The purpose of this brief is to help families and educators understand the right of students with disabilities who need accessible educational materials to receive these materials in a timely manner. This right is based on provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as in the disability civil rights statutes…

Creating accessible instruction has been a subject of debate and lawsuits since the Civil Rights Movement. Examples include "Mills v. Board of Education" in 1972 discussed the 14th Amendment of equal rights in public K-12 education; instances involving extracurricular after-school programs, such as the YMCA Middle Tennessee Agreement for…

Pioneering legislation such as Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997, and the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 have increased attention to the needs of individuals with disabilities. These regulations require that public programs…

The transition from school to adulthood is a pivotal time in the lives of all students. For a student with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), change of any kind can be challenging, and a transition as momentous as this can seem especially daunting. Thoughtful planning, sound information, and open communication will help parents support young adults…

The purpose of this policy and practice brief is to provide readers with a resource for planning outreach to transition-aged youth, their parents, and the service providers who work with them (i.e., the authors' "target group"). The authors will first provide a summary of the laws governing how three key agencies--school districts, state…

Cooperative extension sites may not meet Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. Extension agents should evaluate the following areas to ensure compliance: facilities, marketing, decision making, faculty awareness, resources, policies, and evaluation. (SK)

This paper describes the process by which Metropolitan State College of Denver (MSCD), Colorado, developed a training program for faculty and staff to inform them about the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The process developed by this college can serve as a model for others. The most…

The second edition of Therapeutic Recreation in the Community: An Inclusive Approach reflects the changing and evolving nature of recreation and health care services. A number of social, economic, and political directives and technological advancements have fostered recreation in the community for all individuals. Due in part to a rising awareness…

The Americans with Disabilities Act demands a proactive approach in developing effective and integrated adventure education programs for the disabled. Programs cannot exclude qualified disabled individuals; modified participation is a choice, not a requirement; and staff must work toward removing physical barriers and providing reasonable…

Assesses the accomplishments in assisting students with disabilities over the past two decades. Outlines the critical issues for complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Defines disability and access, and examines ways to organize and structure services, fund accommodations, evaluate services, and collaborate with faculty. (RJM)

This document and its accompanying 14-minute open-captioned videotape summarize legal issues related to the employment of people with disabilities, methods for creating inclusive programs, accommodation strategies, and tips for working with individuals with disabilities. The section on legal issues considers requirements of the Americans with…

The academic department chair has a pivotal role in the administration of special accommodations provided to students under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Department chairs may interact with all levels of the institution, and the interaction among chairs, the Equal…

This publication is designed to assist in the development of therapeutic recreation services in the community and may also be used in the preparation of procedural manuals or risk management plans. Therapeutic recreation is defined as the process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation, applied through a helping relationship to…

This manual was designed to assist museums in becoming accessible to all individuals, including people with disabilities, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 (ADA). Following an introduction that addresses museum attendance, accessibility, universal design, and different types of disabilities, chapter 1, "ADA Basics…

A project was undertaken at Jackson State Community College (JSCC), Tennessee, to determine an appropriate plan to develop a disabled student services (DSS) program which would coordinate existing fragmented services and add additional services. A literature review was first conducted to determine legal obligations of the Americans with…