The NEW Employment First Policy

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459 Saw Mill River Road, Ardsley NY 10502

Bill Byrne of Morristown New Jersey believes that his bosses at Delbarton- a boys prep school- took a chance on hiring him. He believes this because some places are scared and weary of hiring people with disabilities, him being one of those people.

Recently, Byrne attended a conference with Governor Chris Christie and First Lady Pat in Trenton to bring attention to the new Employment First policy. This policy is going to require each state government to remove any barriers or practices that might prevent people with physical, developmental and mental disabilities from holding a job. Fourteen states, including New Jersey, have already adopted this policy.

The Employment Policy also calls for dispatching the department of Human Services and Labor Workforce Developmental to encourage private sector employers to step up its hiring practices. According to the national labor statistics, currently, 69% of people between the ages of 16 and 65 hold a job and only 20% of people with disabilities are in the workforce altogether.

Global Positioning Systems & Security Cameras

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In an attempt to cut down on cases of abuse, New York State will begin placing monitoring security cameras in public vehicles used to transport people with developmental disabilities in Albany.

The security cameras along with Global Positioning Systems will be installed in state buses, vans and cars used to transport developmentally disabled people in the Albany area. The state hopes to expand the effort statewide within a month.

Placing these cameras in public transportation automobiles is just one step the Office of People With Disabilities is taking to limit the amount of abuse of the developmentally disabled. In the future, many hope that it will be required to install cameras in the common areas of all group homes for the developmentally disabled, as well as in public and private transportation buses, cars and vans.

The Lacey A. Collier Sensory Complex at Escambia Westgate School - One Like No Other!

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The Lacey A. Collier Sensory Complex at Escambia Westgate School is one like no other. The school serves more than 200 of the 7,000 students with disabilities in Escambia. This multi-sensory complex which was completed in 2005, is the largest of its kind in the world.

The complex is based on the Snoezelen complex, which uses colors, lights, textures, and music to elicit responses from people with disabilities. Upon entering the complex’s atrium, visitors are greeted with relaxing music, plants and twinkling lights. In the jungle room, you immediately feel that the carpet is textured. There are also swings and a set of stairs that lead to a swinging bridge into artificial trees.

The school reports that swinging is a very sensory activity that many of their students enjoy/crave. There are also vibrating bubble tubes and fiber optic strands for kids to look at and touch along with iridescent plastic balls in a “ball bath.” There are also soothing aromas located around the facility that are pumped into the rooms to intensify effects.

Many of these children with disabilities seem to respond extremely well to the services provided at Westgate. One mother states that her son is legally blind but when she brings him to the school he is able to follow the lights. 

Many of the teacher’s report that these sensory effects help the students to be more focused. They also say that a lot of lower-functioning kids seem to be very motivated by the environment and are eager to participate and learn.

To read the entire article, click HERE.  

Improving the Quality of Life for Our Clients

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459 Saw Mill River Road, Ardsley NY 10502

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At ADA Lifestyles, we are focused on improving the quality of life for our clients. We are passionate about creating an environment that will provide the most independent lifestyle for them. We strive to make it easy for clients to acquire, modify and develop living spaces for people with disabilities.

We provide design and building solutions for the physically challenged. Our goal is for safety, accessibility and independence for people in their apartment, home or office setting. 

We offer expertise across the entire metropolitan NY area to find, build, convert and develop existing houses, lots, apartments and indeed any residential space for clients with specific needs due to disabilities. Additionally, ADA Lifestyles and partners offer business access to suitable commercial real estate and consult on existing premises on ADA compliance and problem solving including physical therapy offices, professional medical buildings and restaurants.

ADA Lifestyles provides commercial, residential and hospitality architectural services from conception through completion of your custom project. Our services are more than just lines on paper. We rely heavily on universal design, illustrating the idea that all residential environments and products should be easily used and accessible by all members of the family. 

Products are usable regardless of age, size, physical or sensory abilities throughout their life, in their complete surrounding. We can make homes, apartments and office areas safer by incorporating the necessary architectural features and products for those with physical and sensory challenges. 

At ADA Lifestyle, we will work with your doctor, therapist and home care provider to coordinate the capabilities of the individual who is physically challenged. With this collaboration of information together we can design an environment that is attractive and provides safety, comfort and independence.

Furthermore, we know the DOB codes (including ANSI Standards, local codes, standards of HUD, Legislation by the Fair Housing Act as well as your Civil Rights,) and implement each of them; we sit down with you, survey your wants and needs and evaluate your surroundings; we design concepts and consult each idea alongside you; provide expediting services and provide job site progress and compliance evaluations. 

You can actually “experience” the many Universal Design features and products at our 1,800 square foot facility in Ardsley, NY. Call for an appointment to actually see, touch and use the various products and ideas presented on our website in an actual, physical home.

Check out our website, ADALifestyles.com, for more information on our services and mission, and be sure to LIKE us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter!

Reasonable Accommodation

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The following information was provided by ADA.gov. 

 

Q. What is "reasonable accommodation?"

A. Reasonable accommodation is any modification or adjustment to a job or the work environment that will enable a qualified applicant or employee with a disability to participate in the application process or to perform essential job functions. Reasonable accommodation also includes adjustments to assure that a qualified individual with a disability has rights and privileges in employment equal to those of employees without disabilities.

Q. What are some of the accommodations applicants and employees may need?

A. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making existing facilities used by employees readily accessible to and usable by an individual with a disability; restructuring a job; modifying work schedules; acquiring or modifying equipment; providing qualified readers or interpreters; or appropriately modifying examinations, training, or other programs. Reasonable accommodation also may include reassigning a current employee to a vacant position for which the individual is qualified, if the person is unable to do the original job because of a disability even with an accommodation. However, there is no obligation to find a position for an applicant who is not qualified for the position sought. Employers are not required to lower quality or quantity standards as an accommodation; nor are they obligated to provide personal use items such as glasses or hearing aids.

The decision as to the appropriate accommodation must be based on the particular facts of each case. In selecting the particular type of reasonable accommodation to provide, the principal test is that o effectiveness, i.e., whether the accommodation will provide an opportunity for a person with a disability to achieve the same level of performance and to enjoy benefits equal to those of an average, similarly situated person without a disability. However, the accommodation does not have to ensure equal results or provide exactly the same benefits.

Q. When is an employer required to make a reasonable accommodation?

A. An employer is only required to accommodate a "known" disability of a qualified applicant or employee. The requirement generally will be triggered by a request from an individual with a disability, who frequently will be able to suggest an appropriate accommodation. Accommodations must be made on an individual basis, because the nature and extent of a disabling condition and the requirements of a job will vary in each case. If the individual does not request an accommodation, the employer is not obligated to provide one except where an individual's known disability impairs his/her ability to know of, or effectively communicate a need for, an accommodation that is obvious to the employer. If a person with a disability requests, but cannot suggest, an appropriate accommodation, the employer and the individual should work together to identify one. There are also many public and private resources that can provide assistance without cost.

Q. Must an employer modify existing facilities to make them accessible?

A. The employer's obligation under title I is to provide access for an individual applicant to participate in the job application process, and for an individual employee with a disability to perform the essential functions of his/her job, including access to a building, to the work site, to needed equipment, and to all facilities used by employees. For example, if an employee lounge is located in a place inaccessible to an employee using a wheelchair, the lounge might be modified or relocated, or comparable facilities might be provided in a location that would enable the individual to take a break with co-workers. The employer must provide such access unless it would cause an undue hardship.

Under title I, an employer s not required to make its existing facilities accessible until a particular applicant or employee with a particular disability needs an accommodation, and then the modifications should meet that individual's work needs. However, employers should consider initiating changes that will provide general accessibility, particularly for job applicants, since it is likely that people with disabilities will be applying for jobs. The employer does not have to make changes to provide access in places or facilities that will not be used by that individual for employment-related activities or benefits.

Contact ADA Lifestyles to help accommodate each and every one of yours and/or your employees needs. For more information, visit ADALifestyles.com. 

Universal Design

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Whether you’re getting older, ill, or have a physical disability, making your living or working environment practical and functional are two key ingredients in bringing forth an independent lifestyle.

Universal Design is a worldwide movement focusing on the idea that all residential environments and products should be easily used and accessible by all members of the family. These products should be usable regardless of age, size, physical or sensory abilities throughout life.

When Universal Design is designed properly and constructed with the highest standards, it is virtually invisible.

If you’re interested in incorporating Universal Design into your home or workplace, contact ADA Lifestyles to assist you in your project. ADA Lifestyles is committed to providing products and services to assist the physically challenged community.

Disability Advocates of Delmarva Inc. Aims to Help People with Disabilities

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459 Saw Mill River Road, Ardsley NY 10502

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Disability Advocates of Delmarva Inc. (DADI) have accomplished so much since their start 11 years ago. DADI is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation that aims to help people with disabilities in as many ways as they can.

The program that has made DADI one of the best in the country is their scholarship program. This program is for graduating high school seniors with disabilities. The scholarship grants each individual $1,000 per semester up until their graduation.

With any funds left over, the corporation has helped fund community college students, trade school students and even pay for books and lab fees per semester to other students. DADI has been recognized as the top group of their kind in Maryland, and one of the top 10 groups in the nation for a rural area. The corporation has also created a jobs program for people with disabilities.

DADI is looking to expand their group with the addition of people in businesses, public education, scholarships, local government and elected officials, fundraising and public information.

Teen Helps Those with Special Needs!

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459 Saw Mill River Road, Ardsley NY 10502

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18 year old Michael Quesnell, senior at Kimberly High School will be receiving the 2012 Youth Scholarship Award at the 15^th annual celebrating our volunteer’s gala on April 17^th at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in downtown Appleton. 

Quesnell will be recognized for a sophomore leadership class project on initiating change to his volunteer efforts which revolved around helping those with special needs. His interest in this cause began when he realized he wanted to help with the Special Olympics and promote respect for people with disabilities. It was then he came across the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign, which is an initiative of the Special Olympics. This campaign promotes awareness to society about dehumanizing and using hurtful words about those individuals who are disabled. 

To help spread awareness, Quesnell had 800 students at his high school sign a pledge and even interviewed Green Bay Packer AJ Hawk to help promote this event.  Quesnell also organized a free Homecoming dance for individuals of all ages from different organization and special education programs in the area. He also organized a basketball game between two youth Special Olympic teams as well as students from his high school.  

When Quesnell was asked why he does this his answer was “just seeing the smile and the laughter, you can physically tell you are making a tangible difference.” Quesnell believes that this is his prime time to make a difference because he is surrounded by his peers and is able to effectively spread the word and raise awareness for an amazing cause. 

ADA Lifestyles was created to provide products and services to the physically challenged community. The company is focused on improving the quality of life of their clients and is passionate about creating an environment that will provide a safe and independent lifestyle.

Adaptive Sports Expand for People with Disabilities

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459 Saw Mill River Road, Ardsley NY 10502

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Sports are continuing to expand for people with disabilities. Because more disabled people are eager to get involved, access and variety are continuing to increase. A new bike was designed specifically for a 13-year-old boy Josh Silvern to overcome his disability with balance.

The new bike is extremely stable because of the wheels and its accommodating seat promises the individual to be at a high degree of independence and mobility that has been impossible before.

This new bicycle that is designed for better balance is a Hallmark in the movement to help disabled people to be physically active. Wheelchair basketball is one of the many sports available for disabled people that have been modified with equipment so that disabled people can experience the sport.

The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability leads in research and advocacy for the field. Also, the Americans With Disabilities Act is working on improving access but not all sports facilities are cooperating and complying with the guidelines that have been set.