Information and Guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act 
Spring 1998 Vol. 2, No.2

This Issue Highlights Information and Resources on Communication

What's Inside?

Feature Stories

• Judge Rules in Golfer's Favor
• Supreme Court Considers AIDS Disability Case
• FCC Proposes Telecom Rules

DOJ Update
Employment Update
Regional News
Publications
Frequently Asked Questions
Great Web Sites
Design Solutions
Building Your Rolodex
Events/Announcements
 

FEATURE STORIES

JUDGE RULES IN GOLFER'S FAVOR

A judge in Eugene, Oregon ruled that the Professional Golfers' Association Tour must make an exception to its ban on motorized carts in tournament play so that Casey Martin, an individual with a disability, can compete. This ends a court case that provoked national debate over the rights of Martin during his one-week, non-jury trial against the PGA Tour. U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Coffin rejected the Tour's defense that walking is integral to the highest levels of golf competition and that any exception to the no-cart rule would give one player an advantage over another.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said the Tour will abide by Coffin's decision while it prepares to appeal the case to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The Tour has not decided if the option to use a cart will be extended to all golfers on the tour.
"We believe firmly in the basic premise of any sport, that one set of rules must be applied equally to all competitors," Finchem said today in a statement. "Additionally, we believe strongly in the central role walking plays for all competitors in tournament championship golf at the PGA Tour and Nike Tour levels. The PGA Tour believes that the ADA was not designed or intended to apply to competitors in professional sporting events, including professional tournament golf."

Martin was born with Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, a circulatory disorder, in his right leg. His condition has deteriorated to such a degree that he incurs great pain if he's forced to walk when he plays golf. Martin sued the Tour in federal court under a provision of the Americans with Disabilities Act to force the Tour to lift its ban on golf carts on the PGA and Nike Tours. Coffin issued a temporary injunction last November that allowed the former NCAA second-team all-American golfer from Stanford to use a cart while awaiting trial.

Casey Martin v. PGA Tour Inc. is the first case in which a professional athlete has invoked the ADA to play competitive sports. It raised several key issues, including whether courts and judges can use the ADA to make rules for professional sports leagues. It also forced the court to decide where public space at sports events ends and where the playing field begins.

For the ADA to be applicable in Martin's case his lawyers had to prove one of two points: that the competitive area of a golf course (known as "inside the ropes") is a public space or that Martin is an employee of the PGA Tour. Coffin settled the first point two weeks ago when he ruled against the Tour's request for dismissal of Martin's suit on grounds that the golf course is an athletic playing field open only to the players.

In that ruling, Coffin stated that the entire golf course, including the playing field, is public and therefore subject to the ADA rules for public accommodations. Once they established that the ADA rules could apply, Martin's lawyers had to show that his use of a golf cart would not fundamentally alter the nature of the game. They argued that the game comes down to swinging the club and putting the ball in the hole. The Tour countered that walking 18 holes of golf is a key part of the challenge of high-level tournament play. (Source: by Thomas Heath, Washington Post Staff Writer, February 12, 1998)

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SUPREME COURT CONSIDERS AIDS DISABILITY CASE

The U.S. Supreme Court heard argument on March 30, 1998 whether the law barring discrimination based on disability applies to people who have the virus that causes AIDS, but have no symptoms of the disease. It was the first AIDS-related case considered by the court and the first time it has taken up the eight-year-old Americans with Disabilities Act which bars disability discrimination.

During an hour-long session the court considered the reach of the law and whether a Maine dentist discriminated because he told a patient with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that he would fill her cavity in a hospital, but not in his office.

After the arguments, which are being closely watched by medical and dental organizations as well as AIDS rights and disability groups, the justices postponed a decision until the end of June. The patient is represented by Boston lawyer Bennett Klein. (Source, by James Vicini, Washington, Reuters).

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FCC PROPOSES NEW TELECOM RULES

The Federal Communications Commission issued a proposed rule on April 2, 1998, making it easier for disabled people to file complaints to the agency when they have trouble getting access to telecommunications equipment.

Such equipment could include voice-activated phones, talking Caller ID, phones with keypads that have large buttons, phones with keypads that can be used by the blind, talking pagers, and phones with volume control or headsets. Some devices are widely available, others are less so, the FCC says.
A 1996 telecommunications law instructed the FCC to take steps to give disabled people better access to telecommunications servicesand devices that suit their needs. "We can unlock the potential of 54 million Americans with disabilities by making sure that they too are part of the communications revolution,'' said FCC Chairman Bill Kennard.

He said the FCC has several responsibilities. "Access," Kennard noted, "was mandated by Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. It is a broad mandate. Given the fundamental role that telecommunications has come to play in today's world, Section 255 represents the most significant opportunity for people with disabilities since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. And at the FCC we intend to fully implement it. I am committed to make it work."

The FCC doesn't have a clear process for handling complaints now, but the proposed rules would change that. Under the plan, the FCC would contact a company upon receiving a complaint. The company would have five days to respond to the complaint. If the service or device beingrequested is readily available, the companies must provide it. If not, they must find a substitute technology so that the disabled person can get their problem addressed.
Companies that don't do anything could be penalized by the FCC. In extreme cases, they could be fined.

"We're proposing to put in place a procedure that allows every American with disabilities to make one phone call and get their problem resolved,'' Kennard said.

The FCC's proposal also would encourage-but not require-companies to do all they can to address the needs of the disabled during the design phase of products and services. (Source The Associated Press, Washington)

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ACCESS BOARD NEWS

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) has issued final guidelines for accessibility, usability, and compatibility of telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment covered by section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Act requires manufacturers of telecommunications and customer premises equipment to ensure that the equipment is designed, developed, and fabricated to be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if readily achievable. When it is not readily achievable to make the equipment accessible, the Act requires manufacturers to ensure that the equipment is compatible with existing peripheral devices or specialized customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access, if readily achievable. The guidelines took effect as of March 5, 1998. For further information contact: Dennis Cannon, Office of Technical and Information Services, Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, 1331 F Street, NW., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004-1111. Telephone number (202) 272-5434 extension 35 (voice); (202) 272-5449 (TTY). E-mail address: cannon@access-board.gov.

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DOJ UPDATE

HAWAII AGREES TO GUARANTEE ACCESS FOR BLIND TRAVELERS WHO USE GUIDE DOGS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Travelers with visual impairments who use guide dogs will soon be able to visit Hawaii without having to quarantine their service animals for up to four months, under an agreement reached in February. The settlement, filed in U.S. District Court in Honolulu, resolves a lawsuit alleging that Hawaii's policy of quarantining animals violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The suit, initially filed by a group of private citizens in 1993, and later joined by the Justice Department, asserted that the quarantine requirements unlawfully prevented business travelers and vacationers with visual impairments from using guide dogs for mobility. Under the settlement, the state will propose changes to its regulations so that pre-certified, vaccinated guide dogs will be allowed immediate entry, instead of being placed in quarantine in a state facility. "Now people who are blind or visually impaired, like all Americans, will be able to travel freely and independently to Hawaii for business or pleasure," said Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Bill Lann Lee. In addition to people with visual impairments who wish to travel to Hawaii, the agreement also will benefit blind individuals living in Hawaii who wish to obtain or travel with a guide dog. As a result of the quarantine, it has been difficult for Hawaiians to obtain a guide dog from the mainland, particularly because a long quarantine can cause an animal to lose its training. The agreement stems from a March 1993, case brought by a group of visually impaired guide dog users. In June 1994, the Justice Department filed a "friend of the court" brief in support of the plaintiffs and formally joined the suit in August 1996. The regulations will take effect after a public comment period and final action by the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. The court and members of the class of plaintiffs will then have an opportunity to accept or reject the agreement between the parties as a final resolution of the case.

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JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP NEW PAMPHLET ON THE ADA

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Attorney General Janet Reno has pledged to develop an ADA pamphlet on ticketing policies that would answer questions about the rights of theater-goers and sports fans with disabilities. "You have the power to open the doors of entertainment and culture to people with disabilities," said Attorney General Janet Reno, before the annual conference of the International Ticketing Association. "You don't just set ticketing policy, you are the ticket to access for so many theater-goers and sports fans with disabilities." The pamphlet, which will be ready in the spring and available on the internet, will outline the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), focusing on issues that arise when setting ticketing policies. It will include information such as how much can be charged for a wheelchair seating location, whether ticketing agents can request proof of a disability, and how many wheelchair seating locations must be available in a given sports complex or theater. The ADA requires that public accommodations, such as arenas, ballparks and theaters provide equal opportunity in ticketing polices for people with disabilities. "I want to make sure that everyone has a chance to go to a theater, listen to a concert, or cheer their favorite sporting team regardless of their disability," added Reno. Individuals interested in learning more about the ADA can call the Department's toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD).

Editor's Note This is to apologize for a misleading headline in the Fall 1997 issue of Access New England that stated, "Architects Liable in Courts." A concerned reader pointed out the headline was detrimental to the named firm. The intent of the headline was to emphasize the broader implications of the judge's decision that "Architects may be liable for new construction violations under the ADA."

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EMPLOYMENT UPDATE

EEOC REACHES GROUND BREAKING SETTLEMENT FOR DISCRIMINATION IN LONG TERM MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced on February 18, 1998 a ground breaking settlement of agency litigation against Israel Discount Bank (IDB) of New York under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The lawsuit charged IDB with engaging in disability-based discrimination by offering a long term disability (LTD) policy, insured by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, that limits benefits for individuals with mental conditions to 24 months but continues benefits for individuals with physical conditions up to age 65. The settlement was approved February 17th by a federal district court judge in White Plains, New York. EEOC intervened in the lawsuit originally filed by Leonard F., a pseudonym for a former IDB employee suffering from severe depression. Under the professions of the agreement, IDB will adopt an LTD "parity" policy which provides the same benefits to individuals with mental conditions as with physical conditions. IDB does not admit liability under the settlement, which resolves Leonard F.'s claim for damages and other relief. "This settlement will go a long way toward ensuring that individuals with mental disabilities are treated the same as individuals with physical disabilities in employer-provided LTD insurance plans," said EEOC Chairman Paul M. Igasaki. "EEOC calls upon all employers providing LTD policies that treat mental conditions on a par with physical conditions. Such policies would only involve a small additional cost." Igasaki added: "The Commission will continue to vigorously enforce the provisions of the ADA in order to eradicate workplace discrimination against persons with disabilities in accordance with the law." The ADA covers all terms and conditions of employment for applicants and employees with disabilities, including employer benefit policies. Where an individual is qualified to participate in the employer benefits program, the EEOC believes these programs should be available to the individual without regard to disability consistent with the ADA's statutory requirements. EEOC has filed similar lawsuits against Chase Manhattan Bank and Staten Island Savings Bank of New York, and the Cigna Corporation and Insurance Company of North America. These suits are pending in federal district courts.

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REGIONAL NEWS

ADA INCENTIVE GRANTS AWARDED IN FOUR STATES

Valerie Fletcher, new ADA Project Director, announced the winners of the 1998 Incentive Grants in April. The projects met the priorities of the New England ADA Regional Advisory Board to offer education to people with disabilities so that they could be better advocates for their rights under the ADA. The four organizations and their projects are:

Disability Rights Center/Regional Action Committee Project (DRC) - New Hampshire
PROJECT: Increasing Accessibility to the Voting Process in New Hampshire
PLAN OF ACTION: Volunteers will be recruited to cover each polling place in the state and trained in Title II; DRC will develop an accessibility assessment tool for polling places. The trained volunteers will conduct on-site assessments at each polling place on primary day in September. The results will be compared with an existing database on polling place accessibility. In the week following the primary day assessments, project volunteers will contact local officials to address outstanding access problems prior to the November election.

Independence Northwest, Naugatuck, CT.
PROJECT: Outreach and Education on the ADA and for Elderly People and Members of Minority Communities in Greater Waterbury.
PLAN OF ACTION: A minimum of fifty seniors with disabilities and people from multi-cultural communities with disabilities will be recruited for training about their rights under the ADA. This builds upon a current Minority Outreach Project, an on-going collaboration with the Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging, and the Northwest Activists for Disability Rights (NADR) who'll be trained to make the presentations on the ADA. Through their involvement in training of elders and people from multi-cultural communities, NADR members will be trained and supported to have an active, public and authoritative role in disseminating information to their peers.

Northeast Independent Living Program (NILP), Lawrence, Massachusetts
PROJECT: NILP/Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell Outreach Testing Program (CMAA)
PLAN OF ACTION: NILP will address the need for ADA information to the Cambodian/Khmer population with disabilities in the Lowell area which has the second largest Khmer population of any city or town in the U.S.. The target group for training will include at least ten Khmers with all types of disabilities, two CMAA staff members and five service providers from other agencies working with the Khmer population. Training will teach self-advocacy skills and basic surveying skills of places of public accommodation. Five events will occur: one large ADA training, two informal "test/investigations," and two follow-up access surveys at local places of public accommodation in Lowell. An ADA Memorandum of Understanding will be completed between NILP and CMAA to ensure ongoing collaboration.

PARI Independent Living Center, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
PROJECT: ADA Advocacy Training to Members of the Hispanic Community with Disabilities and Their Families
PLAN OF ACTION: PARI will work in collaboration with the Westminster Senior Center and involve a popular advocate in the Hispanic community from the senior center in the training. A minimum of fifty people (people with disabilities and their families) from the Greater Providence Hispanic community will be educated about their rights under the ADA. PARI will teach participants a self-advocacy strategy to include: problem identification; defining desired accommodations or identifying sources from which to obtain technical assistance to find an accommodation; making a formal request for accommodation including appropriate reference to the ADA (or Fair Housing Act, etc); at least two steps to take following a denial. The project is one element of an ongoing collaboration between PARI and Westminster. Each organization will receive a $3000 grant matched to in-kind resources to complete their project. Each of the successful applicants developed a plan for evaluation and documentation to ensure that their projects can be useful resources to the other organizations of the New England ADA & Accessible IT Center network.

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RHODE ISLAND SURVEYS ALL POLLING PLACES

The RI Governor's Commission on Disabilities, at the request of the RI Board of Elections, surveyed all 588 polling places to identify barriers to inclusion of voters with disabilities. During the summer of 1997, 88 polling places were inspected. The local boards of canvassers were advised of barriers and instructed to take steps to overcome them or designate an alternative site for voting. From January through March 1998, the remaining 500 polling places were to have been surveyed. On November 2nd, staff from the Governor's Commission on Disabilities conducted spot checks of inaccessible polling places to determine if they were in compliance. Most were still not compliant. As a result, new procedures were adopted. The Commission will formally notify the local boards of canvassers of the status of each polling place. Following the surveys, the Commission will arrange for return inspections preceded by notification from the local board that renovations have been completed; spot checks will still be conducted. The state Board of Elections will also receive formal notification of the polling places that are in violation of federal and state laws regarding the voting rights of persons with disabilities. RI election law requires local boards of canvassers to locate polling in facilities that meet six standards for access. Temporary ramping may be used to provide facility access. If there are no public facilities that meet the standards, the local board of canvassers must petition the state Board of Elections for permission to either designate a polling place outside the voting district or provide curbside voting. For more information regarding these inspections, please contact the Governor's Commission on Disabilities at 401-222-3731 V/TTY and speak with Bob Cooper or Albert Tardie.

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ELECTRONIC MEETING PLACES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, MAINE

New Hampshire's Electronic Meeting Place, Granite State Empower & Light (GSE&L) is New Hampshire's toll-free electronic bulletin board service (BBS) for people with disabilities, their families, friends, service providers and anyone else who is interested. GSE&L is the network for learning or sharing news that's disability-related or make connections to others with similar interests. New Hampshire users can also contact people world wide via Internet E-mail. It's free, available 24 hours a day, and is as close as the nearest personal computer and telephone modem. To connect to GSE&L, call System Operator Gil Vickery for information. He can be reached at 1-800-588-5772 V/TTY. The Maine Meeting Place (MMP) is a statewide electronic bulletin board system created in February 1992 for people with disabilities, their families, and the people who serve them. MMP users can obtain or share information, meet others with similar problems and concerns, and contribute to disability awareness. The network is accessible over regular telephone lines through a toll-free number using low-cost terminal equipment or personal computers. The network was started by a parent who had two young children with special needs. For additional information, contact: Anne Holcomb Director, Maine Meeting Place York County Parent Awareness Sanford, ME 04073 (207) 324-2337 email: Anne.Holcomb@MMP.ORG

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PUBLICATIONS

Communications Fact Sheet
Written by the American Speech Language Hearing Association, this fact sheet discusses effective communication, gives examples of communication barriers and suggests strategies for barrier removal. 4 pp.

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Q & A Brochure
Prepared by the National Center for Law and Deafness at Gallaudet University, this booklet covers auxiliary aids and services, duties of state & local government agencies, places of public accommodation and ADAAG requirements for new & altered construction. 32 pp., $1

Cornell's Implementing the ADA Information Sheets - Reasonable Accommodations and Specific Disabilities (Working Effectively with People Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Working Effectively with People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired)
Written by Cornell University under a grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, these sheets provide information about accommodations that may be reasonable for specific disabilities. 4 pp. each

Telephone Emergency Service Q & A Sheet
A DOJ publication providing information on direct access requirements for telephone emergency services, including 911. 3 pp.

ADA National Access for Public Schools Project's Q&A Sheets
Questions and answers from the Project's telephone information line. Topics include employment, program accessibility, private schools, transportation, nondiscrimination and effective communication. The six sheets range from 2 to 6 pp.

ADA Requirements Public Accommodations Sheet
This is a summary of the general ADA obligations for Title III public accommodations including auxiliary aids, removal of barriers, and remedies. 1 pp.

Existing Facilities Survey Checklist 2.1
This brief checklist was developed by Adaptive Environments Center, Inc., under a grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, to help businesses identify accessibility problems and solutions for meeting their barrier removal obligations under the ADA. 15 pp., $2

Signage Information Sheet
These are the signage requirements excerpted from the ADAAG, with additional clarification from the DOJ's Title III Technical Assistance Manual. 5 pp., $1

Access Board's ADAAG Technical Bulletins
Written by the Access Board, this series provides additional guidance and clarification on specific accessibility features such as visual alarms, surfaces, text telephones, using ADAAG and parking. 5 bulletins. They range from 7 to 14 pp., $1 to $2.

Unless otherwise noted, the above publications are available from our Center by calling 800-949-4232 V/TTY. Many DOJ publications are also available at no charge by calling their ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 V or 800-514-0383 TTY or by visiting their website at www.doj.gov (linked from our website at www.adaptiveenvironments.org).

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What kinds of auxiliary aids and services are required by the ADA to ensure effective communication with individuals with hearing, vision or speech impairments?

A: Appropriate auxiliary aids and services may include a wide range of services and devices that promote effective communication. Examples of auxiliary aids and services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing include qualified interpreters, notetakers, computer-aided transcription services, written materials, telephone handset amplifiers, assistive listening devices and systems, telephones compatible with hearing aids, closed caption decoders, open and closed captioning, telecommunications devices for deaf persons (TDDs), videotext displays, and exchange of written notes.

For individuals with vision impairments, examples include qualified readers, taped texts, audio recordings, Brailled materials, large print materials, and assistance in locating items. Examples for individuals with speech impairments include TDDs, computer terminals, speech synthesizers, and communication boards. The type of auxiliary aid or service necessary to ensure effective communication will vary in accordance with the length and complexity of the communication involved.

Q: Are there any limitations on the ADA's auxiliary aids requirements?

A: Yes. The ADA does not require the provision of any auxiliary aid that would result in an undue burden or in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the goods or services provided by a public accommodation. However, the public accommodation is not relieved from the duty to furnish an alternative auxiliary aid, if available, that would not result in a fundamental alteration or undue burden. Both of these limitations are derived from existing regulations and caselaw under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and are to be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Q: Will restaurants be required to have Brailled menus and will clothing stores be required to have brailled price tags?

A: No, not if waiters or other employees are made available to read the menu to a blind customer or if sales personnel could provide price information orally upon request.

Q: Will a bookstore be required to maintain a sign language interpreter on its staff in order to communicate with deaf customers?

A: No, not if employees communicate by pen and notepad when necessary. Source: DOJ Technical Assistance Manuals.

Q: What is Universal Design?

A: "Universal design" is the concept of achieving accessibility of structures, products, and services by planning for the fullest range of human function at the blueprint stage. The dual goals of universal design are (1) accessibility to the widest range of individuals and (2) elimination of the need for retrofitting and reconstruction. Some examples of universally-designed telecommunications products include televisions with closed-captioning decoder circuitry, telephones with volume control and built-in hearing aid compatibility, and public telephones that include built-in TTY keyboards.

Q: What is Closed-Captioning?

A: Closed-captioning is the display of audio portions of television and video programming as printed words on the television screen. In addition to displaying spoken dialogue and music lyrics, captions may identify speakers, sound effects, background music, and laughter. "Open" captions always appear directly on the television screen; "closed" captions are hidden as encoded data within the television signal and are displayed only when activated by the viewer. Since 1992, all televisions with screens 13 inches or larger are required to be equipped with the technology to display captioning, and consumers may purchase set-top decoders for older TV models.

Q: What is Video Description?

A: Video description is an auditory depiction of a television or video program's visual elements for persons who are blind or visually impaired. Video description is inserted in the natural pauses of a program's dialogue, and may be used to describe visual elements such as body language, settings, and actions. In order to receive video description, an audience member must have a stereo television or VCR that is capable of receiving the Second Audio Program (SAP) "channel." The SAP feature is available on most new TVs and VCRs, and consumers may also purchase receivers for converting TV sets to stereo with SAP.

Q: What are volume control telephones?

A: Volume control telephones allow the user to amplify the sound output level of the telephone receiver. In addition to benefiting persons with hearing loss and persons losing their residual hearing later in life, volume control can also benefit persons who must use telephones in noisy environments.

Q: What are Assistive Listening Devices?

A: Assistive listening devices (ALDs), also knows as auditory assistance devices (AADs), are forms of telecommunications equipment designed to enhance the ability of people with hearing disabilities to hear in various settings, including theaters, classrooms, lecture halls and meeting rooms. Source: FCC's Disabilities Issues Task Force website.

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ADA DESIGN SOLUTIONS

In this issue we excerpt an example from "Common Errors and Omissions in New Construction and Alterations," recently published by the Department of Justice. The error and resulting difficulty for someone with a visual impairment are listed, followed by the requirement as cited in the ADA Standards for Accessible Design (also known as ADA Accessibility Guidelines, or ADAAG).

Signage Error/Omission: Where permanent room identification signage is provided, it is mounted in the wrong location.

Result: People who are blind or visually impaired are trained to look in a consistent location for tactile signs. They cannot find the sign if it is not mounted in the correct location.

Requirement: 4.1.3(16)(a) Signs which designate permanent rooms and spaces shall comply with 4.30.1, 4.30.4, 4.30.5 and 4.30.6.

4.30.6 Mounting Location and Height. Where permanent identification is provided for rooms and spaces, signs shall be installed on the wall adjacent to the latch side of the door. Where there is no wall space to the latch side of the door, including at double leaf doors, signs shall be placed on the nearest adjacent wall. Mounting height shall be 60 in (1525 mm) above the finish floor to the centerline of the sign. Mounting location for such signage shall be so that a person may approach within 3 in (76 mm) of signage without encountering protruding objects or standing within the swing of a door. To receive a copy of the ADA Standards for Accessible Design call us at 800-949-4232 V/TTY.

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GREAT WEB SITES

Key Bridge Foundation for Education and Research
http://www.keybridge.org/
A mediation training and information center for the ADA. Mediating complaints filed under Title II and III. Employment dispute resolution services and training. The Foundation uses and teaches alternative dispute resolution (ADR) techniques.

The Disabilities Issues Task Force (DITF)
http://http://www.fcc.gov/cib/dro/dtf.html
An internal FCC task force dedicated to ensuring that FCC actions and policies promote access to telecommunications equipment and services by individuals with disabilities. The DITF was formed by FCC Chairman Reed E. Hundt in March, 1995, and is composed of contact representatives from every bureau and office of the Commission.

EASI: Equal Access to Software and Information
http://www.rit.edu/~easi/
EASI's mission is to serve as a resource to the education community by providing information and guidance in the area of access-to-information technologies by individuals with disabilities. EASI stays informed about developments and advancements within the adaptive computer technology field and spreads that information to colleges, universities, K-12 schools, libraries and into the workplace.

National Center for Law and the Deaf
http://www.social.com/health/nhic/data/hr1000/hr1053.html
NCLD was established in 1975 to develop and provide legal services to the deaf community, including representation, counseling, information, and education. The Center conducts educational workshops on legal rights for hearing impaired groups; provides assistance to groups concerned with national or local legislation, filing petitions for rule-making, or commenting before government administrative agencies; works to end discrimination against hearing impaired persons and to establish and enforce their legal rights; and provides information on Federal legislation affecting deaf persons.

Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH)
http://www.shhh.org/
A non-profit, educational organization, dedicated to the well-being of people of all ages and communication styles who do not hear well. SHHH pursues its mission of improving the quality of hard of hearing people's lives through education, advocacy and self help.

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BUILDING YOUR ROLODEX

National Council On Disability
202-272-2004 (v) 202-272-2074 (tty)
http://www.ncd/gov
The only independent federal agency making recommendations directly to the President and Congress on disability policy. They first proposed and then submitted the first draft of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

New England ADA & Accessible IT Center State Affiliates

Connecticut
Suzanne Liquerman
Administration and Employment
165 Capitol Avenue, Room G1 Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 566-8034 (v) (860) 566-7935 (f)
Suzanne.Liquerman@po.state.ct.us

Maine
Kim Moody
Maine Advocacy Services
PO Box 2007 Augusta, ME 04338
(207) 626-2774 (v/tty) (207) 621-1419 (f)
kimmoody@gwi.net

Massachusetts
Lorraine Greiff
Massachusetts Office on Disability
1 Ashburton Place, Rm. 1305 Boston, MA 02148
(617) 727-7440 (v/tty) (617) 727-0965 (f)
lgreiff@MODI.state.ma.us

Rhode Island
Christine Sullivan
RI Governor's Commission on Disability
3rd Fl. Bldg. 51, 555 Valley St. Providence, RI 02908-5686
(401) 222-3731 (v/tty) (401) 222-2833 (f)
ri.able.too@juno.com

New Hampshire
Michael D. Jenkins
Governor's Commission on Disability
57 Regional Drive Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-2773 (v/tty) (603) 271-2837 (f)
mjenkins@gov.state.nh.us

Vermont
Lynn Sudlow
Vermont Association of Business, Industry, and Rehabilitation
4 Gilman Office Center White River Junction, VT 05001
(802) 295-8850 (v/tty) (802) 295-8886 (f)
lynns@dad.state.vt.us

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EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

For a more comprehensive listing of ADA related events, check the calendar at our web site, www.adaptiveenvironments.org.

Assistive Technology '98 AT work - AT school - AT home - AT play
May 29, 1998 World Trade Center, Boston, MA
Massachusetts Assistive Technology Partnership
For information call: 617-737-9495 V 617-737-0081 TTY
www.matp.org/AT98.html

SHHH 1998
International Conference Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc. (SHHH)
June 12-15, 1998 Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Boston, MA
For information call: 301-657-2248 V 301-657-2249 TTY

Designing for the 21st Century: An International Conference on Universal Design
June 17-21, 1998 Long Island, NY
Adaptive Environments, Center for Universal Design, Hofstra University and Universal Design Newsletter
Contact: 617-695-1225 x0 V/TTY www.adaptiveenvironments.org/21century/

Deaf People in Hitler's Europe, 1933-1945
Gallaudet University June 21-24, 1998
For information call: 202-651-5474 V/TTY or send e-mail to jsschuchman@gallua.galluadet.edu
For registration materials call: 202-651-6060 V/TTY or e-mail conference@gallua.galluadet.edu

Northern New England Technology Expo
September 22, 1998
Manchester, NH
Hosted jointly by the NH, VT and ME "Tech Act" Projects
Contact: David Robar at 603-228-9680 V/TTY

ADA Leadership Conference
October 20, 21, 1998
Sponsored by New England ADA & Accessible IT Center
Royal Plaza Hotel, Marlborough, MA
Contact 800-949-4232 V/TTY

Build Boston
November 17, 18, 19, 1998
Many sessions on access, universal design
World Trade Center, Boston, MA Contact 800-447-7112

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