Trainings / Workshops
The Center provides customized trainings tailored to your needs. The length depends on how much time your organization, business or agency has available. Trainings can range from one hour presentations to several day in-depth workshops. AIA continuing education credits provided for facility trainings.
We provide trainings to:
- School Districts (K-12)
- Federal, State, City & Town Government
- Non-profit Organizations
- Employers
- Private Schools
- Managers & Supervisors
- Disability Organizations
- Businesses
- Community Colleges
- Human Resource Personnel
- Recreation
- Unions
- Colleges & Universities
- Employees
- Design Professionals
- Building Officers
- Police
Menu of Trainings
Click on any of the trainings listed below for more information.
Americans with Disabilities Act
- Everything You Want to Know About ADA Employment Requirements
- Interviewing and Accommodating People With Disabilities
- State and Local Governments: ADA Obligations
- Public Schools and ADA: Access for All
- Post-Secondary Schools and Students with Disabilities
- The New ADA Accessibility Guidelines '04
- Facility Access
- The Changing Face of the ADA
Etiquette
Accessible Electronic & Information Technology
- Accessible IT In Education: Breaking Down Barriers
- Section 508 - What's It All About
- Web Sites and Access
- Accessible Distance Learning
Descriptions of Trainings
The Americans with Disabilities Act
Everything You Want to Know About ADA Employment Requirements
Learn who is covered under the law (and who isn't); how health and safety issues should be handled; does and don'ts concerning alcohol and drug users; does and don'ts on job interviews and applications; what is an essential job function; determination of reasonable accommodation; job restructuring, paid and unpaid leave, reassignment to another position; undue hardship; restrictions for medical examinations and inquiries and the role of unions.
Reasonable Accommodation: A Tool for Hiring and Retaining Employees
Reasonable accommodation may be the piece of the puzzle that allows a person with a disability to do a great job.
- What is a reasonable job accommodation?
- How much will an accommodation cost?
- How do you accommodate workers with non-apparent disabilities (e. g. back problems, heart disease, arthritis, asthma, depression, ADD, and learning disabilities)?
- What about an employee needs to take indefinite leave?
- What are obligations to an employee who is no longer able to do his/her job?
Find out the answer to these questions and much, much more at this workshop.
State and Local Governments: ADA Obligations
This training covers ways to ensure that people with disabilities have access to programs, services and activities; when older buildings need to be made accessible; obligations of organizations that use school facilities; historic preservation issues; when aids and services such as Braille, large print, sign language interpreters are required. We will clarify how to conduct a self-evaluation, the role of the ADA coordinator, what goes in to a transition plan, how to notify the public of ADA compliance and how to develop a grievance procedure.
Public Schools and ADA: Access for All
Confused about the relationship between the ADA, Section 504 and the IDEA? You are not alone. This training clarifies these laws' similarities and differences. We will discuss the rights of students with disabilities in academics, extracurricular activities, field trips and athletics. We will also clarify requirements for older buildings, when schools are required to provide services such as sign language interpreters for parents with disabilities, schools' obligations to ensure that organizations that use their facilities are not discriminating and more.
Post-Secondary Schools and Students with Disabilities
Most schools have obligations under both the ADA and Section 504. We will clairfy their similarities and differences. Academic adjustments, course substitutions, documentation of disability, auxiliary aids and services and testing accommodations will all be discussed. We will review who fits the definition of disability and how post-secondary schools' obligations differ from secondary schools. We will also look at case law and U.S. Department of Education policies and
The (New) ADA Accessibility Guidelines '04
In July 2004 the U.S. Access Board issued new ADA Accessibility Guidelines. We will look at what's changed and what's stayed the same. How the new guidelines dovetail with the International Building Code and timelines for when these go into effect.
Learn the different requirements for new construction, alterations, additions and "older" buildings. Do you know when assistive listening systems are required in places of assembly and where Braille signage must be used? When an elevator is required in an altered building? Whether an accessible entrance is required in alterations if one already exists? How many egresses should be accessible? Learn about these and other common errors and omissions. We will also address historic preservation concerns. Photos of good and bad access will be shown.
If you wish, we can conduct an access survey with survey forms, tape measures, door pressure gauges and levels.
An analysis of how court cases have changed the face of the ADA. The courts have addressed the definition of disability, reasonable accommodation, mitigating measures (such as hearing aids, medicine and other aids), architects' liability, direct threat health and safety issues. Come and learn what the judges have to say about the ADA. We will also discuss the federal agencies' ADA policies that have developed over the last 12 years.
Etiquette
Serving Customers With Disabilities
This training is designed for all employees. Strong communication skills are essential to create a welcoming work environment. Enhance your communication skills by learning how to effectively service people with diverse disabilities. How do you offer to shake hands with a person who is blind? Should you pet a service dog? When a deaf person uses an interpreter, who should you address, the interpreter or the person who is deaf? Come learn the answers to these critical questions and much, much more. Come prepared with 3-4 questions. We are here to answer your questions.
Accessible Electronic & Information Technology
Accessible IT In Education: Breaking Down Barriers
In this workshop, we will define Information Technology, Assistive Technology and Universal Design; discuss the use of Information Technology in education and some of the accessibility issues and solutions associated with it; and discuss some of the standards and guidelines relevant to accessible information technology. After this presentation, audience members will:
- Understand the barriers that some users face when accessing Information Technology
- Identify solutions to these barriers
- Forever consider whether technologies they're using or creating are perceivable and operable.
- Recognize the benefits of accessible design for all users.
- Know which IT guidelines and standards to use to ensure accessibility.
- Know where to turn for additional information about IT accessibility issues.
This training is designed for consumers, federal agencies, and members of the IT and telecommunications industries. Recent legislation has brought electronic and information technology to the forefront of accessibility issues. How do Sections 508 and 255 affect you? Which products must comply with these laws? What is the consumer's role in their enforcement? How can electronic and information technology and telecommunications be made accessible to people with disabilities? Come find out where the cutting edges of law and technology overlap, and how they affect you. This training will help you understand your rights and obligations, and how these laws can bring in money for companies making compliant products. Questions welcome.
Learn the principles of web accessibility and why it matters. We will demonstrate the barriers for people who are blind, have low vision, are deaf, are hard of hearing, have mobility impairments or coognitive disabilities. We will show websites that are accessible and some that "need improvement." You will learn the Section 508 access standards and the Web Accessibility Guidelines for web accessibility. We will review the resources for more technical questions and discuss how to evaluate a website for accessibility.
What makes distance learning programs accessible? What are accessibility barriers in distance learning? What are accessible distance learning tools used to create on-line distance learning programs?
