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Celebrating the ADA 30th Anniversary – Texas Style

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With all that our nation has been facing these days, we are glad to have some good news to share. This July 26 marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act – the ADA. The purpose of the groundbreaking legislation is to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. The ADA is divided into five titles (or sections) that relate to different areas of public life.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the passage of the ADA, we’re partnering up with the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities and dozens of other Texas agencies to host a series of FREE virtual events all month long. Click on the webinar title for more information or to register. And don’t miss our keynote forum event on July 24 featuring a host of disability rights legacy speakers!

July 7 at 10 am: Curbs, Ramps, and Sidewalks – Oh My!

Learn about efforts of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to investigate the current state of pedestrian facilities in the public right of way to determine the level of accessibility and to propose remediation required by the ADA Transition Plan. Target audience is governmental entities but others are welcome to attend.

July 8 at 2 pm: Disability Rights and the Digital Future

As digital resources become more critical to participation in the modern world of remote working, learning, civic engagement and socializing, what does the future hold for digital inclusion? Join website accessibility experts Sharron Rush, Executive Director of Knowbility, and Lainey Feingold, disability rights lawyer, speaker and author, for a lively discussion about the legal aspects of digital accessibility.

July 14 at 2 pm: Knowing Your Rights – How to Effectively File an ADA Complaint

Learn how to register complaints regarding lack of accessibility with various types of services, programs, buildings and facilities. We will also answer questions from participants. The panel of expert speakers includes our own Lucia Romano, Supervising Attorney at Disability Rights Texas.

July 15 at 2 pm: Disclosing Disability – When, Why and How
Deciding whether to disclose your disability can be a nerve-wracking decision. This session will focus on the factors to consider when deciding whether to disclose your disability to a potential employer. Presented by Randi Turner, Accessibility and Disability Rights Coordinator for the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities.

***JULY 22 DOUBLE FEATURE DAY***

July 22 at 10 am: Don’t Lose Your Federal Funding – Helping State and Local Governments Develop/Update their ADA Transition Plan

Does your government have a complete and comprehensive ADA Transition Plan? Come learn what you need to know to ensure your agency is protected before you are denied any funding. Target audience is governmental entities but others are welcome to attend.

July 22 at 2 pm: Reducing Risk While Building Market Share – Your Company’s Approach to the ADA

For 30 years you’ve heard about bringing your business into compliance so you don’t get sued. What if you approached compliance with a whole new mindset? What if you embraced it? What if you learned how to make your business comply and how compliance can be part of your marketing strategy? With 20% of the US population having a disability, it’s an important market share to reach – but most don’t. Target audience for this webinar is private businesses, agencies, and organizations. Presented by Kristi Avalos of Accessology.

July 23 at 2 pm: Outside for Everyone – Adaptive Recreation
Exploring the great outdoors can be challenging for some people with disabilities. Many state parks offer some accessible features including trails, campsites, and exhibits. Texas Parks and Wildlife will be highlighting adaptive outdoor recreation opportunities while Lonestar Paralysis Foundation and the City of Austin will share the unlimited indoor and outdoor sports opportunities that exists for people with disabilities.

***KEYNOTE ADDRESS FORUM EVENT DAY***

July 24 from 10 am to 1 pm: ADA 30th Moving Forward Forum
Our keynote event, “Moving Forward” will host a power house of disability rights speakers as we celebrate this important day. Speakers scheduled so far include:

July 29 at 10 am: Creating Opportunities through Accessible Transportation
Mobility challenges remain a major obstacle for individuals with disabilities. For many, limited transportation options create barriers to economic and social opportunities. Through an increased focus on innovation and harnessing technology, the mobility and transportation industry is able to create new pathways of opportunity for individuals with disabilities. Panel discussion includes Martin Kareithi of Capitol Metro and Darran Anderson of the Texas Department of Transportation.

 

The ADA 30 Texas partners would like to thank the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities and the Texas Department of Transportation for their leadership in making these events happen.