ADA Distance Learning 2000

A collaborative project of the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, New England, Northeast, Great Plains, Southwest and Pacific Regions Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers

Sessions are scheduled for 1 pm Central Time and last approximately 60 minutes.

March 21
(New Date)

Effective Communication

General Track
Marc Charmatz, Director
National Association of the Deaf Law Center

The ADA requires entities "ensure effective communication" with people with disabilities.  Misperceptions bring questions such as: Do I have to provide a sign language interpreter?  Can't we just write notes back and forth?  What if the program can't afford an auxiliary aid?  During this session, Marc Charmatz will address the regulation to provide effective communication, application of auxiliary aids and services, and current case law.

April 18

Worker's Compensation and the ADA

Employment/HR Track
Chris Bell, Attorney, Jackson, Lewis & Associates

Are injured employees or employees with temporary disabilities covered under the ADA?  Are they entitled to reasonable accommodations?  Do they have to be reassigned? Can employers ask about previous worker's compensation history?  Explore the dynamic interplay between worker's compensation issues and the ADA.

Homework:

May 16

Principles of Universal Design

Architecture/Design Track
John Salmen, AIA CAE, Universal Designers & Consultants

Universal Design is the practice of designing environments to be usable by people of all ages and abilities.  During this session, John Salmen will identify and illustrate the Principles of Universal Design.  He will also present practical applications of the design principles, identify innovative examples from a variety of environments and preview the International Conference on Universal Design.

Homework:

  • On-line presentation:  Link to on-line presentation to be posted
June 20

Post-Secondary Education: ADA and Section 504

General Track
Laura F. Rothstein, J.D, Professor of Law & Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Special Programs, University of Houston Law Center

Accommodating students with disabilities in post-secondary educational environments will be the focus of this session with Laura Rothstein.  She will address accommodation and academic performance issues with relationship to disability law, in addition to eligibility criteria, documentation, testing and discipline.

July 18

Breaking Ground:  10 Years of the ADA

General Track
John Wodatch, Chief-Disability Rights Section, U.S. Department of Justice, and Paul Miller, Commissioner, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this session will take a look back at some of the ground breaking legal cases to lay the foundation for greater access in employment, public services, and public accommodations for people with disabilities.

August 15

Union Environments and the ADA

Employment/HR Track
Andrea Haenlin Mott,  ADA Training Coordinator for the Program on Employment and Disability, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Extension Division, at Cornell University

This informational session will discuss the hot topics of the ADA in 
unionized environments including seniority, reasonable accommodation, collective bargaining agreements, confidentiality, and joint labor-management cooperation. Andrea Haenlin Mott will also address the unique interplay between unions and disability management strategies.

Homework:

September 19

Accessibility & Technology: Section 508 and Telecommunications

General Track
Doug Wakefield, U.S. Access Board

"Accessibility & Technology" will dispel some of the myths and misperceptions of federal accessibility requirements to new technologies and telecommunications.  The session will introduce the new federal requirements for electronic equipment covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and will clarify pre-existing requirements for telecommunications.

Homework:

  • Section 508 regulations will be posted as a link when released by the U.S. Access Board

 Last updated February 17, 2000.