ADA Technical Bulletin: August 2004
The Northeast ADA & IT Center at Cornell University provides training,
technical assistance and materials on the ADA and accessible information
technology throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands. This monthly technical bulletin is part of our dissemination
efforts and if you do not wish to receive this document or would like others
from your organization added to our list, please call 1-800-949-4232 or
reply to this message. Thank you
Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Addresses Health Information,
Privacy, and the use of Telecommunication Relay Services (TRS)
Recently, (June 16, 2004), there was a Public Notice [DA 04-1716] issued
from the FCC and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the
use of TRS to facilitate calls between callers who are deaf or have a speech
disability and healthcare providers when it comes to the privacy of
confidential medical information in light of HIPAA (Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act).
There were growing concerns that TRS Communication Assistants (CAs), as a
third party to the conversation, could violate HIPAA because of confidential
medical information that was being relayed. Some heath care professionals
have had CAs sign "third-party non-disclosure" forms prior to facilitating
these types of calls.
Emphasis has been placed on the usage of all TRS, including traditional TTY
based relay, Internet Protocol (IP) Relay, Video Relay Service (VRS), and
Speech-to-Speech (STS), by the FCC as viable modes of communication without
the threat of violating HIPAA's privacy rule.
More information on TRS is available at
[http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/trs.html].
Breaking Down Barriers: K-12 and Beyond (New CD-ROM available)
The ADA and IT Technical Assistance Centers have created an informational CD
on how accessible electronic and information technology can break down
barriers for students with disabilities and improve educational and
employment outcomes. This CD is available, free of charge, by calling our
office, 800-949-4232 or emailing us at [log in to unmask]
The use of technology is widespread in schools and employment settings. It
has the potential to maximize the independence, participation and
productivity of students with disabilities. Call us for a copy of this CD
to learn about the advantages of accessible information technology and how
you can advocate for use of accessible and universally designed technology
in your school.
New Fact Sheet Addresses Workplace Rights of People with Epilepsy under
Disabilities Act-Questions and Answers About Epilepsy
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued the second in
a series of fact sheets about specific disabilities. Questions and Answers
About Epilepsy in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) provides information about topics which include when epilepsy is
considered a disability under the ADA; when an employer may ask an applicant
or employee questions about epilepsy and how it should treat voluntary
disclosures; what types of reasonable accommodations employees with epilepsy
may need; how an employer should handle safety concerns about applicants and
employees with epilepsy; and how employers can ensure that no employee is
harassed because of epilepsy or any other disability. To obtain a copy of
this document, please call the Northeast ADA & IT Center toll free at
1-800-949-4232 or send an e-mail to [log in to unmask]
Free Document on Public & Subsidized Housing for New York State
A new document is available free of charge which provides a wealth of
information on public and subsidized housing in New York State. The topics
include: what is public and subsidized housing, eligibility criteria for
public and subsidized housing, and calculation of tenant's rent obligation.
To obtain a copy of this article, please call the Northeast ADA & IT Center
toll free at 1-800-949-4232 or send an e-mail to [log in to unmask]
Update on the Reauthorization of IDEA: Senate breaks without moving IDEA to
conference
By Katherine Shek and Kara Arundel: Washington Bureau Correspondents for
the Special Ed Connection, LRP
The impasse over reauthorization of the nation's special education law will
continue until at least September, as Congress begins a six-week recess
today (7/26/04)
The impasse continues despite efforts made by educators and Republicans this
week to pressure Senate Democrats to go to conference to update the IDEA.
These unlikely allies have written or spoken about the urgent need to
appoint conferees to the IDEA conference. Yet the fight between Republicans
and Democrats over fair negotiations has stalled conference progress. Even
though Congress took no formal action this week, the four leading Senate and
House members on education committees -- Sens. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., and
Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Reps. John Boehner, R-Ohio, and George Miller,
D-Calif. -- reportedly met Thursday and vowed to make IDEA a priority when
they return from their break.
US. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces $8.1 Million in Grants to Aid
Workers with Disabilities
WASHINGTON, July 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
today announced 25 grants totaling $8.1 million to help workers with
disabilities access the full spectrum of re- employment services offered at
One-Stop Career Centers across the nation. The grants, awarded for 24
months, range from $200,000 to $600,000.
The Telework/Telecommuting Pilot Research solicitation will fund up to three
pilot research projects designed to investigate, develop and validate
strategies likely to yield the largest number of telework positions for
people with disabilities. Each project award will range from $600,000 to
$830,000 and will be for a 36-month period of performance.
Questions about the telework solicitation (SGA 04-12), which appeared in the
July 8, 2004 Federal Register, should be directed to the US Labor Department
Procurement Services Center, Room N-5416, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC 20210, Telephone (202) 693-4570. Grant applications may be
downloaded from the Federal Register at www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
National Disability Convention: September 2004 in Atlantic City, NJ
November is literally right around the corner. Voters with (and without)
disabilities want to hear from the leading presidential candidates what
their campaign positions are on the issues of disability so they can make an
informed decision at the time of voting. That is why the candidates have
been invited to speak at the National Disability Convention in Atlantic
City, NJ. More than 2,000 signatures so far have been received to help
encourage both candidates to attend. New Jersey has organized past
conventions before, but never this large. Nineteen other states have
expressed an interest in sending state delegates. Currently, there are 35
million individuals with disabilities who are of voting age.
For the most up to date information on the NDC regarding attending or
exhibiting, visit their website at www.disabilitiesconvention.com or call
the Northeast ADA&IT Center at 800-949-4232.
Bush Marks 14th Anniversary of ADA with Proclamation
President George W. Bush marked the 14th anniversary of the ADA by listing
things he has done to guarantee the civil rights of all citizens. These
include the New Freedom Initiative, ADA Business Connection and Project
Civic Access with the Department of Justice, establishment of the
Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals
with Disabilities, an Executive Order to improve transportation for people
with disabilities and those who do not have access to transportation, and
the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Bush proclaimed that through
these efforts we will strengthen our nation and build on the progress of the
ADA because all Americans, including those with disabilities, will have
access to employment, education, cultural activities, or community life.
For more information on this proclamation, visit the web site at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/07/20040726-5.html
or call the Northeast ADA & IT Center toll free at 1-800-949-4232.
ABA/ADAAG Guidelines Published
The US Access Board announced the publication of revised accessibility
guidelines on July 23, 2004. These guidelines are a culmination of a decade
of work to meet the needs of people with disabilities and keep pace with
innovations in technology. The Access Board relies on the harmonization of
these new guidelines with the model building codes to tremendously enhance
and facilitate compliance. In addition to revising the accessibility
guidelines under the ADA, the Board revised the guidelines for Federal
buildings under the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA) which allows
for more consistency in access under the ADA and the ABA. These new
guidelines will now be reviewed by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) who
must adopt them for the ABA/ADAAG Guidelines to become enforceable. There
is no date set yet for this adoption by DOJ.
For a copy of the new ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines, visit the Access
Board's web site at http://www.access-board.gov/ada-aba.htm or call the
Northeast ADA & IT Center toll free at 1-800-949-4232.
Northeast ADA&IT Center
201 ILR Extension Building
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
1-800-949-4232 (TTY and voice)
NY, NJ, PR, USVI
www.northeastada.org
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