Archives for 2013

Developing Effective Practices for Snow Removal:
Why is it Worth all the Effort?

Ensuring safe and independent travel for people with and without disabilities can be difficult during winter weather conditions. A national standard for effective snow removal for pedestrians does not currently exist. In this webinar, presenters will discuss how snow removal, or the lack thereof, affects the independent travel of people with disabilities. Presenters will also discuss effective practices in snow removal for public transportation and for the broader community with a look at snow removal from a complete streets perspective.

To ask the presenters questions in advance or for general inquiries about the event, please contact us at webinars@easterseals.com and put “Snow Removal” in the subject line or call 800-659-6428; (TTY) 202-347-3066. Registration Deadline: December 2.

In addition, download the Fall 2013 Update information brief, Effective Snow Removal for Pathways and Transit Stops. The brief highlights a variety of innovative strategies used to improve accessible pathways and transit stops during winter weather as well as three ways that communities can effectively approach snow removal for better mobility: partnerships, policies, and the involvement of businesses and community members.

Photo: www.pedbikeimages.org / Dan Burden

The November ADA Audio Conference Session will focus on the implementation of the 1999 L.C. vs Olmstead decision and enforcement efforts by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Date: November 19, 2013

Time: 2pm-3:30pm ET (calculate the start time based on your location)

Title: Implementing Olmstead: The Status of Enforcement Efforts

Description: In 2009, the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division launched an aggressive effort to enforce the Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C., a ruling that requires states to eliminate unnecessary segregation of persons with disabilities and to ensure that persons with disabilities receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. The Civil Rights Division has responded by working with state and local governments officials, disability rights groups and attorneys around the country, and with representatives of the Department of Health and Human Services, to fashion an effective, nationwide program to enforce the integration mandate of the Department’s regulation implementing title II of the ADA. Join this session as we hear more about these efforts including how the integration versus segregation mandate has been applied to employment.

Presenter: Anne Raish, Deputy Chief, Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice

Registration: www.ada-audio.org (Must have an account to register. May set up a free account during the registration process)

Fee: (multiple options available for accessing session) $25.00 (Toll Free Telephone Connection)/Visuals free via webinar platform or downloaded handouts

Free: Webinar Platform Connection for Audio/Visuals

This session is captioned via the webinar platform. Questions regarding this program should be directed to 877-232-1990 (V/TTY) or by email to webinars@ada-audio.org

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has published a Just-in-Time training module on “All About JAN: Resources in Spanish”/ “Todo acerca de JAN para hispanohablantes.” The 18 minute training module and accompanying transcript and handout provide an overview of JAN’s services in Spanish, which include technical assistance via phone, email, chat and social media, as well as publications and other materials.

• View the “Todo acerca de JAN para hispanohablantes” training module
• Visit the JAN en español webpages

Registration for the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) 2013/2014 Monthly Webcast Series is now open. The Series will focus on accommodation solutions and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). With guest speakers peppered throughout the year, JAN experts and guests will present one hour trainings on accommodations for epilepsy, fragrance sensitivity, and those who use personal assistants as workplace accommodations; current events in accommodation; low cost solutions; self-employment strategies; and the employment provisions of the ADA. It’s free and will fill to capacity quickly so register now!

Register for JAN’s 2013/2014 Monthly Webcast Series
Visit the JAN website

More than 650 artworks are part of the Minnesota Disability Mural Project (MDMP), on exhibitthrough October 30 at City Center in downtown Minneapolis. The 1’x1’ art tiles were created this summer by Minnesotans with disabilities or people with a personal connection to someone with a disability. For many, the art-making was a first-time experience.  For others, this exhibit is the first time they have had their artwork on public display.  Still others make art every week.

A reception will be held Wednesday, October 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the City Center atrium and adjoining New Century Theatre (entrances at 615 Hennepin Ave., next to Rosa Mexicano, or off Nicollet Mall or off the Skyway), where a short program at 7:00 will introduce key participants:

Char Coal, a Minneapolis artist who curated the Twin Cities exhibit;

Teaching artists who assisted individuals in making this artwork: Deb Costandine, Mark Davison, Christi Furnas and Tara Innmon;

Bridget Riversmith, who directed a 2011 project in Duluth by with the Arrowhead Alliance of Artists with Disabilities and was an advisor to this project;

Frances Valesco, who originated the Disability Mural Project in 2000 at the Center for Accessible Technology in Berkeley, California; that mural is now on permanent display at the Ed Roberts Campus in the Ashby BART station in Berkeley; the AAAWD project was the second replication of the 2000 project;

Stacey O’Connell and Sheri Pfau, who led workshops in the St. Cloud area for an exhibit held October 4-13 at Gallery St. Germain, a new gallery run by the Paramount Arts Center. It featured 350 art pieces.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through an Arts Access Program grant to VSA Minnesota from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

VSA Minnesota is the state organization on arts and disability and is one of 36 state VSA organizations affiliated with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.  VSA Minnesota’s mission is to create a community where people with disabilities can learn through, participate in and access the arts.  Located in Hennepin Center for the Arts at the corner of 6^th and Hennepin, the organization is celebrating its 26^th year and has a staff of three and a board of nine. For more information, call 612-332-3888 or email disabilitymural@vsamn.org. The entire thousand works of art will be online soon

Social Media and People with Disabilities

Building Online Networks to Enhance Community Engagement and Create a Level Playing Field

 On October 16 and 21, tune in to a free webinar on social networking. “Social Media and People with Disabilities” will give an overview of several social media networks, and how social media can be used as an engagement tool by people with disabilities. Learn how social media sites work with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and on mobile devices. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session.

Social Media and People with Disabilities

October 16
8:00 pm ET

And again on

October 21
8:00 pm ET

Register for either date here: http://fifthfreedom.org/u/qd . For questions, contact the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at http://aaidd.org/about-aaidd/contact-us .

Grants to assist Minnesota emerging artists with disabilities in creating new work are available from VSA Minnesota.

With funding from the Jerome Foundation, seven grants of $1500 each will be awarded to writers, performers, visual or multi-media artists through a competitive grant application process. November 8, 2013, is the deadline. Applications and guidelines are available at www.vsamn.org or can be requested in several formats at 612-332-3888, 800-801-3883, oremerginggrant@vsamn.org.

The Jerome Foundation and VSA Minnesota have been offering these annual grants since 1996. VSA Minnesota is a statewide, nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a community where people with disabilities can learn through, participate in and access the arts. The Jerome Foundation seeks to contribute to a dynamic and evolving culture by supporting the creation, development and production of new works by emerging artists.

The ADA National Network is pleased to announce the September ADA Audio Conference Series session will address the topic of Accessible Health Care.

Date:   September 17, 2013

Time:  2:00pm-3:30pm Eastern Time (calculate the time for your location accordingly)

 Title:  Building Blocks for Accessible Health Care

 Description:  Join us to explore basic tools that health care providers can use to promote accessibility in health care delivery. Most people think that health care is accessible to people with disabilities, but barriers in communication, facility access and medical equipment can prevent people with disabilities from getting the care that they need. The Disabilities Resource Center at UPMC will share the structure of their approach to accessibility, lessons learned, basic tools and community partnerships developed to reduce barriers to healthcare service delivery. The building blocks for accessible health care can be used in hospitals, physician offices and outpatient centers

 Speakers: Mary Duranti Director, Disabilities Resource Center-University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Karin Morris Accessibility Manager, City of Bend-Oregon.

Session Format:   This session is available via telephone (Fee applies) and/or Webinar Platform (No Charge).    The session will be real-time captioned via the Webinar Platform.

Telephone:  A toll free telephone option is available with operator assistance.  A  registration fee applies for this option.

Webinar Platform:   Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing version 12.5.  A mobile version is also available for Ipad, Iphone, Android Devices and Kindle Fire HD.  A free app is available at Apple Store, Google Play and Amazon.

Cost:   1) Telephone Connection (Toll Free #) – $25.00 Non-Profit/$40.00 For Profit per telephone connection.

2) Webinar Platform:  No Charge, FREE

Registration:  Registration expired.

Instructions:  Instructions for accessing the program will be sent to all registered persons at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled session.    A confirmation email will be sent to you upon registration.  Keep that email for future reference.

Questions regarding this session or registration should be directed to the Great Lakes ADA Center at webinars@ada-audio.org or by phone at 877-232-1990 (V/TTY)

A new national non-profit organization called RespectAbility has just launched, with the mission of reshaping attitudes of American society and empowering people with disabilities so that they can more fully participate in and contribute to society. According to their website, “RespectAbility will work to educate, sensitize and engage Americans to focus on what people with disabilities can do, rather than on what they cannot do. RespectAbility thereby will seek to help increase the number and percentage of Americans with disabilities who engage in gainful employment, start and sustain their own businesses, lift themselves into the middle class, and participate in their communities — as fully as their abilities and efforts will take them.” The organization has already announced trainings for disability leaders and funders and fellowships for future disability leaders.