Many Americans with disabilities feel that a series of negative court decisions is reducing their status to that of "second-class citizens," a status that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was supposed to remedy forever. In this report, the National Council on Disability (NCD), which first proposed the enactment of an ADA and…

As recently as the 1960s and 1970s, comparatively few persons with disabilities were able to attend college, either due to limited financial resources or to the inaccessibility of the campus and college programs. Today, colleges have substantially increased their efforts to recruit, admit, and accommodate qualified students with disabilities and…

This paper offers suggestions for making ropes challenge courses accessible to individuals with special needs. Federal legislation requires that programs be updated to be inclusive of individuals with disabilities. A transdisciplinary approach is suggested for promoting a better and safer program based on input from occupational therapists,…

Like other public institutions, museums strive to make their facilities accessible to people with disabilities, yet these same patrons may be hindered in their use of museum Web sites by electronic accessibility barriers. This presentation demonstrates that access was a primary design factor in the Virtual Museum Tour, part of the Web site of The…

The Access Board of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board has issued this guide to assist in the use of its American with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) for buildings and facilities. It explains some of the basic considerations for accessible design and clarifies specific ADAAG provisions. Advisory…

This report examines the issues of school district compliance with the legal mandate to accommodate students with disabilities, and it explores the legislation that addresses student accessibility. The paper discusses and compares the federal laws and enforcement provisions dealing with accessibility, including those under the Americans with…

Papers presented at the 1979 National Technical Education Conference. Includes: a perspective of technical education, aids in providing quality instruction, opportunities as technical education leaders, values in technical education, opportunities for females in engineering technology, equal access/equal opportunity, and the impact felt as a…

Reviews some current literature concerning library services to the blind and physically handicapped, including a publication on legislation affecting services and a book on handicapped persons employed at libraries. (FM)

This list of resources includes publications, films about the handicapped, equipment (with illustrations), and clothing services for people with special needs. (SK)

The paper concerns itself with the art of environmental interpretation and addresses its application specifically to the visually impaired, considering the adaptations and alterations available which will make the environmental interpretation a beneficial and meaningful experience for the visually impaired. (Author)

Provides performance criteria for creating accessibility for and integration of children of all abilities within school playgrounds. Included are recommendations for accessible route designs; play equipment; sand and water play; gathering places and outdoor classrooms; entrances and signage; and fences, enclosures, and barriers. Proposed changes…

The article discusses braille instruction for blind persons from the perspective of the National Federation of the Blind. A case study of a child whose parents have struggled to obtain braille instruction is examined. Negative attitudes about blindness and inadequate training of teachers are linked to decreased braille literacy. (Author/DB)

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)

Cooperative education can play an important part in the transition to employment for persons with disabilities. Issues that must be addressed include recruitment of students with disabilities, development of job-related skills, appropriate work site accommodations, and employer awareness. (SK)

A parent of a six-year-old son with spina bifida examines common accessibility problems in the form of six steps involved in taking the child shopping from finding a parking space to finding an entrance ramp and maneuvering in the store. (DB)