The Mid-Atlantic ADA Center Networks are available to those who live, work, or go to school in the Mid-Atlantic region (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia). For information on similar programs in other regions, please contact your regional ADA Center(link is external).
Our Networks enable members to learn the latest information on the ADA; network with others who have similar jobs, interests, or challenges; and share resources and ideas to enhance ADA implementation.
There is no charge for membership in the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center professional networks.
Networks include:
- ADA Trainer Leadership Network: A select group of experienced trainers who conduct training on ADA topics
- Virginia ADA Coordinators Peer Group: A network of ADA Coordinators and others who have responsibilities for ADA implementation within Virginia’s public agencies
Find more information about our Networks in the sections below, e-mail ADATraining@transcen.org, or call 1-800-949-4232 in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or West Virginia.
ADA Trainer Leadership Network
The ADA Trainer Leadership Network (TLN) is a group of educators, employment counselors, diversity and inclusion coordinators, employers, and disability advocates who use a nationally-vetted curriculum to train individuals, organizations, businesses, and government agencies on the ADA and disability awareness.
ADA-TLN members receive training on how to use the curriculum, as well as professional development support from the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center, which is part of the ADA National Network.
The ADA National Network (ADANN) provides information, guidance and training on how to implement the ADA and support its mission to “assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.” The ADANN includes ten regional ADA Centers located throughout the United States. Each regional ADA Center is focused on its region’s unique needs, which helps ensure that ADANN services meet the needs of diverse populations and stakeholders throughout the country.
What Types of Trainings do TLN Members Provide?
The curriculum consists of nearly 60 training modules covering an array of topics, including ADA provisions, disability awareness and respectful communication, employment, serving customers with disabilities in public entities and private businesses, and accessible technology. The modules include a variety of formats, such as PowerPoint presentations, audio/video clips, games, and small and large group activities; each module is designed to take 10-30 minutes to complete. For more information or to become part of the ADA-TLN, please contact: ADA-LN@transcen.org.
Virginia ADA Coordinators Peer Group
Mission
To support ADA Coordinators and others in their endeavors to enhance the accessibility of programs, activities, and services for individuals with disabilities, ensuring compliance with the ADA and related accessibility standards.
Goal
To uphold a safe space for sharing strategies, resources, policies, procedures, and practices that encompass both the letter and the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other local, state, and federal mandates.
The network provides:
- Virtual meetings, held every other month (January, March, May, July, September, and November)
- An email listserv
- Opportunities to network with colleagues doing similar work across the state
How to Connect to the Virginia ADA Coordinators Network
To join, you must serve as the ADA Coordinator or have ADA-related responsibilities within the agency you represent, but you are not required to have the formal title of “ADA Coordinator.”
If you want to join the group, or have questions about membership or eligibility, please email Sahar Behboudifar.
Once added to the group, you will automatically:
- Receive a recurring calendar invitation for the Network’s bi-monthly virtual meetings
- Be added to the Network’s email listserv (if you do not wish to be added to the Network’s e-listserv, please tell us in your request to join).
Resources
The Role of an ADA Coordinator
This online publication from the ADA National Network is also available in printer-friendly formats (regular print and large print), as well as in Spanish.