What's New with the ADA in 2016: State and Local Government (Morning) and Employment (Afternoon) - West Springfield, MA

What's New with the ADA in 2016: State and Local Government (Morning) and Employment (Afternoon) - West Springfield MA

Date: Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Event Type: Conference
Location: West Springfield Public Library
Street: 200 Park St.
Time: 8:45 am-4:00 pm

The ADA for Local Governments (8:45 am-12:00 pm) - Stacy Hart, ADA Trainer for the New ADA Center

The ADA has been in effect for over 25 years, and many people are still confused about what the law requires. Can a monkey be a service animal? A miniature horse? What would you do if someone asks for the planning committee meeting to be scent-free? Do all playgrounds need to be accessible? Who decides when a request is an “undue burden” for the municipality? You think the town completed a transition plan and self-evaluation in 1993, does the town need to conduct a new one? Does the town’s website have to be accessible and what does that mean? Does every public building have to accessible? We will address these items and more. We will also review the Department of Justice’s settlement agreements with municipalities including requirements to provide “auxiliary aids and services,” such as sign language interpreters; responding to Telecommunications Relay Service phone calls; and notifying the community of their ADA rights and the local government’s ADA obligations. There will be plenty of time for your questions.

The ADA and Employment (12:45 pm-4:00 pm) - Rita DiNunzio, ADA Trainer for the Massachusetts Office on Disability

Many people with disabilities work or would like to work but may need some support. The ADA has been in effect for over 25 years, and many people are still confused about what the law requires. In this training, we will cover who is a person with a disability- Are people who have obesity covered? What about people with substance abuse problems? We will discuss how to handle questions from other employees when they see another employee getting “special treatment” and how to recognize a reasonable accommodation request – Must the employee use the words “reasonable accommodation” or can the request be in plain English (or another language)?  Other issues include: May a person who has a disability be terminated from employment because of poor job performance?  What about disability-related behavior that violates code of conduct policy? Now that Massachusetts has a medical marijuana law, must an employer permit employees with disabilities to have marijuana at work? There will be plenty of time for your questions.

This is a free training open to the public.