer market. Food Service: Accommodating Diners with Disabilities offers great hints for business operators, event planners, and food service staff. For guests who cannot attend in person, due to a disability or other reason, consider a hybrid event, and have food delivered. Check with guests about the best way to do this since some may require assistance to retrieve the delivered items.
4) Standing Room Only – Cocktail parties and mixers are great for networking with new contacts and reconnecting with old friends. Having some lower tables and chairs throughout the space provides a way for guests who can’t stand for long periods of time to sit and enables standing guests to comfortably get eye-to-eye with guests using wheelchairs, guests of short stature, and children. Also, be mindful of guests with hearing loss. Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs), sign language interpreters, or captioning services (CART) may be needed, for announcements, interactive games, speeches, or presentations.
5) Seasonal Scent-sations - Many people experience chemical sensitivities. Kindly ask that guests refrain from using perfumes and scented products.
The ADA National Network has developed great tools, resources, and training materials that can be used throughout the year for your own planning, or to help others plan inclusive events.
If you have questions about accessible event planning or anything else related to the ADA, call 1-800-949-4232. You will automatically be connected to the regional ADA Center that serves the area code from which you are calling.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and inclusive holiday season!
Note: These suggestions were inspired by, “5 Tips to Make Holiday Gatherings More Accessible” (PDF) created by The Mid-Atlantic ADA Center.
Diabetes Awareness Month
According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 38 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to learn more about this condition and its potential impacts on health and functioning.
Guidance from the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirms that people with diabetes are covered by the ADA, as they are substantially limited in the major life activity of endocrine function. They have ADA protections, even if the person’s blood glucose levels are managed by insulin, medication, and/or diet, because the determination of whether an impairment is a disability is made without regard to the beneficial effects of such strategies.
For more about diabetes and how the ADA applies to people with this condition, go to:
“Nothing about us without us!” Voting Rights and Disability
Voting rights of people with disabilities are addressed under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as other laws. To learn about these protections, check out the Department of Justice’s publication, The Americans with Disabilities Act and Other Federal Laws Protecting the Rights of Voters with Disabilities. This document includes resources for making the process—from voter registration to casting a ballot—accessible to all eligible voters.
Tips for Making Halloween More Inclusive
Halloween will soon be here! Below are some tips for welcoming all the trick-or-treaters.
Create a barrier-free treat station. If there are stairs to your door, set up an accessible treat station in your driveway or garage. Make sure that the path is wide and clear of obstacles so that visitors with mobility challenges can reach your treat station easily and safely.
Offer alternative “treats.” Children with allergies, diabetes or disabilities that impact their ability to swallow are not able to eat traditional Halloween treats. Offer non-edible treats like stickers, crayons, and small toys that trick-or-treaters with and without disabilities can enjoy.
Be aware of diverse communication styles. Some children may have different ways of saying “trick or treat”—whether signing, using assistive technology, taking more time to speak or by not saying anything at all!
Describe or show trick-or-treaters what you are giving them. For trick-or-treaters who are blind or deaf, it is helpful to either describe what you are giving them or hold up the treat so they can see it before placing it in their bag.
Reduce sensory barriers. Loud or frightening noises and bright flashing lights can cause problems for trick-or-treaters with sensory processing issues, autism, or epilepsy. Avoid over-stimulating lights and loud or scary sounds so that more children can comfortably visit your treat station.
For more suggestions, go to 6 Tips to Make Halloween More Inclusive.
National Service Dog Awareness Month
Service animals are a popular topic on the ADA Technical Assistance line!
September is National Service Dog Awareness Month. This month of recognition is reported to have grown out of the late actor Dick Van Patten’s efforts to raise funds for a guide dog training program in 2008. It is a great time to educate people in your community about the ADA’s definition of a service animal, etiquette when encountering a service animal, and the difference between service animals and emotional support animals.
Here are some helpful resources:
TLN Curriculum Module 4d. Service Animals and the ADA Quiz
New York State DREAM Symposium
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Albany, NY
New York State Residents: Register for the third annual New York State DREAM (Disability Rights & Employment Awareness Month) Symposium!
Highlights include:
- Opening Ceremony and Keynote Speaker
- In-person Job Fair for People with Disabilities
- Vendor and Technology Fair
- 10 Breakout Sessions
- Interactive Special Olympics Demonstration
- Job Fair and Job Preparation Assistance
- Mock Interviews
- Virtual Career Center
- Resume Workshop
- Benefits Planning
- World-Renowned Photographer
- Accessible clothing demonstration and career-appropriate attire guidance
- Broadway Performance & More…
The registration deadline for the DREAM event is Wednesday, September 23, 2024. Accommodation requests must be made via the registration form by Monday, September 16, 2024.
Are You Ready for NDEAM?
It is hard to believe that summer will soon be coming to an end! Fall is an especially busy time for those of us whose work involves educating about disability inclusiveness as we respond to training requests in recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).
Held each October, NDEAM commemorates the significant ways that people with disabilities contribute to the American workplace and economy. This year’s theme is “Access to Good Jobs for All.”
Are you ready?
Spread the word that you are available to do ADA and disability inclusiveness training, brush up on the employment and disability awareness modules, and be prepared to help your community celebrate NDEAM!
The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy offers suggestions for celebrating all month long! To download this year’s poster and find ideas for how employers, municipalities, educators, disability organizations, and others can recognize NDEAM, go to National Disability Employment Awareness Month | ODEP.
Celebrating Disability!
July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the July 26, 1990, passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the contributions of people with disabilities, and the inherent value of all people. The Disability Pride concept resists ableism and stigma and calls for viewing disability as a positive identity and part of the human condition. Here are some ways to celebrate:
- Talk about disability! Do trainings about disability inclusion for colleagues, businesses, and community groups.
- Read about disability! There are some great books written by authors with lived experience. Check out work by Alice Wong, Marieke Nijkamp, Keah Brown, and others.
- Attend a live (or virtual) Disability Pride event! Virtual Disability Pride Parade.
Describing Your Affiliation With the ADA Centers and Cornell University
We are excited to have had so many new people join the ADA Trainer Leadership Network (TLN) recently and deeply appreciate those who have been with us for many years!
When sharing about your affiliation with the TLN, please do not misrepresent yourself as an employee of your regional ADA Center, the ADA National Network, and/or as an employee or graduate of Cornell University! The TLN Train-the-Trainer Workshop is not a formal certification program and should not be listed as such on your resume or in your social media employment history. Describing yourself as an ADA Center Certified Trainer is also discouraged because your certificate of completion is not a formal certification. While we teach you how to use the TLN Curriculum and can provide support as you learn to use it in trainings, we cannot attest to every TLN member’s skill as a trainer.
Here are some ways you could accurately describe your affiliation with the ADA Centers and/or Cornell:
- “…a member of the ADA Trainer Leadership Network, an initiative of the ADA National Network.”
- “…trained to provide training on the ADA and disability inclusiveness using a nationally vetted curriculum designed by the Northeast ADA Center at Cornell University.”
Please reach out to your regional TLN Coordinator if you have questions or would like support in preparing to use the TLN Curriculum.
- Northeast ADA Center: Region 2 (New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands): LaWanda Cook - lhc62@cornell.edu
- Mid-Atlantic ADA Center: Region 3 (Delaware, D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia): Ann Deschamps - adeschamps@transcen.org
- Southeast ADA Center: Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee): Cheri Hofmann - adaforyou@bellsouth.net
- Great Lakes ADA Center: Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin): Marcy Hintzman - mhintzma@uic.edu
- Southwest ADA Center: Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas): Marisa Demaya - mdemaya@bcm.tmc.edu
- Great Plains ADA Center: Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska): Troy Balthazor - balthazort@missouri.edu
- Rocky Mountain ADA Center: Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming): Emily Shuman - shuman@unco.edu
- Pacific ADA Center: Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Basin): Jan Garrett - progman@adapacific.org
- Northwest ADA Center: Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington): Linda Clemon-Karp - lindack1@uw.edu
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health to overall health and wellbeing and to celebrate recovery from mental illness.
For more information, go to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Learn about how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to mental health conditions: Mental Health Conditions in the Workplace and the ADA.