ADALive!

Last year, the ADA Legacy Tour and the colorful Road to Freedom ADA Bus, piloted by legendary photographer Tom Olin, visited nine cities across the United States between July 26 and December 2014. In 2015, an even more ambitious ADA Legacy Tour will travel to 39 cities and culminate in Washington, DC on July 26, 2015 as part of the celebrations of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Join Mark Johnson, Director of Advocacy for the Shepherd Center and Chair of the ADA Legacy Project, as he talks with Pamela Williamson, Director of the Southeast ADA Center, about how you can share your ADA story and help preserve the history of the disability rights movement; celebrate its milestones; and educate the public and future generations of advocates.

Speakers: Mark Johnson, Director of Advocacy, Shepherd Center and Chair, The ADA Legacy Project

Pamela Williamson, Director,Southeast ADA Center

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode17

Get a preview of what’s in store when you attend the 2015 National ADA Symposium from May 10-13 in Atlanta, GA. In honor of the 25th Anniversary of the ADA, this year’s Symposium is bigger and better than ever. Join Jim de Jong, Director of the Great Plains ADA Center as he chats with Sally Weiss from the Southeast ADA Center about the many speakers and seminars, along with cutting edge technology, that makes the 2015 ADA Symposium something not to be missed. Kicking off with a reception at the Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta and featuring a keynote speech by John Lewis, the 2015 Symposium blends the latest on ADA, implementation strategies and best practices with a celebration of the 25th ADA Anniversary and a stop from the ADA Legacy Tour. Symposium registration opens on January 5th (adasymposium.org) and spaces are expected to fill up quickly.

Speaker: Jim de Jong, Executive Director, Great Plains ADA Center

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode16

For the past 22 years, the annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. The theme of this year's observance is “Sustainable Development: The promise of technology”

The emergence of information and communications technologies (ICTs) have dramatically increased connectivity between people and their access to information, and further raised living standards. ICTs have changed the way people live, work and play. However, not all people benefit from the advances of technology and the higher standards of living. This is mainly because not all people have access to new technologies.

Today, there are over 1 billion people living in the world with some form of disability. Persons with disabilities not only face physical barriers but also social, economic and attitudinal barriers. In spite of being the world’s largest minority group, persons with disabilities and the issue of disability has remained largely invisible in the mainstream development frameworks and its processes.

Speaker: John Robinson, Managing Partner and CEO, Our Ability

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode15

In this episode, we will discuss: What is the definition of a service animal? Is a service animal the same as a companion animal, psychiatric animal or therapy pet? Does a business have to serve a customer who has two service animals? We will discuss some of the issues involving access for individuals with disabilities using service animals in places of business and in housing.

Speaker: Rebecca Williams, Southeast ADA Center

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode14

In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, this episode focuses on the Workforce Innovation and Employment Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA is designed to modernize and improve existing federal workforce development programs. Dr. Rebecca Salon and Elizabeth Jennings of the National Disability Institute’s LEAD Center will discuss the changes created by WIOA and the opportunities it presents for individuals with disabilities.

Speakers: Rebecca Salon, Project Director - LEAD Center

Elizabeth Jennings, Assistant Project Director - LEAD Center

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode13

Web access is not just making a website available to the public. It includes making that website accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities. Discover the “big picture” of what accessibility is, why accessibility is important, and some tools and resources to get you started on the path to a making an accessible website for all your visitors.

Speakers: Celestia Ohrazda, Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University

Marsha Schwanke, Southeast ADA Center

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode12

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/episode11

In this episode we will discuss how to make a beach accessible to people with disabilities. This episode will examine challenges such as beach and wildlife protections alterations to an existing beach (including upgrades to parking, circulation path, and restroom facilities) and what defines an accessible route.

Speakers: Jack Humburg, Boley Centers, Inc.

Cheri Hofmann, Southeast ADA Center

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode10

Playgrounds with accessible components included throughout the play areas make it possible for children with and without disabilities to choose where and how they want to play with each other. The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design went into effect on March 15, 2012. The Standards contain specific technical requirements for new or altered play areas, regardless of whether they are publicly or privately owned and funded. Join us on June 4, 2014 as Bill Botten of the U.S. Access Board explains the new requirements and answers your questions about making play areas accessible to all children.

Speaker: William Botten, U.S. Access Board

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode9

This episode about access to pools will provide people with disabilities, state and local government staff, businesses, and interested persons with an overview of why pool access is important, what people should expect to see in terms of access based upon new 2010 regulations, and answer some specific, real-world questions about access.

Speakers: Barry Whaley, MLM Associates, Inc. and University of Kentucky - Human Development Institute

Donna DeStefano, Tennessee Disability Coalition

More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode7