Southeast ADA Center

01/17/2026

This is a great idea to highlight the importance of accessible parking!

BraunAbility commissioned Tracy Lee Stum , known for her 3D painted street art, to create the 3D Access Aisle - an optical illusion resembling a raised barrier to discourage drivers from misusing the space intended for those with mobility challenges. The 3D Access Aisle is visible in cities around the country as a conversation starter about inclusion. Learn more about the initiative: https://www.braunability.com/us/en/blog/disability-rights/3D-Handicap-Parking-Spaces.html

01/16/2026

UPCOMING WEBINAR: Understand your right to keep your medical information private. Sign up for this important webinar happening on January 21st at 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM Eastern time.

There's still time to register for our upcoming free webinar titled "Protected Health Information: Deciphering What is Protected Under the Alphabet of Civil Rights and Medical Information Laws."

Join the Great Lakes and Southwest ADA Centers for a legal update and discussion on what laws protect health-related protected information and medical records. This session will review how the ADA, HIPAA, ACA, and other laws may or may not protect the disclosure of health information in situations ranging from employee reasonable accommodation requests, to certification letters for education-related accommodations, to protection of histories of substance abuse disorders. The handling and release of patient health information will also be discussed. We will review existing and new court opinions as well as crucial settlement agreements and conciliations establishing the law of protected health information. We will also discuss misinformation and address questions pertaining to the expectation of confidentiality and privacy of medical information.

Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Eastern Time Zone
Register now: https://bit.ly/3N5zRBg.

01/16/2026

REGISTER FOR WEBINAR on Accessible Design happening Tuesday, January 20th at 12:30- 2:00 PM Eastern Time.

There is still time to register for our upcoming webinar on "The Born-Accessible Design Approach: Cost-Effective, Inclusive, Compliant."

Most digital technologies are still built and released then remediated for accessibility later, an expensive, inefficient, and exclusionary process. In contrast, the born-accessible approach ensures that accessibility is built in from the start, by involving people with disabilities at every stage of design, development, and procurement. This user-centered strategy improves productivity, enhances user experience, reduces costs, and helps meet legal and regulatory requirements. Join us to explore practical frameworks, key components, and emerging research to help make born-accessible design a key part of your digital accessibility strategy.

Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Time: 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Register now: bit.ly/3LhbaRL.

01/15/2026

Learn more about your right to donate blood and help your community.

January is National Blood Donor Month, dedicated to raising awareness about the ongoing need for blood donations, encouraging people, including those with disabilities, to donate during a time of year when donations are typically low, and recognizing the lifesaving impact of blood donors on patients and communities.

Under the ADA, donation centers and plasma centers are public accommodations and generally may not exclude donors solely because they have a disability if they are otherwise medically eligible. Blood centers are expected to provide reasonable accommodations, such as assistance with forms or communication, or allowing a support person to help with transfers, so long as accommodations do not compromise donor or blood safety.

AmeriDisability published an article calling for action and raising awareness that many people with disabilities can donate blood safely if they meet standard health, age, and weight requirements and pass the donor screening, just like any other donor: bit.ly/blood-donor-d.

01/14/2026

REGISTER NOW: 4th Thursday ADA Webinar Series.
Monthly webinars on topics about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), disability rights, and access that run for 1 hour on the 4th Thursday from January to October 2026 (10 webinars).
Webinar #1
ADA Progress: Building Partnerships with Local Government
Date: Thursday - January 22, 2026
Time (1 hour): 10:00 am – 11:00 am [Eastern]
In This 4th Thursday ADA Talk:
This presentation focuses on building effective, collaborative relationships between community advocates, stakeholders, and local government officials to advance accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Presenters will discuss their roles and opportunities toward improving accessibility and disability awareness using Lexington, Kentucky as a model example.
The session will also equip attendees with targeted questions to ask local governments about their ADA transition plan, and how ADA considerations are meaningfully integrated into planning, budgeting, and decision-making processes.
Finally, the presentation will outline the concrete steps local governments are required—and expected—to take regarding ADA transition plans. This includes developing, updating, and publicly sharing transition plans; conducting self-evaluations; prioritizing barriers for removal; engaging people with disabilities in the review process; and establishing timelines and accountability mechanisms. Attendees will leave with practical tools to encourage transparency, promote ongoing review, and support continuous improvement in local ADA compliance efforts.
Speakers:
Christina Espinosa, MRC, CRC
University of Kentucky Human Development Institute
Roger Daman
City of Lexington, Kentucky
Registration
Each webinar has captioning and American Sign Language (ASL).
REGISTER for 4th Thursday ADA Talks 2026:
Web: https://bit.ly/4th-thursday-ada-talks-2026
Credit
Get a Certificate of Participation after you view an entire webinar (live or archive) and complete the Post Test Eval.
Hosts
University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI), Southeast ADA Center, Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University.
Contact
Please contact us by phone or email for questions on the ADA Talks webinars and anytime you have questions on the ADA or disability rights.
Southeast ADA Center Webinars
4th Thursday ADA Talks
Email: seadaWebinars@syr.edu
Phone: 404-541-9001
Web: DisabilityWebinars.org
Project Web: ADAsoutheast.org

01/12/2026

JUST Announced! Tuesday and Wednesday (January 13-and 14) - A free, two-day meeting to share mental health and wellness resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), brain injuries, and other disabilities. Details and registration link below.

The Link Center Shared Learning Groups on Health and Wellness: Eight Dimensions of Wellness (January 13 & 14) | Register: https://acl.gov/news-and-events/announcements/link-center-shared-learning-groups-health-and-wellness

01/09/2026

National Council on Disability Meeting in Orlando, Florida [Virtual and In-Person]
Dates: Thursday, January 22 and Friday, January 23, 2026
Meeting Agenda & More information at https://bit.ly/49Mr67P
Description: The Members of the National Council on Disability (NCD) will hold a two-day in-person Council meeting on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 3:25 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Friday, January 23, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST).
This meeting will take place at the Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando, 9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando, Florida 32819. The event will also be streamed live via Zoom videoconference for those not able to attend in person.
Registration is not required but is appreciated on the NCD Eventbrite page.
Zoom links will be provided in advance of the meeting. It will also be livestreamed on the NCD YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/NCDgov

01/09/2026

TUESDAY WEBINAR - Fair Housing Act Overview & Upcoming Trainings
DATE: Tuesday, January 13, 2026
TIMES: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST) – OR – 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)
This virtual training on Zoom is available at two times. Please select your session and register on our Events Calendar at https://bit.ly/4pD4ETr

01/08/2026

Our newest ADALive! podcast episode has dropped. Learn all about Holiday Hospitality for Guests with Disabilities https://adalive.org/episodes/episode-149/

01/08/2026

APPLY NOW FOR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SUPPORT. The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network, or NEON, initiative supports states to improve employment outcomes for people with mental health conditions, including those with co-occurring significant disabilities. ODEP is asking for applications from states and state government agencies to become NEON “core states” and receive intensive policy technical assistance and ongoing mentoring to support the strategic aims of their statewide employment efforts for this population.
Link to NEON application portal: https://apps.econsys.com/neon/users/sign_up Application deadline is January 30. Selections will be announced in February.

01/07/2026

REGISTER FOR WEBINAR: Barry Whaley, Southeast ADA Center Project Director, will talk about “ADA Title I: The Interactive Process” at 3:00 PM ET on January 27th. Link to register: https://sandiegolawlibrary.org/event/ada-title-i-the-interactive-process/

01/07/2026

New Year Brings Big Changes For ABLE Accounts! Now even more people are eligible https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2025/12/18/new-year-brings-big-changes-for-able-accounts/31784/

A recent change may expand who can open an ABLE account.

If you have a disability that began before age 46, you may now qualify for a tax-advantaged ABLE account. ABLE accounts can help eligible people with disabilities save for qualified disability expenses without risking certain public benefits.

Learn what this update means and how ABLE accounts work at https://www.ablenrc.org/the-able-age-adjustment-act-fact-sheet/.

Image description: A green background with white text. The text reads: “Do you have a disability that began before age 46? You may now qualify for a tax-advantaged ABLE account!” The words “ABLE account!” are larger and bolded for emphasis.