As we enter 2026, there are new dynamics that accessibility coordinators, planners, and facility managers should be aware of when budgeting accessibility improvements and implementing their ADA transition plan.
As we age, we don’t celebrate birthdays and anniversaries as frequently as when we were kids. We tend to only pop open the champagne and celebrate the big ones, those divisible by 5 or 10. That’s okay. Everyone has their own style and preference for celebrating milestones. But as an ADA community of individuals, advocates and practitioners, it is important that we acknowledge its anniversary. The ADA is, after all, the single greatest piece of legislation guaranteeing civil rights and inclusion of people with disabilities.
Program access is the foundational principle for Title II of the ADA relative to physical accessibility.
A pandemic and now supply chain challenges have wreaked havoc on the construction industry and facility owners, especially those trying to make accessibility improvements as part of an ADA Transition Plan.
Twice a year, like clockwork, I either get asked about the best wheelchair swings for playgrounds or am forwarded a touchy-feely article about a local philanthropic that has raised money to install one at a community park. I silently shriek and the politely respond. Make no mistake. I am an advocate for accessible and inclusive playgrounds. I’ve been advocating for the inclusion of children with disabilities on public playground since 1992. I’ve seen all types of designs, equipment and surfaces.… Why Wheelchair Swings Aren’t Meant for Your Public Playground
It’s 2021! New year! Fresh calendar! Let’s go! Right?! Or not. Surely you have read dozens of articles outlining the pitfalls of resolutions in the new year. Business Insider says 80% of new year’s resolutions fail by February. In fact, January 12 has already been designated as “Quitter’s Day.” The positive aspect of any resolution is that it gives you the opportunity to reflect on where you have been and set a goal for the future. Resolutions can support positive… 3 Totally Doable Resolutions for 2021 to Jumpstart Your ADA/504 Compliance
When the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, it caused a lot of concern and consternation in the field of Parks and Recreation. Honestly, people freaked out a little bit, worse than Leslie Knope on a waffle binge. There were a lot of arguments about how NOT to make programs, services and activities accessible to people with disabilities. As we count down to the 25th anniversary of the ADA this month, we thought we would take a look… The ADA at 30: Things That Didn’t Happen to Parks & Recreation
CONFESSION: We LOVE a good TED Talk. Even better…..we LOVE LOVE LOVE a good TED Talk on disability rights and inclusion of people with disabilities. So….we thought we would share some of our favorites here. Our fight for disability rights andwhy we’re not done yetJudith Heumann | TEDxMidAtlantic It’s incredibly important for people with disabilities and advocates for inclusion to understand the history of the disability rights movement in order to know where we’ve been and recognize the challenges that… Our Favorite TED Talks on Disability, Accessibility and Inclusion
It’s February! Valentine’s Day is here and love is in the air! You know what I love? I love. Love. LOVE! talking about accessibility, universal design and inclusion! I’m an accessibility-geek. But like the saying goes….Do what you love! Love what you do! I love that I have been able to talk to so many of you already in 2016! When we launched Accessibility Management News, we said we wanted to hear from you. Oh! Did we hear from you! … For the Love of Accessibility & Inclusion
Last week while working on a new accessibility assessment project I had the unbelievable good fortune to make the acquaintance of Mr. Clarence Johnston of southern Ohio. Mr. Johnston has a soft voice, beautiful smile and a passion for fishing. From across the waterfront, he was mesmerizing. Of course, from the photos here, many would think it was because he was fishing along the accessible waterfront area using an electric wheelchair. But a closer look would give way to the symphony he… Accessibility Management: Why Do You Do What You Do?
President George H. Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990. Left to Right, sitting: Evan Kemp, Chairman, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Justin Dart, Chairman, President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. L to R, standing: Rev. Harold Wilke and Swift Parrino, Chairperson, National Council on Disability. There were a lot of banners, speeches and cake, performances and art exhibits, and talk about what has been and what needs to come. After years of planning and… 10 Ways to Celebrate the ADA After the Revelry
What do the cities of DeKalb, Fallon, Isle of Palms, and Vero Beach have in common? All four cities have recently entered into settlement agreements with the U.S. Department of Justice for disability-related questions on their employment applications. When applications and registration forms are too nosy, they illicit too much information — information that could lead to intentional or unintentional discrimination on the basis of disability. “Do you have any physical or mental conditions, which may impair your ability to… Are Your Applications and Registration Forms Too Nosy?
Often considered one of the many hidden disabilities, an estimated 43 million American women are affected by heart disease according to the Heart Foundation. February is American Heart Month, an awareness campaign of the American Heart Association. Consider taking time this month to treat your heart to good health. Learn the warning signs of a heart attack. Then consider assessing your facilities and programs on how to better serve people with heart disease. Do you have accessible parking on the… Take Heart: Are Your Facilities Heart-Friendly?
Accessibility management is the practice and process of implementing federal, state, and local disability legislation to ensure people with disabilities will have the equal opportunity to participate and benefit in all of your programs, services and activities. Whenever possible, accessibility management promotes the concept of going above and beyond minimum compliance with accessibility regulations and standards, striving to achieve universal design best practices that meet the unique needs of the widest spectrum of users. Accessibility management starts with commitment from… What is Accessibility Management? Utilizing the Process to Make Change Happen!