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NCA Staff Ready for Spring Blooms and Projects in the Field
Spring Marks New Season for Accessibility Improvements
One day it's 70 degrees outside, the next day it is 40. It seems like it has taken forever for Spring to arrive in the Midwest. NCA staff welcomed Spring this month by hitting the road to start work on some projects in the field. NCA Accessibility Specialists, Nikki Montembeault and Michelle Cook were in San Diego last week as part of accessibility assessment work at Cabrillo National Monument. The accessibility assessment at Cabrillo is part of a new phase of assessments for small to mid-size national parks. "As always, it is fantastic to be able to work directly with National Park Service personnel in the field to identify accessibility improvements for park visitors with disabilities," says Cook. The Cabrillo assessment marks the third round of accessibility assessments conducted by NCA for the National Park Service over the last four years. Upon completion of this project, NCA will have assessed more than 68 parks service wide.
Photo above: NCA Accessibility Specialist, Nikki Montembeaut, checks out the raised features a wayside interpretive sign with a tactile map of the California coastline.
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Register Early for Accessibility Management
NCA Training Geared for Accessibility Coordinators
A comprehensive accessibility management program is the key to success for park and recreation agencies. The NCA training course "Accessibility Management in Parks, Recreation and Tourism" is scheduled for June 17-21 on the Indiana University-Bloomington campus. This NCA training course is designed to give accessibility coordinators in parks and recreation a broad perspective and foundation for implementing an accessibility management program. This course is ideal for professionals with newly appointed responsibilities and for those looking to brush up on the latest information for accessibility compliance. Sessions will include discussions of the characteristics and needs of people with disabilities, legislative mandates and litigation, accessibility standards and common errors, the application of universal design to park and recreation environments, program access, considerations for conducting accessibility assessments, visitor use and marketing, and comprehensive planning. Examples and best practices in accessibility management will be presented throughout the sessions. A field exercise will give participants an opportunity to practice conducting an accessibility assessment along with discussing considerations for prioritization of physical and programmatic barrier removal. Course info >
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Arts and Recreation Webinar Series Launched as Major Collaborative Project
NCA Partners for Program Access, Transition Planning Webinars
The National Center on Accessibility has partnered with three of the leading expert organizations to produce free webinars for cultural arts and recreation professionals this year. NCA is working with the Great Lakes ADA Center, the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, and the Smithsonian Institution for a series of webinars. "The Great Lakes ADA Center has led online learning regarding the ADA for more than a decade, so we see this as an excellent opportunity to work together," says Jennifer Skulski, NCA Director of Marketing and Special Projects. "We are excited to work with Robin Jones and her Great Lakes team to utilize their webinar platform. "The ability to draw from the content expertise of the Kennedy Center and Smithsonian Institution makes the programs even more appealing. Training dollars for professional development are hard to come by these days, so the series will offer a great opportunity for practitioners to stay current on issues while learning from leading experts."
Through the collaborative project, NCA will moderate the first session May 22, Program Access in Parks, Recreation and Tourism. This session brings together two of the foremost national experts on program access, John Wodatch, former Disability Section Chief at the Department of Justice, and Ray Bloomer, Accessibility Specialist with the National Park Service, and Director of Education at the National Center on Accessibility. From national parks to river boat cruises, museums to fitness centers, wildlife refuges to performing arts theaters, John and Ray will talk about things every service provider in recreation and tourism should know about program access for inclusion of people with disabilities. Registration details will follow in May.
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Man Files 22 Lawsuits for Lack of Pool Lifts Class Action Sought Against Indianapolis Hotels Aquatics International reports an Indiana disabled veteran has filed 22 lawsuits against hotels without pool lifts. The action comes after the American Hotel and Lodging Association lobbied the U.S. Department of Justice for a 10-month extension on compliance with the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The hotels named in the suits include Hilton, Ramada, Comfort Inn, Best Western and Holiday location.
"The barrage of ADA-related lawsuits against hotels and motels for failure to provide access to pools for people with disabilities is less of a surprise than a disappointment, " says Dr. Sherril York, Executive Director of the National Center on Accessibility. "Public pool operators had twenty-eight months (18 months after initial publication of the 2010 ADA standards plus an additional 10-month extension specifically for pools) to comply with barrier removal for pool access. So it is disappointing that so many places have been found lacking and open to litigation. While the industry may question the intent behind filing multiple lawsuits, the fact of the matter is that when voluntary compliance does not occur people with disabilities must seek remedy through legal processes. Accessibility is more than a legal requirement, it is good business practice."
In a series of non-pool related ADA lawsuits, a Federal judge in the Eastern District of New York excoriated plaintiff Mike Costello's attorneys for filing scores of frivolous ADA lawsuits against mom-and-pop businesses over technical or non-existent deviations from the ADA Standards only to line their own pockets. (Costello v. Flatman, LLC, 11-CV-287) Read the full article "Federal court condemns frivolous, serial ADA litigation which subverts the noble purpose of the ADA and the entire legal profession" from the April 8, 2013 posting to Lexology.
Aquatics International has requested the NCA to present a session on ADA compliance as part of the 2013 Waterparks & Resorts Virtual Conference. Participation in the conference is free and registrants may view sessions on-demand anytime over the next six months. |
NCA Product Files: SoundStik
Vista's SoundStik Utilizes Technology to Provide Audio Description
SoundStik® audio handsets are personal handheld speakers installed at exhibits to provide audio interpretation. Visitors lift the SoundStik and listen. The SoundStik family of products lets exhibitors get their messages across in clear, crisp audio or play video soundtracks without adding noise to the gallery. While serving the general public, SoundStik products also help meet access goals for visitors with low vision or hearing impairments. Vista Group International designs, manufactures and sells SoundStik exhibit handsets and related products and services for the museum and tourism industries. For more information on the SoundStik, visit the NCA Product Directory >
NCA does not sell, promote, or endorse this product or any product, service, or vendor listed in the Products Directory. Nor does NCA assume any responsibility or liability related to the accessibility, usability, or application of the products, services, and vendors listed. Consumers are encouraged to do comparison shopping before making any purchase. Read ADA Approved and Other Accessible Product Myths Choosing Products to Improve Access at Your Parks & Facilities.
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The National Center on Accessibility is a center of Indiana University's Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies within the School of Public Health. Since 1992, NCA has played a critical role in increasing awareness of inclusion of people with disabilities in parks, recreation and tourism while advancing the spirit and intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Rehabilitation Act and other disability legislation. Through research, technical assistance and training, NCA builds a continuum of comprehensive services for park and recreation practitioners, focusing on universal design and practical solutions that create inclusive recreation opportunities for people of all abilities. NCA is funded in part by the National Park Service.
National Center on Accessibility | 501 North Morton Street, Suite 109, Bloomington, IN 47404-3732 | Voice: (812) 856-4422 | TTY: (812) 856-4421 | Fax: (812) 856-4480 | Copyright © 2012 The Trustees of Indiana University |
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