Americans with Disabilities Resources
Resources
Disability Fact Sheets
The following are disability specific fact sheets are provided by the National Dissemination Center for children with disabilities (NICHCY). Each fact sheet defines the disability and gives the incidence rate, characteristics and the education implications for the specific disability.
- ADHD
- Autism
- Cerebral Palsy
- Deaf & Hearing Loss
- Downs Syndrome
- Emotional Disturbance
- Epilepsy
- Mental Retardation
- Pervasive Development Disorder
- Reading & Learning Disabilities
- Severe and/or Multiple Disabilities
- Speech & Language
- Spinal Bifida
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Visual Impairments
Awareness Handouts
The following handouts are intended to provide information on communicating with individuals with disabilities and for training staff on disability awareness.
- General Rules of Etiquette
- General Rules of Etiquette for Specific Disabilities
- Wheelchair Etiquette
- Welcome to Holland
- Kids that are different
- A Child called dis-abled
- The Causes of Cerebral Palsy
County Resources
- Department of Aging & Human Services
- Recreation & Parks-Community Services Therapeutic Recreation Webpage
- St. Mary's County Public School-Special Education
- St. Mary's College of Maryland
- College of Southern Maryland
- St. Mary's County Transportation Services
- Network of Care
State Resources
- Individuals with Disabilities
- Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council
- Department of Social Services
- Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Federal Resources
- Department of Justice ADA Homepage
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
- United States Access Board
- United States Department of Education
- US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights
- US Department of Labor, Civil Rights Center
- Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Federal Communications Commission
- JAN - Job Accommodation Network
Recreational Links of Interest
Document Downloads
The Americans with Disabilities Act Q&A
The information in this booklet has been adapted from "The Americans with Disabilities Act Questions and Answers" document produced by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, October 2008 version. This publication was produced as a collaborative project by the ADA National Network, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. This document does not reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Education and is not a legal determination of your rights and/or responsibilities under the ADA. It is provided as technical assistance and you should consult an attorney for legal matters. Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved.
A Comparison of the 2004 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities; the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG); and the 2006 International Building Code (IBC), which references the standard ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities-2003.
2010 ADA Standards
"The 2010 ADA Standards, as adopted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in September 2010, will become mandatory on March 15, 2012. DOJ is allowing immediate use of these standards as an alternative to its original 1991 standards but requires that the selected standard be applied consistently to a project. DOJ's ADA standards apply to facilities covered by the ADA, including places of public accommodation, commercial facilities, and state and local government facilities. They do not apply to transportation facilities, including bus stops and rail stations, which are subject to similar standards issued by the Department of Transportation.Updated ADA regulations issued by DOJ on September 15, 2010, implement these standards and provide important information on their use in new construction and alterations. DOJ's title II regulation addresses state and local government facilities, and its title III regulation covers places of public accommodation and commercial facilities."
Checklist for Universal Design
This article was published by the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. The article discusses how to make facilities, information and activities accessible and usable to all. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 mandate that no otherwise qualified person with a disability shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in public programs.
Accessible Information Exchange: Meeting on a Level Playing Field
The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently published new ADA guidance on conducting accessible and inclusive meetings. The 28-page guide, Accessible Information Exchange: Meeting on a Level Playing Field, covers access to meeting sites as well as presentations, printed materials and other forms of communication. Information is provided on how to evaluate the accessibility of meeting rooms, parking, routes and entrances, and restrooms. This guidance also covers the layout of meeting spaces, accessible circulation and seating, provision of printed materials in accessible formats, and making audible communication accessible through assistive listening systems, real-time captioning, and sign language interpretation.
Disability Etiquette: Tips for Interacting with Individuals with Disabilities
Disability Law Handbook
The Southwest Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC) - funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research recently produced a Disability Law Handbook. This Disability Law Handbook is a 50-page guide to the basics of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability related laws. Written in an FAQ format, The Disability Law Handbook answers questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act, the Rehabilitation Act, Social Security, the Air Carrier Access Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, and the Fair Housing Act Amendments.
Accessible Emergency Preparedness Information
Information regarding emergency preparedness may be found on this accessible emergency information website. Groups/agencies across the nation may use this information (at no cost) to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in emergency preparedness and health related topics. On the website are videos with ASL interpreters advising how to prepare for 18 topics. The videos also have an audible voice over and text appearing alongside the interpreter. Along with the videos is the Emergency Preparedness Guide formatted in Braille, large print, and regular font for download. All of the information is free for public use.
ADA Tile II and Title III Regulations Fact Sheet Series
The U.S. Department of Justice recently revised the ADA Title II and title III Regulations. These regulations amend the DOJ's title II requirements for State and Local Governments and Title III requirements for places of Public Accommodation. Many of the Regulations took effect March 15, 2011 with some requirements going into effect March 15, 2012. In response to these regulatory changes, the National Network of ADA Centers has created a Fact Sheet Series to give guidance around the specific changes. Each fact sheet Focuses on a different topic, providing an overview of what the revised regulations are for that topic.
ADA Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal
This checklist is based on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. It updates the original ADA Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal which was based on the 1991 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The original checklist was issued in 1992 and revised in 1995. Businesses and non-profit organizations removing barriers before March 15, 2012 have the choice of using either the 1991 Standards or the 2010 Standards. Businesses and non-profit organizations removing barriers on or after March 15, 2012 must use the 2010 Standards.
Additional Links and Resources
