Great Plains ADA Center
The ADA Report
January, 2022
Court Cases & Settlement Agreements
The Justice Department has reached an agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with Adventist Health System Georgia Inc., d.b.a. AdventHealth-Gordon (Advent), a hospital in Calhoun, Georgia. The settlement resolves a complaint by a deaf patient who alleged that despite her requests for an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for her labor and delivery, Advent failed to provide an interpreter or any other communication aid or service. Instead, the patient alleged that she was forced to rely on lip reading and on her deaf companion, who tried to advocate for her even though she too had difficulty trying to understand and communicate with hospital staff.

The YMCA of Spencer, Iowa, has agreed to settle a dispute regarding an allegation that it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to reasonably modify its policies, practices, and procedures, resulting in the exclusion of a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from its programs.
The YMCA of Spencer, Iowa, cooperated with the United States Attorney’s Office during its investigation.
U.S. Access Board Activities

People with disabilities face significant barriers to accessing primary and preventative healthcare. It is vital for medical care facilities and equipment, such as exam rooms and tables, diagnostic instruments and machines, and patient bedrooms and bathrooms, to be fully accessible to people with disabilities. The U.S. Access Board will host a virtual public event on equity in healthcare for people with disabilities on January 12 from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. (ET). The event will feature presentations on standards and resources related to healthcare accessibility, including inclusive medical equipment, healthcare facility design, information technology, and communication devices and systems. Members of the public will be able to pose questions during the event.

The U.S. Access Board has reopened its public comment period on advisory guidelines for aircraft onboard wheelchairs until January 17, 2022. As indicated in a published notice, the Board seeks information on onboard wheelchair loads and caster wheels for use in finalizing its voluntary guidelines. 
Articles and Resources
Employment:

Accessible Information Technology:
Don't miss a great opportunity to learn about accessibility and health apps!
DRRP App factory: Promoting development and accessibility of health apps for people with disabilities will be offered as a webinar on Thursday, January 20, 2022, 1:00 PM-2:30 PM Central Time Zone

The rise of remote work and virtual meetings revealed IT solutions’ shortcomings for workers with disabilities.

Healthcare:
Patients with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDDs) have unique needs. Two experts outlined what those and what doctors and medical students should know to help meet them.
Online Conferences Sponsored by the
Great Plains ADA Center

Note: The Great Plains ADA Center begins delivering Health, Safety, and Welfare credits with the American Institute of Architects and launching of an ACTCP Advanced Design Certificate.
The Great Plains ADA Center is pleased to announce accessible design educational programs that include pre-approved American Institute of Architects (AIA) Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) credits. The ADA Center is now registered with the AIA as Continuing Education Providers of education. Currently, there are seven certified accessible design programs, with more in the AIA approval pipeline. The classes are taught by senior architects and staff from the US Access Board, The International Code Council, Universities, industry leaders, and authors in accessible design education. AIA approved programs are listed in the session schedule for the upcoming online ACTCP Winter ADA Coordinator Conference (February 7-9) and the Virtual National ADA Symposium (May 9-13).

The Great Plains ADA Center is also launching an Advanced Design Certificate as part of its ADA Coordinator Training Certification Program. Plans are in development for a full-day of dedicated accessible design training as part of the new Advanced Design Certificate, which will consist entirely of the AIA approved programs


2022 Winter ADA Coordinator Conference!
February 7-9, 2022 (Virtual Conference)
24 Sessions offered over 3 days. Specific sessions have been approved for AIA-HSW credits. Day rates are available.
More Information & Registration (Details on AIA-HSW credits are provided on the Agenda).

Virtual National ADA Symposium
May 9-13, 2022 (Pre-Conference on May 9th)
-A comprehensive conference on the Americans with Disabilities Act
Online Registration opens February 1, 2022
The Virtual Symposium will feature three separate session tracks over four days and two keynotes.

The National ADA Symposium will also be a collaborative partner with the Mid-Atlantic ADA Conference, October 11th-13th, 2022 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Alexandria, Virginia.  We are excited about this partnership and look forward to announcing more information about this event over the coming months.
Upcoming ADANN Training Events

Wednesday, January 12th, 2022-Webinar 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Central

During this session, individuals will have the opportunity to ask ADA professionals questions related to service animals. To ensure your question is answered during the session, individuals are highly encouraged to submit their questions ahead of time via the registration website (option to submit questions is available once you have registered for the session).
-Sponsor: Region 5 Great Lakes ADA Center, ADA National Network

Tuesday, January 18, 2022 1:00 PM-2:30 PM Central -Online

Join us for this second session highlighting accessible technology on smartphones and tablets for persons with disabilities. In this session, our speaker will highlight mobile apps to improve independence for users with hearing, cognitive and mobility disabilities. There will be time following the presentation for questions.
-Sponsor: Region 5 Great Lakes Center, ADA National Network

Wednesday, January 19th, 2022--1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Central- Online.

2021 was a year of reopening, new or revised mandates as well as a new administration. This legal webinar will review key 2021 ADA decisions under all Titles of the ADA, and discuss their potential implications on future ADA litigation. Start the New Year off right with a better understanding of the most important ADA cases decided in 2021 and the implications that they may have for the future!
-Sponsor: Region 5 Great Lakes ADA Center, Region 6 Southwest ADA Center, ADA National Network

Thursday, January 20th, 2022 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Central-Online

Mobile healthcare, or mHealth, is an important new tool for the self-management of chronic conditions. However, growth in the development of mHealth “apps” may increase health disparities by leaving behind vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities.
The App Factory aims to ensure that people with disabilities are full participants in the growth of mHealth. We are addressing this aim in two ways. First, we want to help people find apps that are both effective in managing health and also accessible and usable by people with disabilities. Our website provides results from our accessibility testing and review of popular mHealth apps and encourages readers to evaluate and share their feedback about the usability of mHealth apps … and get paid for their feedback!
-Sponsors: Great Lakes, Southeast, and Great Plains ADA Centers and the ADA National Network

Tuesday, January 25th, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Central -Online
-Sponsor: Great Lakes AD Center, U.S. Access Board, CIO