Winter Issue 2023 - 2024  

Volume 17 Issue 3 

 

Happy Holidays from the Great Lakes ADA Center!

In this special Winter Issue of the Chronicle, we are looking back at the many ADA and disability rights highlights from 2023. 2023 was a big year for ADA and disability news with the announcement of multiple proposed rules from the federal government; major brands and businesses investing in digital access; and the rapid expansion and application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) which has shown itself to be both a powerful tool and, at times, a huge barrier to access.

As we prepare for a new year, we want to remind everyone that our center will be closed for the holiday season from December 22, 2023 through January 1, 2024 and will not be responding to technical assistance calls during this time.

Thank you for supporting the Great Lakes ADA Center this year! We wish you all a happy holiday season and look forward to connecting with you again with our 2024 February issue. Stay tuned!

2023 Milestones and Memorials

• March 4 – Disability rights activist, Judith 'Judy' Heumann, passes away at age 75
• June 22 – 24th Anniversary of the Olmstead Decision
• July 26 – 33rd Anniversary of the ADA
• August 8 – Dorothy 'Dot' Casterline, a deaf linguist credited for her contributions to the first ASL dictionary, passes away at age 95
• September 26 – 50th Anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act
• December 1 – Chairman of the National Council on Disability, Andrés Gallegos, passes away at age 62

2023 Publications and Resources:

• Blog Posts
  • English Archive
  • Spanish Archive


• Conversation Spotlight Video
• DOT's Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity (ACTE)


• Legal Briefs
• Reasonable Accommodations and the ADA
• Invisible Disabilities and the ADA


• Research
• Creating High-quality ADA Transition Plans for the Pedestrian Environment: A Casebook of Success Stories


• Service Animal Video Series
• English Playlist 
• Spanish Playlist


• Spanish Poster
• Disability Awareness (Spanish)

• Best Practices for the Design of Accessible COVID-19 Home Tests
• Notable Changes in Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines Final Rule
• Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines Training Video Playlist
• (UPDATED) Design Recommendations for Accessible EV Charging Stations

• Maximizing Services and the Use of Funds to Support Quality Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities through the Vocational Rehabilitation and Supported Employment Programs 

• Questions and Answers on the Application of the ADA's Integration Mandate and Olmstead v. L.C. to Employment and Day Services for People with Disabilities

• Employment Protections Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: 50 Years of Protecting Americans with Disabilities in the Workplace
• (UPDATED) Hearing Disabilities in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act
• (UPDATED) Visual Disabilities in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act
• (UPDATED) What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws

• Incentivizing Oral Healthcare Providers to Treat Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• The Impacts of Extreme Weather Events on People with Disabilities
• (UPDATED) Understanding Disabilities in American Indian & Alaska Native Communities Toolkit Guide

2023 Federal News Highlights

• January 9: IRS Increases Limit for ABLE Accounts


• March 17: Deadline for States to Comply with the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) 'Settings Rule'


• May 23: Access Board Publishes Proposed Rule for Accessible Medical Diagnostic Equipment Standards


• June 12: FCC Requires Access to Video Conferencing Platforms and Proposes TRS Integration


• June 27: Effective Date for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)


• August 4: Justice Department Publishes a Proposed Rule to Strengthen Web and Mobile App Access for People with Disabilities


• August 28: Access Board Publishes the Final Rule on the Public Right of Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG)


• September 7: HHS Issues Proposed Rule to Strengthen Protections Against Disability Discrimination in Health Care


• November 6: DOT Requests Public Comment on Accessibility Improvements for Transportation Facilities

2023 Digital Access Highlights

• Airbnb:New Accessible Accommodation Features in their ‘Adapted’ Category
• Amazon:Fire TV Expands Audio Streaming to Cochlear Implants
• Android:Android 14 Makes Devices More Accessible for Everyone
• ChatGPT:5 Ways ChatGPT is Empowering People with Disabilities
• LinkedIN:Microsoft Immersive Reader Integrated into their Platform
• Microsoft:Microsoft 365 will Soon Have an Accessibility Assistant
• Sony:New Accessible PlayStation Controller to Make Gaming Easier for People with Disabilities
• TikTok:Added default automatic captions

2023 Illinois News Highlights

Corrections

• Aging Inmates and Prisoners with Disabilities: Needed Infrastructure Repairs and Concerns About Medical Release Law

Education

• U.S. Department of Education Awards $10 Million to Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services to Improve Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities through Partnerships  
• School District Delayed Special Education Services for Students with Learning Disabilities
• Colleges Reexamine Career Services to Boost Employment of Students with Disabilities

Healthcare, Support Services, and Caregivers

• New Concerns with Abuse and Neglect in Illinois Development Centers
• Disability Worker Shortage Putting Pressure on Family Caregivers
• Advocates Say Illinois' System to Help People with Developmental Disabilities Needs Fixing, Funding 

Transportation

• Amtrak's ADA Progress Report - June 2023: New ADA compliant railcars are being added to Amtrak’s Lincoln Service route (St. Louis to Chicago) and several other routes throughout the Midwest. 

2023 Illinois Key Legislation

Education

• House Resolution 0219 Passed – HR 0219
  • Encourages Colleges and Universities to Recognize the Strengths Of Neurodiverse Students and Employees and Better Accommodate Their Needs
• House Bill 3224 Passed – HB 3224
  • Develops Career Options for Children with Disabilities
• Senate Bill 1558 Passed – SB 1558 
  • Requires the Illinois Community College Board To Create A Model Program Of Study For College Students In Order To Serve As Direct Support Professionals
• Senate Bill 2039 Passed – SB 2039
  • Will Increase Awareness Of Disability Resources For School-Age Children 

Employment

• House Bill 0793 Proposed – HB 0793
  • Illinois House Fails to Pass Bill Eliminating Sub-Minimum Wages for Disabled Workers

Healthcare, Caregivers and Community Support Services

• Senate Bill 120 Proposed – SB 120
  • The Home Modification Program Act Would Allow People Living With A Disability To Make Their Homes More ADA Accessible 

• Senate Bill 505 Passed – SB 505
  • Initiative To Expand Personal Care Provider Eligibility To Include A Person’s Guardian, Kin, Or Siblings 

• House Bill 1184 Proposed – HB 1184
  • Proposed Increased Aid For Elderly And Disabled Illinoisans through The Aid To The Aged, Blind And Disabled (AABD) Program

2023 Illinois Publications and Resources

• The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Has Partnered with the National Veterans Legal Services Program to Defend the Rights of Veterans and Ensure Fairness in The Disability Benefits Arena
• Illinois Seniors and Residents with Disabilities Can Qualify for Discounted License Plate Fees - Check Plate Discount Eligibility

2023 Indiana News Highlights

Education

• Ball State University Students and Disability Advocates Share their Thoughts on Barriers of Dating
• Mental Health Care in High Schools: Controversy and Supports

Healthcare, Support Services, and Caregivers

• Hoosiers with Disabilities Push for Control Over In-Home Care
• More than $76 Million in New Funding for Crisis Response and Substance Use Disorder Services
• State Leaders Hope Housing Development is Model for Intellectual, Developmental Disability (IDD) Population

Voting

• U.S. Attorney’s Office Partnering with Indiana Disability Rights to Ensure Early Voting Sites are Accessible for All Voters 

2023 Indiana Key Legislation

Employment

• House Bill 1559 Proposed – HB 1559
  • New House Bills Seek to Improve Employment Outcomes for Hoosiers with Disabilities 

Healthcare, Support Services, and Caregivers

• House Bill 1342 Passed – HB 1342 
  • Requires the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services to Establish and Maintain a Direct Support Professional Registry

Legal Updates and Reform

• House Bill 1198 Proposed – HB 1198
  • Reform of HIV Criminalization Laws Still on the Horizon
• House Bill 1354 Passed – HB 1354
  • Updated the Indiana Service Animal Law to mirror the ADA

2023 Indiana Publications and Resources

• Disability Justice & Sexual Violence Prevention Resource Toolkit
• Indiana Disability Rights hosted "Beyond the Ballot" a nonpartisan online recorded session as an opportunity for people to take a deep look at how decisions are made at the Indiana statehouse as well as on a national level. Indiana Disability Rights #HoosiersVote website provides additional information and resources to help Hoosiers with Disabilities exercise their right to vote.

2023 Michigan News Highlights

Court System, Corrections, and Law Enforcement

• Justice Bernstein Brings a Perspective of Inclusion to Court 

Education

• According to New Research, Remote Learning Aids Medical Students with Disabilities

Enforcement

• Deaf Student Lawsuit Against Michigan School is Heard by the Supreme Court
• Disability Complaints Outpace Race Filings, Prompt State Action
• Woman Makes History in Guardianship Case 

Healthcare, Support Services, and Caregivers

• Michigan Prepares for a Rapidly Aging Population by Becoming More "Age-Friendly"
• Michigan Doctors and Community Mental Health Agencies work to prevent death by suicide
• Sensory Room Makes Accessing Healthcare Easier for People with Autism

Voting

• Election Day Access Barriers Still Exist For Voters With Disabilities In Michigan and Plans To Conduct Another Audit Of Polling Locations In Michigan In 2024 

2023 Michigan Key Legislation

Guardianship

• House Bill Package Proposed – HB 4909, HB 4910, HB 4911, HB 4912, and HB 5047
  • Legal Overhaul of Michigan's Guardianship System

Healthcare, Support Services, and Caregivers

• Senate Bill 059 Passed – SB 059
  • New Law Gives Michigan DNR Officers Authority to Intervene During Mental Health Crises

2023 Michigan Publications and Resources

• Currency Readers Available for Michiganders Who Are Blind or Low Vision
• Many Veterans Struggle with Homelessness; These Programs Are Helping
• “Carter Kits” Developed to Help First Responders Take Better Care of Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder

2023 Minnesota News Highlights

Advocacy and Awareness

• Minnesota Interabled Couple Discusses Intimacy in Marriage

Court System, Corrections, and Law Enforcement

• St. James Police Department Enhancing Disability Related Training Throughout Minnesota
• Olmsted County Continues to Focus on Training Jail and Law Enforcement Staff to be Mindful of Disabilities 
• Inmates Waiting Weeks and Even Months for Transfer to a State Hospital

Grants

• Grant Program Provides Relief to Communities Affected by the Opioid Crisis
• Minnesota Board on Aging Grants to Support People With Alzheimer's Dementia
• New State Grants Allow Minnesotans to Stay in Their Homes
• University Of Minnesota Plans to Improve the Health Of Persons With Disabilities And Other Underserved Communities With $54 Million Grant

Healthcare, Support Services, and Caregivers

• More Coverage and Financial Relief for Minnesotans with Medical and Mental Health Needs
• Minnesota Telehealth Study Shows Potential to Fill Provider Gaps
• Former Foster Children Struggle to Make Ends Meet While Counties Withhold Federal Benefits
• Teen Mental Health in Minnesota 
• Increased Use of 988​ Suicide Crisis Lifeline
• Disability Advocates Rally at Minnesota Capitol for reimbursement Rate Increases to Raise Wages for Direct Care Workers

2023 Minnesota Key Legislation

Employment

• House Bill 1234 Passed – HF 1234
  • Governor Signs Public Safety Duty Disability Bill to Address PTSD
• House Bill 2847 Passed – HF 2847/SF 2934 
  • When introduced: Minnesota Bill Would Abolish Disabled Workers' Subminimum Wage
  • When passed: Human services conferees drops subminimum wage prohibition as part of $14 billion agreement

Healthcare, Support Services, and Caregivers

• Senate Bill 1201 Proposed – SF 1201/HF 1434
  • New Law to Eliminate the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act's (TEFRA’s) Parental Fee Expected to Provide Financial Relief to Hundreds of Minnesota Families Who Have Children With Disabilities
  • Included and Passed in Omnibus Human Services Appropriations – SF 2934: DHS Eliminates Parental Fees for Children Receiving MA under the TEFRA Option and HCBS Waivers
  • Extensive List of Health and Human Services Legislative Issues That Passed During The 2023 Legislative Session

Transportation

• House Bill 2369 Vetoed – HF 2369
  • Vetoed Rideshare Bill Threatened Transportation for People with Disabilities

2023 Minnesota Publications and Resources

• Be Prepared with Winter’s Chilly Arrival: Read Up on Sidewalk Safety Resources, Available Energy Assistance, And How to Prepare Emergency Kits
• Minnesota Department Of Health (MDH) Extended Its Long COVID Work In 2023 To Increase Knowledge, Awareness And Resources For The Condition Among The Public And Providers 

2023 Ohio News Highlights

Advocacy and Awareness

• Changing Spaces Ohio Has Been Advocating for More Public Adult Changing Tables and Making Huge Strides with ODOT Adding Adult Changing Tables To Rest Stops 
• It's Not Enough to Know What Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Are

Education

• Ohio Department of Education Implementing a Comprehensive State Systemic Improvement Plan to Boost the Educational Results of Ohio’s Students with Disabilities
• Changes to Autism Scholarship Program Provides Opportunities to More Students

Enforcement

• Family Wins Lawsuit Against State Agency for Failure to Provide Their Son Who Has Autism Individualized Vocational Support 

2023 Ohio Key Legislation

House Passes FY 2024-2025 State Budget - House Bill 33 

• Ohio House Passes Budget with Historic Investments for Ohioans with Disabilities many of which are listed in Ohioans with Disabilities 2024-2025 Strategic Plan 

Legal Updates and Reform

• House Bill 281 Passed – House Bill 281
  • Passage of The Mental Health and Disability Terminology Act Removes Derogatory Language About People with Disabilities from Ohio State Law

• Senate Bill 202 Passed – Senate Bill 202
  • New Ohio Law Protects the Parental and Custodial Rights of People with Disabilities

Voting

• House Bill 458 Passed – House Bill 458
  • Voting Law Takes Effect and Impacts Ohio Voters with Disabilities

2023 Ohio Publications and Resources

• COVID-19 Testing Assistance for Ohioans Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources Offers Facilities that Allow Visitors of All Abilities to Enjoy the Outdoors
• Voluntary Communication Disability Database Improves Communication for People with Disabilities During Traffic Stops

2023 Wisconsin News Highlights

Advocacy and Awareness

• Advocates Tackle Intersection of Sexual Violence and Disability

Education

• Disparities Persist in Wisconsin Special Education Practices as Budget Battles Loom
• Students With Disabilities Denied Access in Wisconsin Voucher Schools
• Department Of Public Instruction Stated It Has No Authority To Force Private Taxpayer-Funded Schools To Accommodate Students With Disabilities
• Restraint and Seclusion: Still Too Many Students with Disabilities

Healthcare, Support Services, and Caregivers

• Restraint and Seclusion: Still Too Many Students with Disabilities
• The Caregiver Crisis Hits LGBTQ Elderly and People with Disabilities Hardest
• Wisconsin Department of Health Services Submits Plan to Use $8 Million in Opioid Settlement Funds
• Independent Living Supports Pilot Program Launched

Transportation

• Wisconsin Workers with Disabilities Face Transportation Barriers
• Public Transit Systems and Nonprofits Face Challenges in Making Transportation Accessible to Aging Wisconsinites and People with Disabilities

Voting

• Why Some Wisconsin Residents with Mental Disabilities Lose Voting Rights and How They Can Restore Them
• Report Released on Barriers Faced by Elderly Voters and Voters with Disabilities
• Public Comments for Voting Listening Session to Share Barriers Experienced By Voters With Disabilities
• Disability Rights Wisconsin Provided Public Comments During the Wisconsin Elections Commission September Meeting 

2023 Wisconsin Key Legislation

Senate Passes 2023-25 Biennial Budget – Senate Bill 70

• Governor Evers Proposal for Expanding Mental Health Access
• Items In the Governor’s 2023-25 Budget That Impact Older Adults and Caregivers
• Governor Evers' Proposed 2023-2025 Budget Has Focus on Healthcare
• Gov. Evers Signs 2023-25 Biennial Budget Making Historic Investments in Communities 

2023 Wisconsin Publications and Resources

• Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) has new resources on guardianship and voting, including Guardianship & Voting: Keeping and Restoring the Rights to Vote video and Guardianship and Voting: How to Keep the Right to Vote in a Guardianship Case Guide
• Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition Voting Rights Toolkit​
• New Job Accommodation Training Video Library

Supreme Court Dismisses ADA 'Tester' Case

At the beginning of December, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that one of the most highly anticipated ADA-related decisions of the year will not be determined in 2023. Acheson Hotels, LLC v. Laufer was taken up by the Supreme Court earlier this year to answer the question of whether ADA "testers," individuals who scrutinize hotel booking websites for a lack of information about accommodations, have the right to sue those hotels in federal court, even if the tester has no intention of staying at the hotel. However, the Supreme Court decided to dismiss the case after the plaintiff voluntarily dropped her lawsuit, leaving the question of who has "standing" to file suit under the ADA unresolved.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) 2023 Cases

It's no secret that Fiscal Year 2023 has been a major year for cases filed by the EEOC. Not only did their total number of filed cases increase by 55% since the previous year, but disability discrimination cases were their largest category. EEOC lawsuits alleging disability discrimination spiked by 77% and made up 48 of the 144 suits filed in FY 2023.

More Information:

Department of Justice (DOJ) 2023 Cases

The Disability Rights Section of the Department of Justice enforces the ADA through lawsuits and settlement agreements to achieve greater access, inclusion, and equal opportunity for people with disabilities. DOJ disability rights cases from 2023 can be viewed on their website.

Stay informed on the ADA, disability topics, and resources by following us on social media @ADAGreatLakes.

Check out one of our most recent popular posts, image to the left:

June is Effective Communications Month! The ADA requires that title II entities (Local & State governments) & title III entities (businesses & nonprofit organizations that serve the public) communicate effectively with people with disabilities. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3hlxoyW

#EffectiveCommunication #ADA #a11y

Check out one of our most popular 2023 Spanish posts celebrating International Womens Day and highlighting the importance of women's access to advancements in technology, image to the left:

Hoy es el 8 de marzo y cada año durante este día se celebra el Dia de la Mujer. Este año la ONU se están enfocando en “Por un mundo digital inclusivo: Innovación y tecnología para la igualdad de género.” Aprenda más sobre este día en el siguiente enlace: https://bit.ly/3ZTh6C1. La tecnología accesible es algo que sigue creciendo en el mundo de discapacidades para inclusión.Si gustaría aprender más sobre los temas de la Ley Para Personas con Discapacidades puede llamar al 1-800-949-4232.#Mujer #8M #Inclusión #CerremosLaBrecha 

Follow us at Great Lakes ADA en Español on Facebook for more ADA and disability-related content in Spanish!