EDUC 477:

Assistive Technology/Universal Design for the General Classroom Settings

Author: Bryan Shuy

  1. What are some basic myths and facts about the ADA? How many lawsuits have there been in the last five years as a result of this? http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/pubs/mythfct.txt
  2. Each state, in accordance with Assistive Technology Act of 1998, has state assistive technology contacts. Who is Maryland’s contact http://www.resna.org/taproject/at/statecontacts.html
  3. How does NIDRR (National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research)’s long range plan deal with assistive technology for individuals? http://www.ncddr.org/rpp/techaf/lrp_ov.html
  4. What is a DBTAC? http://www.adata.org/centers.htm
  5. What is the US Access Board and which law enables it? http://www.access-board.gov/

Answers:

Answers submitted by: Scott Sines

  1. One myth outlined at this site included ADA suits are flooding the courts. A fact listed, was The ADA has resulted in a surprisingly small number of lawsuits -- only about 650 nationwide in five years. That's tiny compared to the 6 million businesses; 666,000 public and private employers; and 80,000 units of state and local government that must comply.
  2. Currently Marylands state assistive technology contact information, is the following:
    Department of Disabilities
    2301 Argonne Drive, Room T17
    Baltimore, MD 21218
    Executive Director: Michael Dalto
    Phone/TTY: 800.832.4827
    Phone/TTY: 410.554.9230
    Fax: 410.554.9237
    Email: mdtap@mdtap.org
    Web: http://www.mdtap.org
  3. As explained in the site, the NIDRR deal with assistive technology for individuals, by: In 1990, more than 13.1 million Americans, about 5 percent of the population, were using assistive technology devices to accommodate physical impairments, and 7.1 million people, nearly 3 percent of the population, were living in homes specially adapted to accommodate impairments. While the majority of people who use assistive technology are elderly, children and young adults use a significant proportion of the devices, such as foot braces, artificial arms or hands, adapted typewriters or computers, and leg braces (LaPlante, Hendershot, & Moss 1992).

    Assistive technology includes devices that are technologically complex, involving sophisticated materials and requiring precise operations—often referred to as high-tech— and those that are simple, inexpensive, and made from easily available materials— commonly referred to as low-tech. Scientific research in both high-tech and low-tech areas will serve the consumer need for practical items that are readily available and easily used. Low-tech devices, for example, are widely used by older people with disabilities to compensate for age-related functional losses. The importance of creating both types of assistive technologies is found in the words of one engineer, who stated, “It is not high-tech or low-tech that is the issue; it is the right tech.” NIDRR research must be able to identify the most appropriate technological approach for a given application, and continue to develop low-tech as well as high-tech solutions.

    Given the current trend toward more restrictive utilization of health care funds in both public and private sectors, rehabilitation engineering research must justify consumer or third-party costs in relation to the benefits generated for consumers. These benefits may be in the form of long-term cost savings and consumer satisfaction. Equally important, rehabilitation engineers must develop products that are, in addition to being safe and durable, marketable and affordable. End-product affordability is important, not only in meeting consumer needs, but also in creating the market demand that will encourage manufacturers to enter production.
  4. The DBTAC stands for Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers
  5. The US Access Board is The Access Board is "an independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. It operates with about 30 staff and a governing board of representatives from Federal departments and public members appointed by the President." Several different laws according to this site, are key to understanding the work of the Board, including the: Architectural Barriers Act, a law requiring access to facilities designed, built, altered, or leased with Federal funds.

    Rehabilitation Act, which created the Access Board.

    Americans with Disabilities Act, a major civil rights law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability in the private and public sectors.

    Telecommunications Act (Section 255), which requires access to new telecommunications and customer premises equipment where "readily achievable."

    Rehabilitation Act Amendments which amend section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act to ensure access to electronic and information technology in the Federal sector.

Answers submitted by: Lauren Morrello

  1. What are some basic myths and facts about the ADA? How many lawsuits have there been in the last five years as a result of this?

    MYTH: ADA suits are flooding the courts.
    FACT: The ADA has resulted in a surprisingly small number of lawsuits -- only about 650 nationwide in five years. That's tiny compared to the 6 million businesses; 666,000 public and private employers; and 80,000 units of state and local government that must comply.
    MYTH: The ADA is rigid and requires businesses to spend lots of money to make their existing facilities accessible.
    FACT: The ADA is based on common sense. It recognizes that altering existing structures is more costly than making new construction accessible. The law only requires that public accommodations (e.g. stores, banks, hotels, and restaurants) remove architectural barriers in existing facilities when it is "readily achievable", i.e., it can be done "without much difficulty or expense." Inexpensive, easy steps to take include ramping one step; installing a bathroom grab bar; lowering a paper towel dispenser; rearranging furniture; installing offset hinges to widen a doorway; or painting new lines to create an accessible parking space.
    MYTH: The government thinks everything is readily achievable.
    FACT: Not true. Often it may not be readily achievable to remove a barrier -- especially in older structures. Let's say a small business is located above ground. Installing an elevator would not, most likely, be readily achievable -- and there may not be enough room to build a ramp -- or the business may not be profitable enough to build a ramp. In these circumstances, the ADA would allow a business to simply provide curbside service to persons with disabilities.
    **Only about 650 lawsuits nationwide in 5 years
  2. Each state, in accordance with Assistive Technology Act of 1998, has state assistive technology contacts. Who is Maryland’s contact

    Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MD TAP) (1989)
    Department of Disabilities
    2301 Argonne Drive, Room T17
    Baltimore, MD 21218
    Executive Director: Michael Dalto
    Phone/TTY: 800.832.4827
    Phone/TTY: 410.554.9230
    Fax: 410.554.9237
    Email: mdtap@mdtap.org
    Web: http://www.mdtap.org
  3. How does NIDRR (National Institute for Disability and RehabilitationResearch)’s long range plan deal with assistive technology for individuals?
    NIDRR research must be able to identify the most appropriate technological approach for a given application, and continue to develop low-tech as well as high-tech solutions.
  4. What is a DBTAC?
     Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers
  5. What is the US Access Board and which law enables it?

    The Access Board is an independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. It operates with about 30 staff and a governing board of representatives from Federal departments and public members appointed by the President. Key responsibilities of the Board include: Several different laws are key to understanding the work of the Board, including the: