working effectively with persons with disabilities tom sewell men with disabilities representative...

Working Effectively Working Effectively With Persons with Disabilities With Persons with Disabilities

Tom SewellTom SewellMen with Disabilities Men with Disabilities RepresentativeRepresentativeOhioOhio

Cara ClarkCara Clark Women with Disabilities Women with Disabilities RepresentativeRepresentativeIllinoisIllinois

March 2008March 2008

National National Civil Civil Rights Rights CommitteeCommittee

Working Effectively Working Effectively With Persons with DisabilitiesWith Persons with Disabilities

2002 U.S. Census2002 U.S. Census 50 million Americans or 50 million Americans or

18% of population have 18% of population have a disabilitya disability

32 million or 12% - have 32 million or 12% - have a severe disabilitya severe disability


2002 U.S. Census2002 U.S. Census 56% of people ages 21 to 56% of people ages 21 to

64 who had a disability 64 who had a disability were employedwere employed

Similarly, 42% with severe Similarly, 42% with severe disability were employeddisability were employed


2002 U.S. Census2002 U.S. Census Compared with the Compared with the

employment rate of employment rate of 88% having no 88% having no reported disabilityreported disability


NRCS EmploymentNRCS Employment

During FY 2005, 947 or During FY 2005, 947 or 7.16% of NRCS 7.16% of NRCS employees reported employees reported having a disability. having a disability.

The number with targeted The number with targeted disabilities totaled 133 or disabilities totaled 133 or 1.01%, compared to the 1.01%, compared to the Federal benchmark of Federal benchmark of 2.27%.2.27%.


What is a disability?What is a disability? A disability is a physical or A disability is a physical or

mental impairment that mental impairment that substantially limits life’s substantially limits life’s activities.activities.

Life activities- seeing, Life activities- seeing, hearing, speaking, hearing, speaking, walking, working, learning, walking, working, learning, breathing, performing breathing, performing manual tasks and caring manual tasks and caring for oneself. for oneself.


What is a disability?What is a disability? The legal definition also The legal definition also includes people who have a includes people who have a history of such impairments history of such impairments or who are regarded as or who are regarded as having such impairments. having such impairments.


Ensure full access Ensure full access and equal opportunityand equal opportunity

With program deliveryWith program delivery Accessible eventsAccessible events Accessible facilitiesAccessible facilities With technical servicesWith technical services


Identify and remove Identify and remove barriers that limit barriers that limit participation participation

Be Be PROACTIVE-PROACTIVE-Communicate and Communicate and advertise that events, advertise that events, programs, and services programs, and services are accessible are accessible

HOW? Inform / AdvertiseHOW? Inform / Advertise

Plan, offer, & arrange for Plan, offer, & arrange for accessible events.accessible events.

Special accommodations Special accommodations will be made upon request will be made upon request for individuals with for individuals with disabilities.disabilities.

Ask to make request by a Ask to make request by a minimum of 2 full business minimum of 2 full business days prior to the event days prior to the event date.date.

HOW? Inform / AdvertiseHOW? Inform / Advertise

NewsletterNewsletter DisplaysDisplays Event FlyersEvent Flyers Radio Service Radio Service

Announcements Announcements News ArticlesNews Articles Web SiteWeb Site BrochuresBrochures

Making Programs and Events Accessible Making Programs and Events Accessible to Persons with Disabilitiesto Persons with Disabilities

An accessible event includes providing:An accessible event includes providing:

Facilities and/or event sites that are physically Facilities and/or event sites that are physically accessibleaccessible

Interpreting servicesInterpreting services Handouts & materials in alternative formatsHandouts & materials in alternative formats Volunteers or employees to assist those with special Volunteers or employees to assist those with special

needsneeds


Providing facilities and/or Providing facilities and/or event sites that are event sites that are physically accessible.physically accessible. Accessible parking spacesAccessible parking spaces Entrance 36-inch-wide, easy-Entrance 36-inch-wide, easy- opening doors w/ramp opening doors w/ramp Room setups accessible to ensure Room setups accessible to ensure wheelchair users can see program wheelchair users can see program Accessible restroomsAccessible restrooms

http://www.adacompliancereview.com/proddetail.asp?prod=f%5Frestroom%5FISA


Interpreting ServicesInterpreting Services Contact and schedule with Contact and schedule with

local interpreting serviceslocal interpreting services Determine mode of Determine mode of

communicationcommunication - sign language- sign language

- transcriber- transcriber

or Assistive Listening or Assistive Listening DevicesDevices


PresentationsPresentations Use of microphonesUse of microphones Videos/DVDs are Videos/DVDs are

captionedcaptioned Use of easily visible Use of easily visible

slides with large-print slides with large-print copies for handoutscopies for handouts


PresentationsPresentations Handouts in alternatives Handouts in alternatives

format format (i.e. Braille, cassette tape, (i.e. Braille, cassette tape, computer disk, large print).computer disk, large print).

Read all slides out-loud Read all slides out-loud and describe pictures and and describe pictures and graphs.graphs.

Repeat audience Repeat audience questions with responses.questions with responses.


Field DayField Day Use of portable microphonesUse of portable microphones Repeat audience questions Repeat audience questions

with responseswith responses Large cue charts on standLarge cue charts on stand Large print copies as handoutsLarge print copies as handouts CartCart Tractor & wagon with rampTractor & wagon with ramp

Making Programs and Technical Making Programs and Technical Services AccessibleServices Accessible

Home VisitHome Visit Handouts or forms in Handouts or forms in

alternatives formatalternatives format Lap top with pertinent forms Lap top with pertinent forms

& information to view& information to view Digital photosDigital photos Electronic forms with use of Electronic forms with use of

electronic signatureelectronic signature

Making Programs and Technical Making Programs and Technical Services AccessibleServices Accessible

Use of TechnologyUse of Technology Computer CommunicationComputer Communication

- e-mail- e-mail - instant messaging- instant messaging - net meeting- net meeting

Text TelephonesText Telephones -TDDs or TTYs-TDDs or TTYs

Telecommunication relay Telecommunication relay servicesservices -”800” toll free phone # -”800” toll free phone # services are listed in local services are listed in local phone directories phone directories


Use Common SenseUse Common Sense Treat persons with disabilities Treat persons with disabilities

as any other customer. as any other customer. Communicate directly with Communicate directly with

the person.the person. Speak clearly & specifically.Speak clearly & specifically. Offer assistance and how it Offer assistance and how it

should be given.should be given.


Hearing ImpairedHearing Impaired Look directly at the person Look directly at the person

when speaking.when speaking. Speak slowly & clearly.Speak slowly & clearly. When asked to repeat, try When asked to repeat, try

other words.other words. Do not shout, hearing aids Do not shout, hearing aids

make sounds louder, not make sounds louder, not clearer.clearer.

Use pen and paper.Use pen and paper.


Blind or Visually-ImpairedBlind or Visually-Impaired Speak directly to the person Speak directly to the person

using normal tone.using normal tone. Offer assistance - Offer assistance - Be guided by Be guided by

one’s response.one’s response.

Be specific in giving directions.Be specific in giving directions. Walk alongside, slightly ahead, Walk alongside, slightly ahead,

let the person hold your arm.let the person hold your arm.


Mobility ImpairedMobility Impaired Push a wheelchair only Push a wheelchair only

after asking if assistance is after asking if assistance is needed.needed.

Place yourself at eye level, Place yourself at eye level, sit in chair or kneeling.sit in chair or kneeling.

Don’t lean on wheelchair or Don’t lean on wheelchair or other assistive device.other assistive device.


Mental ImpairmentsMental Impairments Speak in a normal voice.Speak in a normal voice. Don’t use complex Don’t use complex

sentences.sentences. Make instructions clear Make instructions clear

and concise.and concise.


Ask questions if Ask questions if you are not sure you are not sure about what to do.about what to do.

State Disability EmphasisState Disability Emphasis Program Manager Program Manager TARGET CenterTARGET Center Local RehabilitationLocal Rehabilitation Services Services

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

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