News from the ADA Center
New England Council
More than 220 Council members participated in the New England Council’s annual Washington, DC meeting held March 7-8. A White House Briefing was held where council members were addressed by Elaine Chao, US Secretary of Labor, Rob Portman Director, Office of Management and Budget and Joel Kaplan, White House Deputy of Staff for Policy.
The New England Council (www.NewEnglandCouncil.com) is an alliance of businesses, academic and health institutions, and public and private organizations throughout New England formed to promote economic growth and a high quality of life in the New England region.
Massachusetts Building Congress
The Massachusetts Building Congress brought together the real estate, design and construction industries to welcome the Governor and convey the community impact these industries have in Massachusetts. The Governor spoke about plans for investing in our neglected infrastructure, affordable housing, green technology, and keeping and attracting businesses to Massachusetts. “There has been more going on than decorating and buying a car in this administration”, Governor Patrick said with a sense of self-deprecating humor.
Transitions and New Beginnings
In June 2006, the New England ADA Center said goodbye to Information Specialist, Will Miller. For two years Will was a knowledgeable, trusted and friendly voice providing technical assistance on the ADA and information technology. Will has returned home to North Carolina to attend Wake Forest University where he is studying for his law degree. We miss Will and wish him the very best!
Stepping into the role of ADA information specialist is Ana Julian. Born in Columbia and raised in Paris, Ana is fluent in Spanish, French and English. She received a Master’s of Architecture degree from the Ecole Speciale d’Architecture in Paris, and a Master’s in Techniques of Construction at the Institute de la Construction Industraialisee, also in Paris. Ana has been working part-time on the New England ADA Project since June 2006, while continuing to serve as Adaptive Environments’ Coordinator of Design and Communications. We are excited to have her experience and expertise on the ADA project!
Adaptive Environments Open House
On the evening of March 19th, Adaptive Environments (www.AdaptiveEnvironments.org), the DBTAC—New England ADA Center’s parent organization, hosted a celebration of our new space at 200 Portland Street in downtown Boston and the opening of the Institute for Human-Centered Design at Adaptive Environments. Over 300 guests attended. They included members of the Institute’s national advisory board, colleagues and friends from across the country and the globe from a wide spectrum of design, government, disability, aging and educational entities. They included representatives of Adaptive Environments’ first set of corporate exhibitors: Toyota, NTT Docomo and Panasonic who sent executives from Japan for the event. In addition, corporate partners in the build-out and showroom from Raynes Associates, Toto USA and Hafele attended. Adaptive Environments’ president of the Board of Directors, Marie Trottier, welcomed guests. Staff from the DBTAC—New England ADA Center were on hand to share information about our project. Refreshments were sponsored by the Harvard University Disability Services Office, Hafele and the AE Board of Directors.
