Accessibility

The Department of Justice published revised final regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for title II (State & local government services) and title III (public accommodations & commercial facilities) in the Federal Register. These requirements clarify and refine issues that have arisen over the past 20 years and contain new and updated requirements, including the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design. The effective date of two revised rules is March 15, 2011.

How does North Dakota ensure that all individuals have access to a decent, safe, affordable, and accessible place to live? Navigate the attachments to learn more about their Housing Alliance program, a statewide organization of individuals and housing and client service professionals, working to identify and address unmet housing needs in the state. Attached is their website and other outreach materials.

As of September 2010, Benefits Enrollment Centers have submitted over 125,000 applications for a variety of public benefits including the Medicare Part D Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), the Medicare Savings Programs, Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP - formerly known as Food Stamps), the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, among others. To learn more about these efforts, outcomes, and lessons learned please see the attached report.

Computer-based testing (CBT) has emerged as one of the recent innovative approaches to assessments most pursued by states. CBT is lauded as the answer to having cheaper and speedier test delivery for state and district-wide assessments, as well as an avenue toward greater accessibility for students with disabilities. This report explores the context of CBT, current state computer-based tests, and considerations for students with disabilities.

Review a presentation aimed at educating human resource workers on how to properly recruit and work with individuals with disabilities. Information is provided on the Americans with Disabilities Act, hiring individuals with disabilities, reasonable accommodations, etc.. Also attached is a quiz on the information that could be used to test HR professionals’ knowledge.

Use this health literacy toolkit to make written material in printed formats easier for people to understand and use. Though the main focus is on material intended for use by individuals eligible or enrolled in programs, the guidelines also apply to material created for people who serve or assist them. The toolkit has 11 parts, including guidelines for writing and design, methods for testing with readers, and guidelines for translation.

A Geriatric Care Manager can maximize independence and autonomy for care recipients while supporting families and caregivers. This resource discusses the various roles that this professional can play. A number of useful technologies are also suggested, including web-conferencing, monitoring and assistive devices. According to the author, despite the costs of these technologies, keeping older adults in their homes is still less expensive than placement in nursing homes.

Forthcoming legislation provides an opportunity to improve specialized transportation services, particularly those funded by the Federal Transit Administration. This report recommends that policymakers take steps to strengthen coordinated planning, increase support for mobility management, and improve data collection and reporting on these services. Also included is a link to a table delineating key characteristics of the FTA Programs and some background papers.

Find a synopsis of how state coordinating councils operate, including a 50-state reference table, and profiles of the 25 existing state coordinating councils. Focused on improving coordination at the state and local levels, the Councils are a key to successfully keeping people in the community. Some of these states have created their Councils by state statute, some by state executive order or governor initiative.

Find an estimate for the US of the costs over the next 20 years of providing public transportation to the advancing wave of older adults looking to maintain their independence. Investments recommended to address needs included more bus operator training and consideration of older adults’ needs in route planning and placement of transit stops. Capital enhancements include more low-floor and kneeling buses, improved interior circulation, additional grab bars and other accessibility features.