ADALive!

In this episode, Jim Dickson, the Co-Chair of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Voting Rights Committee, will discuss the disability vote and the importance of people with disabilities casting their vote. This is a very exciting year with the Presidential election coming up in November. In addition, July 11- 15 is National Voter Registration Week. This episode focuses on the importance of the disability vote and how the disability voting behavior compares to other minority groups and the general population; changes in the voting process and what the future of voting may look like; voting accessibility and what to do when issues arise; and what people and communities with a strong interest in disability issues can do to improve voting access.​​

Speaker: Jim Dickson, Co-Chair of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Voting Rights Committee

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode34

People with disabilities tend to vote about 10-20% less than those without disabilities, making it easier to dismiss the disability population. Although a study by Rutgers University shows that the vast majority of voters with disabilities are able to cast their votes privately and independently, the perception among these voters persists that they will encounter barriers at their polling place. In this episode, we will discuss the laws affecting access to voting, voters' rights to access, and what poll workers need to know in order to provide full access to voting, and the resources to help them do just that.

Speakers: Melanie Jane Bull; Public Policy Director, Tennessee Disability Coalition

Donna DeStefano; Assistant Director, Tennessee Disability Coalition

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode33

Christy Dunaway was recently hired by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency to serve as the Disability Integration Advisor. Mississippi is only the third state in the country to develop this position within their emergency management system. In her position, Christy will ensure that all programs and services related to emergency management, preparedness, response and recovery, are fully accessible for residents with disabilities living in Mississippi. Christy will talk about her recent experiences covering her first disaster in this new position and lessons learned.

Speaker: Christy Dunaway, Dunaway Consulting

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode32

Jonathan Martinis' appearance on the October 7th edition of ADA Live, discussing The Interplay between Guardianship and the ADA and Supported Decision-Making was one of our most popular. Because so many people had questions and comments, we're having him back to answer some of the most "Frequently Asked Questions" about Supported Decision-Making. We'll discuss how Supported Decision-Making can help people with disabilities make their own decisions and direct their own lives without the "need" for a guardian and ways to access appropriate supports and services to make that happen

Speaker: Jonathan Martinis, Senior Director for Law and Policy at the Burton Blatt Institute and the Project Director, National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode31

The Fair Housing Act provides rights and protections to persons with disabilities living in multi-family housing. In this episode Kathy Gips, Director of Training at the New England ADA Center, will discuss the Fair Housing Act and how it relates to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the key requirements in the Fair Housing Act, requesting an accommodation or modification, service animals and parking.​

Speaker: Kathy Gips, Director of Training, New England ADA Center

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode30

Many young adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) are leaving high school and considering post secondary education programs. Until recently, there were not many opportunities for students with ID to have access to post secondary education. What began through the efforts of a few individuals and institutes of higher education has developed into a movement of many who share the belief that all students should have access to post secondary education opportunities that lead to employment and independent living opportunities. ​

This episode is a continuation of our series on Post Secondary Education for Students with Intellectual Disabilities. In this episode we will discuss the definition of inclusion, the stimulus behind the spark of inclusion in higher education, post secondary education Comprehensive Transition Programs, accommodations in Comprehensive Transition Programs, support for students with intellectual disabilities in higher education, and anticipated outcomes for students with disabilities attending post secondary education.

Speaker: Barry Whaley, University of Kentucky - Human Development Institute

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode29

Back by popular demand, the "ADA Live!" Show: Post-Secondary Education and Students with Disabilities is being rebroadcast by the Southeast ADA Center. Students with disabilities, including those who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, don’t usually know about their opportunities in higher education, what accommodations are available, and how to request them. This episode discusses what students with disabilities and their families need to know about access to higher education and the kinds of supports and services that are available to them when they enter college or university, and also recommended resources to get you started in learning more about higher education and students with disabilities.

Speaker: Diana Katovitch, Taishoff Center on Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode28

Back by popular demand, the Southeast ADA Center is rebroadcasting the "ADA Live!" Show: Employment and Reasonable Accommodations. This episode will address the legal and practical issues surrounding reasonable accommodations in employment under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA). Topics to be discussed include: definition of disability, the legal rights and responsibilities of employees and employers, and the process of requesting reasonable accommodations.

Speakers: Jack Humburg, Boley Centers, Inc.

Cheri Hofmann, Southeast ADA Center

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode27

This episode of WADA ADALive! addresses issues facing veterans and their families as they leave the military and rejoin civilian life. The presenter is James Schmeling, J.D., co-founder of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University and Programs Mission Director for IVMF’s innovative transition, employment, education and training programs targeted to veterans and military families. These include the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV); the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans-Families (EBV-F); the Veterans Career Transition Program (VCTP), (over 35 industry-certified career paths); the Transition Assistance Program: Boots to Business Program; Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (VWISE); and, VetNet.

Speaker: James Schmeling, J.D. - Co-Founder, Managing Director | Programs Institute for Veteran & Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF)

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode26

Jonathan Martinis, Legal Director for Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities and the Project Director, National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making will discuss the relationship between guardianship and the ADA. He has over 20 years’ experience representing people with disabilities in cases under the Americans with Disabilities Act, The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, The Social Security Act and other civil rights laws. In 2013, he represented Margaret "Jenny" Hatch in the "Justice for Jenny" case, which held that Ms. Hatch has a right to use Supported Decision-Making instead of being subjected to a permanent, plenary guardianship. Topics include: What rights do persons with disabilities have under a guardianship? What are the alternatives to guardianship if I think it’s too restrictive? What is supported decision making? How does it work? What other issues do I need to think about that will enable a person with a disability to live more independently in the community?

Speaker: Jonathan Martinis, Legal Director for Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities and the Project Director, National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode25