Quick Access to Mass Innovation main site.
Accessible parking is essential to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in community life. Availability of parking with accessible features allows persons with certain limitations to access businesses, schools, medical facilities, places of employment, etc. This post will discuss designated accessible, also known as “handicapped,” parking provisions …Continue Reading Accessible Parking Laws for Public Lots
One of the mandates of MOD is to provide technical and legal assistance to Executive Branch agencies and local Commissions on Disability (CODs). So we endeavor to apprise them of significant changes to disability related laws. CODs advise and assist municipal officials and employees in ensuring compliance with state and federal laws and regulations that impact persons with disabilities. Recently, the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, which guides how public meetings must operate, was amended to aid CODs.
MOD was pleased to have nearly 300 guests attend our inaugural Disability Summit, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at 25: Past, Present & Future on September 18, 2015. The event was held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and a breakfast buffet was served. Here are some highlights from a memorable morning:
MOD often hears from concerned callers reporting violation of disability parking regulations asking what they can do to combat the problem.
Disability parking violation is certainly a serious issue that can take various forms. This post will outline some typical violations.
As MOD’s Assistant Director of Community Services, I wanted to spend some time discussing automatic door openers. This is a very common topic that I get asked about. To paraphrase Shakespeare, “Are automatic door openers required or not required at entrances?”
MOD hears from many people with disabilities and their family members who want to know what options there are for individuals who either need help to live at home or in a residential setting. We thought it would be helpful to lay out and describe the all the major options in one place to make it easier to compare and navigate the various programs. This is Part Two of a two-part blog series on long-term home care and supported living programs for seniors and people with disabilities in Massachusetts.
MOD hears from many people with disabilities and their family members who want to know what options exist for those who either need help to live at home or are seeking residential care. We thought it would be helpful to lay out and describe most of the major options in one place to make it easier to compare and navigate the various programs. This is Part One of a two-part blog series on long-term home care and residential care programs for seniors and people with disabilities in Massachusetts. Part One will focus on Home Care options for people who need services to help them live at home and in their communities.
On July 30, 2015 Governor Baker announced new administration-wide procedures in regard to public records requests, in order to improve access to government records and information. These new procedures will serve to increase access to all members of the public, including persons with disabilities, which is in alignment with our office’s statutory mandate to ensure access in all aspects of life.
As part of the acknowledgment of the importance of the 25th year anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published findings on the Prevalence of Disability and Disability Type Among Adults in their Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
A new, “dynamic” design featuring the image of a person with a disability actively engaged in forward motion has been proposed. Advocates for this symbol argue that the International Symbol is outdated, portraying people with disabilities as passive and dependent on wheelchairs. Although many places and institutions are already using the active symbol, no alternative to the International Symbol has been formally adopted. In May 2015, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released an official interpretation of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) on alternative designs of the accessibility symbol.
We want to hear from you. Connect with us.
2015