E-Bulletin: April 23, 2024

May: Older Americans Month

Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. This year’s theme is Powered by Connection, which recognizes the role that social connectedness plays in supporting independence and successful aging.

“Adulting” Tip Sheets Available in Spanish

The Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (Transitions ACR) released two tip sheets in Spanish:

Mis documentos esenciales: Gestionar el papeleo de la edad adulta (My Must Have Papers: Managing the Paperwork of Adulting) discusses the necessary papers that youth with mental health conditions will use through their transition into adulthood, such as driving licenses, birth certificates, and social security cards. The tip sheet also provides checklists of different types of documents to organize at home and to keep on hand when away from home.

Cómo solicitar empleo: La guía del adulto joven (Applying for a Job: The Young Adult Guide) offers tips for searching and applying for jobs, what to do after submitting applications, and advice for when the job search becomes difficult.

Citizen of the Week: Yvonne Hughes

This article shines the spotlight on Yvonne Hughes – “one of Philadelphia’s foremost unsung champions for people with disabilities.”

Competitive Integrated Employment Transformation Hub

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the U.S. Department of Labor released this new resource to centralize practical guidance, policy information, and evidence-based practices that can help advance competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities. The Hub offers information for individuals and families, employers, employment service providers, and state agencies.

EEOC Issues Final Regulation on Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a final rule to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which, in addition to other provisions, requires most employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for worker’s limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless the accommodation will cause the employer an undue hardship.

Justice Department to Publish Final Rule to Strengthen Web and Mobile App Access for People with Disabilities

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland signed a final rule under Title II of the ADA, clarifying the obligations of state and local governments to make their websites and mobile applications accessible for people with disabilities.

“This final rule marks the Justice Department’s latest effort to ensure that no person is denied access to government services, programs, or activities because of a disability,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “By issuing clear and consistent accessibility standards for state and local governments’ digital content, this rule advances the ADA’s promise of equal participation in society for people with disabilities.”

Updated: The Americans with Disabilities Act and Other Federal Laws Protecting the Rights of Voters with Disabilities

This updated publication from the U.S. Department of Justice outlines the ADA and other federal laws that address access to voter registration and voting activities for individuals with disabilities, elders, and others.

Burn Injury Resources Now Available in Multiple Languages

The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) released selected research-based resources on living with burn injuries in Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Russian, Somali, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese.

Check out the resource collections in English and Spanish as well.

Research in Focus: LGBTQ+ Patients with Disabilities Report Negative Healthcare Experiences

Researchers recently analyzed data from the 2019 National Survey on Health and Disability. Participants with disabilities who identified as LGBTQ+ frequently reported negative experiences with healthcare professionals, including  being denied care based on their identities and avoiding seeking care because they felt medical staff were dismissive of their symptoms.

Webinar: Access to Medical Care & Medical Diagnostic Equipment Best Practices

April 25, 2024
2:30 p.m.

This webinar will address accessible medical spaces in doctors’ offices, medical clinics, and other healthcare facilities, as well as best practices for access to medical diagnostic equipment, including transfer and other mobility aids.

Conferencia: Camino a la Transición de la Escuela a Vida Adulta (Event in Spanish: The Way to Transition from School to Adult Life)

Saturday, May 18, 2024
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Mary Riley Styles Public Library
120 N Virginia Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046

Spanish-speaking families living in northern Virginia with children receiving special education who are in the process of transitioning from school to adult life are invited to come and learn about the ADA and resources related to transition from school to college or work.

Lunch will be included! Contact Rosalia Fajardo at 703-867-6529 for more information.

Paramount Presents: Dr. Temple Grandin — “Great Minds Are Not All the Same”

May 21, 2024
7:00 p.m.
The Paramount Theater
215 East Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902

Dr. Grandin is a prominent author and speaks around the world as an expert on both autism and animal behavior. In this presentation, Dr. Grandin discusses the importance of complementary skills of people who think in pictures, patterns, or words, as well as how to help neurodivergent people get into good careers and her book, Visual Thinking.

Webinar: Inclusive Education for K-12 Students with Mental Health Disabilities

May 22, 2024
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern
This webinar will address the right to inclusive education for K-12 students with mental health disabilities under the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The session will review students’ rights and schools’ responsibilities, as well as best practices that schools can use to support students with mental health disabilities.

Volunteers Needed for Study: Living Longer and Stronger with SCI

The Texas Model Spinal Cord Injury System Center (TMSCIS) seeks participants to test a health promotion program for people aging with a traumatic spinal cord injury. The eight-week group intervention program will be offered via videoconference. Participants must be at least 45 years old or at least 15 years post-injury, Live in the United States and be able to communicate in English, and have access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer with Internet access.

Seeking Survey Participants: Perceived Accessibility to Public Transit 

This research project seeks public transit riders with disabilities to complete surveys about how they get to and from public transit stops. Researchers hope to learn more about how accessibility impacts first- and last-mile travel to public transit and help develop recommendations for accessible transportation planning. 

Study Seeks Low-Income Parents of Children with Disabilities

The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) is conducting a study on how low-income parents of children with disabilities handle financial stress and obligations. Participants must live in the U.S. and have a child under the age of 18 with a disability. If accepted, participants will have a 45-60 minute interview on Zoom and be compensated $100 for their time. complete this questionnaire if you are interested.

Seeking Transgender and Non-Binary People with TBI for Advisory Board

The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Special Interest Group (IDEA SIG) Gender Identity Task Force within the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems Centers is preparing a report on best practices for collecting data on gender identity. The taskforce seeks five volunteers who have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and who identify as transgender or non-binary to participate in an advisory board to review language for data collection. Email Mackenzie Peckham or call 303-789-8543 for additional information.