November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and National Epilepsy Awareness Month

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month! 38 million Americans live with diabetes, a disease that can affect daily life. This November, check out the campaigns to increase awareness around diabetes such as #TheDropSpotted with Beyond Type 1 and “Take Charge of Tomorrow” with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

November is also National Epilepsy Awareness Month (NEAM)! Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the world, and there are 3.4 million people living with epilepsy in America. The call to action this NEAM is “Share Your Purple Power!”  Learn more about NEAM and what you can do by visiting the Epilepsy Foundation.

Veterans and the ADA - Veterans Day, November 11, 2024

In the United States, Veterans Day is observed on November 11, the anniversary of the World War I armistice in 1918. Veterans Day is a celebration of veterans and a time to honor and thank them for their service and sacrifice for our country. Learn about how the ADA protects veterans with disabilities in the workplace from the ADA National Network.

The ADA and Voting Access

As we cast our ballots this week, it is important to remember how Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) addresses barriers to voting for people with disabilities. The ADA requires all state and local governments to provide accessible programs, services, and activities, including voting! This includes ensuring that entrances have sufficient signage, allowing service animals, and providing appropriate auxiliary aids and services for people with disabilities.

To learn more about the ADA and voting access, read the Northeast ADA Center article on Voting Access Rights and additional voting resources on NortheastADA.org.

Make Halloween Accessible to All!

Halloween is almost here, and while festivities are full of fun and treats for some, it can be an inaccessible experience for others. To ensure all trick-or-treaters and their families can enjoy the holiday, consider the following:

1. Is the path to the candy open and accessible? Preferably no stairs.
2. Are there treat options for dietary restrictions? Maybe add stickers!
3. Are you aware of the different ways trick-or-treaters may say “trick-or-treat”?
4. Are you ready to describe or show treats for trick-or-treaters who are blind or deaf?
5. What Halloween decorations are nearby? Be wary of loud, sudden noises and strobing lights.
6. Let the neighborhood know that you are making an effort to have an accessible Halloween. To learn more, read this short article on making Halloween accessible.

Share this Northeast ADA Center Trick-or-Treating Allergy Awareness infographic with your friends and neighbors!

Free Webinar - Great Lakes ADA Center - Understanding the ADA’s Interactive Process: How Employers and Employees Should Discuss Requests for Accommodations

Tuesday, October 15, 2024, 2-3:30 p.m. EDT

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)’s “interactive process” is about an employer and employee (or applicant) having a meaningful discussion about a request, including why accommodation is needed and what forms of accommodation might be effective. Yet, both employers and employees often lack understanding on why a discussion generally is necessary and how to discuss a request, including what types of information may need to be shared and their respective roles in having a meaningful discussion. This session will discuss how to ensure an interactive process that provides employers with the information to make a legally sound decision consistent with the requirements of the ADA. We will discuss how each person plays a part in ensuring that critical information is shared (including sometimes medical documentation) and outside sources that can assist in identifying potential accommodations.

Register for this Great Lakes ADA Center webinar

October is NDEAM!

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)! It is a time to champion employment of people with disabilities and promote their full inclusion in the workforce. The Office for Disability Employment Policy has announced this year’s theme as “Access to Good Jobs for All” to highlight the need for workers with disabilities to have access to good jobs. For celebration suggestions and shareable resources, visit the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s NDEAM webpage.

Free Webinar - Southeast ADA Center: Polling Place Accessibility and the ADA

Thursday, September 26, 2024, 10-11 a.m. EDT

Join the Southeast ADA Center webinar on polling place accessibility! Learn how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects polling place access for people with disabilities and receive resources on polling place accessibility.

Register for the Southeast ADA Center webinar

For more information on voting and the ADA, read our Northeast ADA Center article on voter access rights.