Here is today's KCDC Disability News message. I hope you have a wonderful day. 

Martha

Martha K. Gabehart | Executive Director
Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns (KCDC)
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly
900 SW Jackson, Suite 100 | Topeka, Kansas 66612
(785) 296-6525 (direct) | (785) 260-4027 (cell)

[email protected] | www.kcdcinfo.ks.gov

Disability Rights Center of Kansas Public Input Survey 2023

The Disability Rights Center (DRC) of Kansas is our state's Protection and Advocacy system for people with disabilities. DRC Kansas provides free advocacy services and legal representation in certain disability cases where the rights of people with disabilities are violated.

People with disabilities in Kansas face many barriers to full equality and justice. However, DRC Kansas does not have the resources to tackle all of the issues people with disabilities face. That is why we have Priorities and Objectives. Our Priorities and Objectives help us decide how we spend our resources.

DRC Kansas has limited resources. So, DRC must make sure we focus on the issues that the disability community believes are important. Your input on this survey will help us make better decisions about our work in the coming fiscal year.

Please complete this survey by August 31, 2022. Share the link to this survey with your friends, family, and anyone who cares about people with disabilities: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FX5M8PZ

If you need a disability accommodation to complete this survey, call 877-776-1541 or email [email protected]. If you would rather complete the survey in written form, call 877-776-1541 and ask to have a copy of the survey mailed to you, or email [email protected] with your full name, mailing address, and how many paper copies of the survey you are requesting.

Click the button below to start the survey. Thank you for your time.

Begin Survey

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Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) News Brief

July 22, 2022

New Blog - 32 Years of the ADA: Celebrating a Victory and a Vow

In a new post on the U.S Department of Labor blog, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Taryn Williams reflects on the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its impact on employment. As part of this commemoration, Williams highlights the historic nature of the 1999 Olmstead ruling and how it set the stage for an important dimension of ODEP’s work, advancing competitive integrated employment. She also explores how the ADA has guided ODEP in responding to changing needs in recent years, including the shifting employment landscape caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and an increased focus on worker mental health.

• Read the blog post

Upcoming Event! Disability Pride: Celebrating 32 Years of the ADA

The U.S. Department of Labor is celebrating Disability Pride Month and the 32nd anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act during a virtual event from 10-10:45 a.m. ET on July 28 featuring Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy Taryn Williams and other department leaders. The event will explore the department’s efforts to deliver on the promise of the ADA through policies and programs for workers and job seekers with disabilities. Registration is now open, CART and ASL interpreters will be available.

• Register for the Disability Pride event

New Webinar Archive! Celebrating Olmstead: How Blending, Braiding, and Sequencing Leads to Integrated Employment

State and local agencies and partners are eager to help people with disabilities enter high-quality jobs and careers. As they support people through their employment journeys, they want to do so in the most effective and efficient way possible. Blending, braiding and sequencing of funding and resources are three strategies that can achieve those goals. This federal interagency webinar, hosted by the LEAD Center, was the second in a series of webinars on blending, braiding and sequencing resources and funding to support employment outcomes, and to promote equity and inclusion for people with disabilities.

• View the archived webinar

Join the Conversation Today on Understanding and Addressing Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID

Over the last week, the U.S. Department of Labor, along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General, have been collecting ideas and comments through an ePolicyWorks national online dialogue on how to better support workers with long COVID and their employers. The online dialogue is part of the federal government’s ongoing commitment to support workers with long COVID, as well as their employers. Now through August 15, employees, employers, national organizations, state and local community groups, and others are invited to join the conversation by adding their own ideas, as well as commenting and voting on the ideas submitted by others.

• Join the “Understanding and Addressing Workplace Challenges Related to Long COVID” national online dialogue

Lessons Learned: Accommodating and Retaining Educators with Disabilities

A recent case study highlights the role workplace accommodations play in retaining teachers with disabilities. The case study features, Dianna Ivey, a teacher at Manchester, VT’s Elementary Middle School. She has been teaching for 20 years and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 14 years ago. Since then, the nature of Dianna’s disability has evolved, as has the education field. A greater understanding of the importance of accommodating educators with disabilities has allowed her to remain at work and be successful, including during a global pandemic, when educators were critically needed.

• Read and learn more about the case study

Join EARN in Celebrating Neurodivergent Employees throughout July

Today, more and more employers are benefiting from recruiting and hiring neurodivergent workers and implementing strategies to support their success once on the job. Throughout July, EARN is sharing resources and information to help employers attract, retain and support neurodivergent employees. Check out EARN’s Neurodiversity Toolkit to learn more about creating a workforce that is inclusive and welcoming to neurodivergent workers. Find information on the business benefits of a neurodiverse workforce, workplace accommodations, mentorship and more.

• Learn more about Neurodiversity in the Workplace

U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Disability Employment Policy
DRIVING CHANGE • CREATING OPPORTUNITY

View this newsletter on our website

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Joe Scarlet with APSE asked that I forward the final report to the court in Oregon about implementation of the Olmstead Agreement in the Lane vs Brown case. It is attached below. 

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Electric Vehicles Charging Stations

The proposed rule indicates that the charging stations have to be compliant with the ADA part 35 and 36 of the DOJ and part 49 of the ADA DOT requirements. Have people follow guidance below for submitting feedback -Anthony

Dear Electric Vehicles (EV) stakeholders,

This email is to make you aware of the opportunity to provide feedback on proposed rules regarding the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula program. NEVI will provide funding to the states to install electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. All stakeholders and interested parties are encouraged to provide feedback to help tailor the proposed rules to create a program that meets the needs of industry, charging providers, and the driving public. More details are provided below.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently announced a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to establish minimum standards and requirements for projects funded under the NEVI Formula Program. The proposed minimum standards will help ensure a national EV charging network that is user-friendly, reliable, accessible to all, and interoperable between different charging companies with similar payment systems, pricing information, and charging speeds. FHWA requests comments on the proposed rule by close of business on August 22, 2022. You can view the NPRM and instructions for submitting comments by clicking the above link or by entering the following URL into your browser: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/06/22/2022-12704/national-electric-vehicle-infrastructure-formula-program.

Please take a moment to review this proposal and submit comments on any aspect of the information provided in the published notice.

Thank you.

Charge Up Kansas

Email: [email protected]
Follow: Twitter / Facebook
Web: ksdotike.org/charge-up-kansas
Kansas Department of Transportation
700 SW Harrison St.
Topeka, KS 66603-3754

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Joe Scarlett request this be forwarded to this list. 

• 2022-06-30-Lane-IR-Final-Report-to-Court.pdf

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