Great Plains ADA Center

04/05/2026

More great resources about the 26-day 504 sit-in that started on April 5, 1977

On this day in 1977, the 504 Sit-In began. Judy was a key leader in this historic 26-day protest (the longest take-over of a federal building in US history) to demand that Section 504 regulations of the Rehabilitation Act be signed.

Learn more about the sit-in, Section 504, and Judy’s contributions through her book Being Heumann (Apple TV+ film adaptation coming soon), the documentary Crip Camp, and other resources at judithheumann.com/resources
Image Description: Judy Heumann speaking passionately to Joseph Maldonado (Regional Director of HEW) in a room full of protestors with various disabilities

04/05/2026

Today is an important anniversary in ! On April 7, 1977, the 504 sit-in began in San Francisco. Here's an educational video to learn more.

04/05/2026

Wishing everyone across the Great Plains region and around the country a joyful - and accessible - Easter holiday! Warm wishes from all of us at the Great Plains ADA Center, National ADA Symposium, and ADA Coordinator Certification Program!

04/04/2026

Excellent conversation about making events more sensory friendly for Month!

April marks Autism Acceptance Month, bringing attention to the importance of creating inclusive experiences in everyday community spaces. Programs like Northwell’s BEE Mindful are helping make live events more accessible for neurodiverse individuals through sensory-friendly supports and trained staff. In this feature, author Cara Liebowitz explores how these efforts are expanding access to concerts, sports, and local events. Read the full article at https://ablenews.com/bee-mindful-program-brings-sensory-friendly-experiences-to-local-venues

04/04/2026

Nebraska friends! Check out this great learning opportunity happening April 11 in Omaha. Get signed up now!

Mental health matters—and it’s time we talk about it. 💚

Join us for ENDING THE SILENCE, a free, interactive Mental Health "first aid" workshop. This evidence-based session explores the warning signs of mental health conditions, treatment and coping strategies, how to support a friend, and su***de prevention—along with powerful personal stories of diagnosis and recovery.

📅 April 11, 2026
⏰ 4–5 PM
📍 Snap Productions, Omaha

Created for middle school, high school, and college students, educators, families, and caregivers. You are not alone. Let’s end the stigma—together.

Let us know you're coming by filling in the short registration form in the comment or emailing info@naminebraska.org.

Presented in connection with SNAP! Productions Omaha performances of Next to Normal.

04/04/2026

April is also Parkinson's Awareness Month! This annual observance raises awareness about the condition, improve the lives of people impacted by Parkinson's Disease, and connect people to reliable, science-backed information.

Check out two of the major PD related organizations for more information:
Parkinson's Foundation - https://www.parkinson.org/
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research - https://www.michaeljfox.org/

04/04/2026

There's still time to register to join us for the Virtual Conference happening May 4-6! See everyone online!

No time for travel? Join us for the National ADA Symposium Virtual Event instead! This now annual 3-day conference features 36 sessions over 3 days and is happening May 4-6. You can register for the whole conference, or chose a daily option...whatever fits YOUR busy schedule! Plus you can earn several different professional credits. To learn more and to register, visit adasymposium.org now!

04/03/2026

Missouri friends! Mark your calendars for this upcoming Accessibility Business Summit happening May 7 in Columbia! Join local businesses and qualified job seekers with disabilities for this event focused on accessible, inclusive hiring practices!

📢 Mid-Missouri Employers & Jobseekers - Register Now!
The AccessAbility Business Summit is coming to Mid-Missouri — and you won’t want to miss it! 🤝

📅 Date: May 7, 2026, 9 AM to 3 PM
📍 Location: Boone Electric Cooperative, Columbia
🔗 Register Here: tinyurl.com/AccessAbility-Business-Summit

This powerful event brings together local employers and talented job seekers with disabilities to build meaningful connections, open doors, and create more inclusive workplaces.

✨ Discover untapped talent
✨ Learn inclusive hiring best practices
✨ Network with community leaders & advocates
✨ Be part of a more accessible future

Whether you’re an employer ready to grow your team or a job seeker ready to shine — this summit is for you!

04/03/2026

Upcoming learning opportunity about the ABLE Act and recent age eligibility adjustments happening April 14!

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04/03/2026

Kansas friends! Registration for the 2026 SACK Statewide Self-advocacy Conference is open now! Join self-advocates, service providers, and others from around the state for this annual conference happening June 19-21 in Manhattan!

BREAKING NEWS! Our conference registration is open!

We hope you’ll join us at the 2026 SACK Statewide Self-advocacy Conference.

Registration and scholarships applications close on June 1!

Find out more and register now at sackonline.org/conference



[Image description: GREEN Banner with text on left side: REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR THE 2026 SACK CONFERENCE, on the right hand side is a half circle filled in with a tree with roots and leaves + text:
Self Advocate Coalition
of Kansas Let’s G.R.O.W
Growth
Rights
Opportunity
Work
SACK CONFERENCE 2026
Doubletree by Hilton, Manhattan, KS
June 19 – 21, 2026
sackonline.org/conference]

04/03/2026

Upcoming learning opportunity with the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and American Association of People with Disabilities about the recently published Interim Rule to modify the website and mobile app accessibility requirements under Title II.

Title II of the ADA requires state and local governments to make their websites and apps accessible to people with disabilities. A key compliance deadline for the rule issued in 2024 is coming up on April 24, 2026, but a potential Interim Final Rule could weaken those requirements. Learn more in this free webinar happening Thursday, April 9!

What is happening with the 2024 web and mobile app accessibility rules? Join the American Foundation for the Blind and the American Association of People with Disabilities for a webinar to learn about a potential threat to web accessibility and what to do about it.

Title II of the ADA requires state and local governments to make their websites and apps accessible to people with disabilities. A key compliance deadline for the rule issued in 2024 is coming up on April 24, 2026, but a potential Interim Final Rule could weaken those requirements.

Join us for a webinar featuring experts on the frontlines of this issue:
- Jay Wyant, Chief Information Accessibility Officer, State of Minnesota
- Jennifer Mathis, Deputy Director, Bazelon Center & former DOJ official who helped finalize the 2024 rule
- Stephanie Enyart, Chief Public Policy and Research Officer, American Foundation for the Blind
- Maitreya Shah, Technology Policy Director, American Association of People with Disabilities

We'll cover what the proposed changes mean, what's at stake for the disability community, and steps state and local governments can take to build accessible digital services.

Date: April 9, 2026
Time: 3:00–4:00 PM (ET)
Location: Zoom

Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EQFIp0OTR-yYFERxQn6K9w

ASL and CART will be provided. Please reach out to technologypolicy@aapd.com if you require any reasonable accommodations to participate.

04/03/2026

Practical advice for employers regarding Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and ADA compliance when managing leave and accommodations

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/fmla-and-ada-compliance-five-keys-for-3647516/

In a recent webinar on FMLA and ADA compliance, we discussed common compliance traps under the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Americans with...