News and Notes 420 July 8

birgitta.chaiken - Wed, 07/08/2020 - 13:03

In continuing celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the signing of the ADA, NARIC looks at its Title1: Employment, and provides resources including the ADA National Network and research and resources from the NIDILRR community and elsewhere; Research in Focus explores how knowledgeable VR staff and specialized services can help improve employment outcomes for people with traumatic brain injuries and visual impairment; the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for Place-Based Solutions for Rural Community participation, Health, and Employment (RTC: Rural) publishes research brief, America at a Glance: How Do Working-Age Adults with Travel-Limiting Disabilities Get Around?; the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Employment Policy and Measurement (EPM-RRTC) releases the June National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) Jobs Report, showing marginal increases in key employment numbers for Americans with and without disabilities; the Great Lakes ADA Regional Center hosts webinar, Buying Websites: Technology and Tech Services: Tools and Tips for Accessible Procurement; the Great Lakes ADA Regional Center hosts webinar, The 30th Anniversary of the ADA: A Review of the Most Important ADA Cases; the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Inclusive Technologies (Wireless RERC) continues to collect data through the 2020 Survey of User Needs for Wireless Technologies to learn how people of all ages and abilities use wireless technology; the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the Department of Labor announces theme for the October 2020 75th observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM): Increasing Access and Opportunity, including the celebration of the ADA and its role in increasing access and opportunity in employment.

Date sent: 
2020-07-08
NARIC news: 

This week we continue our celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with a look at Title I: Employment. According to the ADA National Network, this title is designed to help people with disabilities access the same employment opportunities and benefits available to people without disabilities. Employers must provide accommodations to qualified applicants or employees with disabilities. If you're an employer or hiring manager, how do you know if your business falls under this Title or what a reasonable accommodation looks like? If you're an employee or a job seeker with a disability, how can you learn about your rights? The ADA National Network Regional Centers can help! Find your region's center online or call 800/949-4ADA (4232) to connect with the center serving your state. Visit our recent Spotlight blog post for research and resources from the NIDILRR community and elsewhere to help both employers and employees answer these questions.

Research In Focus:
Knowledgeable VR Staff and Specialized Services May Help Improve Employment Outcomes for People with Traumatic Brain Injuries and Visual Impairment
The right staff and training can make a big difference for people with traumatic brain injuries and visual impairments seeking employment services through vocational rehabilitation (VR), this week's Research In Focus finds.
 
Resource Highlight: 
Research Brief: America at a Glance - How Do Working-Age Adults with Travel-Limiting Disabilities Get Around?
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for Place-Based Solutions for Rural Community Participation, Health, and Employment (RTC: Rural) (90RT5025) has published a new research brief, America at a Glance: How Do Working-Age Adults with Travel-Limiting Disabilities Get Around? Using data from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey, this research brief explores travel behaviors and characteristics of rural and urban people with disabilities and the different types of transportation they use, including driving their own vehicles, asking for rides, and using public and special transportation programs. Researchers found that transportation is still a barrier for people with disabilities, especially in rural communities where rates of travel-related disability are slightly higher than in urban communities.
 
News items: 
June nTIDE Finds Job Numbers Rise but Cautions COVID-19 Spikes May Impact Recovery
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Employment Policy and Measurement (EPM-RRTC) (90RT5037) released the June National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) Jobs Report, an analysis of the latest Jobs Report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The June report finds marginal increases in key employment numbers for Americans with and without disabilities, but cautions that the COVID-19 pandemic may impact future recovery. This report was discussed in the most recent nTIDE Lunch & Learn webinar, available in the archive.
 
Grantee event: 
Webinar: Buying Websites, Technology, and Tech Services – Tools and Tips for Accessible Procurement TOMORROW
The NIDILRR-funded Great Lakes ADA Regional Center (90DP0091) will host a webinar, Buying Websites, Technology, and Tech Services: Tools and Tips for Accessible Procurement, July 9th, 2:30-4 pm ET. Presenters will discuss accessible purchasing guidelines created by the University of California (UC) and how they can be implemented within an institution like UC. Presenters will share specific documents from UC Berkeley's accessible procurement program and will cover both the contents and the process used in creating these documents. Registration is free and required.
 
Webinar: The 30th Anniversary of the ADA - A Review of the Most Important Cases
The NIDILRR-funded Great Lakes ADA Regional Center (90DP0091) will host a webinar, The 30th Anniversary of the ADA: A Review of the Most Important ADA Cases, July 15th, 2-3:30 pm ET. Presenters will review pivotal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) decisions made by the Supreme Court in the last 30 years and will highlight unexpected applications of the ADA in emerging areas, such as the Internet, disaster planning, and rideshare companies. Registration is free and required. Continuing education recognition is available upon request.
 
Participate: 
2020 Survey of User Needs for Wireless Technologies
The NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Inclusive Technologies (Wireless RERC) (90RE5025) continues to collect data through the 2020 Survey of User Needs for Wireless Technologies to learn how people of all ages and abilities use wireless technology. The survey is open to all users of wireless technologies, regardless of age or ability. The survey covers cell phones, tablets, computers, and newer technologies, such as smart watches and smart home devices, as well as how accessible and usable those devices are for people with disabilities. For more information, or help completing the survey, contact Salimah LaForce at 404/894-8297 or salimah.laforce@cacp.gatech.edu.
 
Elsewhere in the Community: 
NDEAM Theme Announced: Increasing Access and Opportunity
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the Department of Labor announced the theme for the 75th observance of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM): Increasing Access and Opportunity. NDEAM is held every October, with events, presentations, and resources celebrating the ingenuity people with disabilities bring to America's workplaces. This year's observance will include celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its role in increasing access and opportunity in employment. Posters and planning guides are available from the NDEAM website.
 
Archive link: 
http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=654309&f=1190&s=26993&m=912035&t=635cba0a9267f719dd304fcd1ae764b160681b0bc4432192fe4b80b0dffecb7c