Southeast ADA Center

04/27/2026

HONOR DISABILITY HEROES: Sign up for this free, online event to honor Alice Wong and Bob Kafka. When: Wednesday, April 29 at 6:30-8:30PM Eastern time.

During our National Community Event, we're taking time to honor two extremely powerful disability community members who became ancestors within the last year. Alice Wong was a fierce believer in disability rights and justice. She dedicated her energy amplifying the voices and experiences of the disabled community. Among her many accomplishments, Alice was an AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awardee. She used the Award funds to help build the Disability Visibility Project.

Bob Kafka was a long-time leader in ADAPT who was instrumental in the fight for accessible transportation and community integration. He was also the founder of REV UP, which stands for Register, Educate, Vote, Use your Power! Over the past 10 years, in part due to Bob's leadership and vision, REV UP has a presence in 48 states and is building the power of the disability vote.

We miss them dearly, and their impact on our community cannot be overstated.

Get tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-aapd-national-community-event-tickets-1982299255435

ID: Graphic showcasing out National Community Event honoring the memories of Alice Wong and Bob Kafka.

04/24/2026

Here's a new resource produced by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center to celebrate .

Sharing another practical tool for . Check out this helpful publication from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Training & Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders. "Avoiding Ableist Language" explores the concept of ableism and how it harms the Autistic community.

https://vkc.vumc.org/assets/files/triad/tips/Avoiding_Ableist_Language.pdf

04/24/2026

April is . Do you know the difference between physical therapy and occupational therapy?
Physical therapy focuses on improving movement, mobility, and function, while occupational therapy focuses on helping a person perform daily tasks more easily. Examples of daily tasks include dressing, bathing, writing and driving.
https://www.aota.org/about/for-the-media/aota-news/april-is-occupational-therapy-month

04/22/2026

Older Americans Month: Championing Your Health
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) announced the theme for this year's Older Americans Month, Championing Your Health. The theme focuses on prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility as cornerstones of healthy aging. The theme encourages aging individuals to take an active role in managing their health, advocate for themselves, access preventive care, and make informed decisions that support independence. The theme also highlights the importance of evidence-based approaches, self-management, and community partnerships that empower individuals to lead their healthiest lives. The theme applies to aging individuals with and without disabilities.

04/21/2026

National Survey on Health and Disability Needs Your Opinion
Scott Landes, a professor of sociology at Syracuse University, is part of a group conducting a research study to learn about how people with and without a disability think about the experience of disability.
Please take a brief 10 minute survey consisting of 25 multiple choice questions.
You are eligible to participate in this research study and complete the survey if you are age 18 or over and live in a U.S. State, District, or Territory. People with and without a disability are eligible to take the survey.
You can access the survey here: https://syracuseuniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7VbD0lYJil2yR9A

Please share this information and survey link with any family, friends, or colleagues that you think would be interested in completing the survey.
This research study has been approved by the Syracuse University Institutional Review Board (IRB), Protocol #25-355.
Thank you for your time.
Scott Landes
_________
Scott D. Landes, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
Co-Founder, Disability Health Equity Research Network (DHERN)
314 Lyman Hall
Syracuse University

04/21/2026

PLAY. WIN. LEARN. - ADA Puzzler for April 2026.
QUESTION:
According to ADA Title III, which of these is the first priority when evaluating readily achievable barrier removal?
A. Access to goods and services.
B. Access to public toilet rooms.
C. Accessible approach and entrance.

+ PLAY: Submit your answer by April 30 to: adapuzzler@syr.edu

+ WIN: All correct submissions are entered in a random drawing for one winner with choice of a fabulous prize or one course from Courses.MyADALearning.org

+ LEARN MORE in our e-newsletter - ADA and Access Matters: https://adasoutheast.org/newsletter/ada-and-access-matters/

04/21/2026

Autism Acceptance Month is a time to celebrate neurodiversity, challenge stigma, and create communities and workplaces where autistic individuals are valued, respected, and supported.
Looking to build a more supportive workplace? Explore the free Neurodiversity in the Workplace Toolkit from the Employer Assistance and Resource Network (EARN), which offers practical guidance on recruiting, hiring, retaining, and advancing neurodivergent employees. Learn More https://askearn.org/page/neurodiversity-in-the-workplace

04/21/2026

Songs from some of Disney’s most popular recent animated movies have been reimagined to include American Sign Language within the choreography and performances in honor of .
Story: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2026/04/21/disney-reimagines-animated-hits-in-sign-language/31956/
IMAGE: Disney animation image: Teenage girl with brown curly hair, large brown eyes and glasses is signing to another person with brown curly hair, wearing a gold shirt.

Disney is releasing new versions of musical sequences from "Frozen 2," "Encanto" and "Moana 2" in an effort to better connect with the disability community.

04/21/2026

April is Autism Acceptance Month—a time to move beyond awareness and toward understanding, acceptance, and meaningful inclusion. Explore Innovative Supports for Autistic Workers (ISAW), which offers free educational modules, workplace resources, fact sheets, and tools focused on autism and employment inclusion. Their mission is to help employers better understand and support autistic workers through practical, accessible guidance. https://isaw.hdiuk.org/?doing_wp_cron=1776779435.7151501178741455078125

04/20/2026

REGISTER for 4th Thursday ADA Talks
Webinar #4:
ADA and Voting Rights
DATE: Thursday - April 23, 2026
TIME (1 hour): 10:00 am – 11:00 am [Eastern]
IN THIS ADA TALK:
Get an overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and federal laws that apply to voting for people with disabilities in polling places, voter registration, and election communications. Discover common barriers faced by voters with disabilities and practical strategies for ensuring equitable voting access.
Speaker: Carrie Carlson from Tennessee Disability Coalition
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:
Southeast ADA Center Webinars
4th Thursday ADA Talks
Email: seadaWebinars@syr.edu
Phone: 404-541-9001
Web: DisabilityWebinars.org

04/20/2026

Wednesday, April 22nd is . Discover how people with disabilities use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) technology to learn, work, and have fun!.

🎉 We’re excited to share a new, free ATIA webinar—just in time for National Assistive Technology Awareness Day on April 22!
My Voice, My Story: Real‑Life AAC Experiences - hear the voices of people who use AAC and highlights the power of communication, self‑advocacy, and lived experience.
Join us to listen, learn, and celebrate the impact of assistive technology in real lives.
👉 Register here: ATIA.org/webinar

04/17/2026

Exciting news from Syracuse University and the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability about their Research Ethics for All program at https://iod.unh.edu/blog/2026/03/expanding-access-inclusive-research-ethics-training

Syracuse University and the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability’s Research Ethics for All program will now reach a broader national audience through the CITI Program, the most widely used research ethics training platform in the United States.