“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write,
but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
-Alvin Toffler
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
April is Autism Acceptance Month!
Pacific ADA Updates, April 2024
April is Autism Acceptance Month! There are many benefits to hiring
neurodivergent people. More and more companies are now looking to add
autistic people to their workforce because of their unique
perspectives. The facts don’t lie: from better financial performance
and increased productivity to improved company culture, hiring
neurodivergent people is good for everyone!
The
following resources provide helpful information on hiring and
supporting employees on the autism spectrum:
As
always, reach out to us if you need help! Many individuals with a
diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are protected under the ADA. If you have
any questions about these resources or any other ADA-related
inquiries, please contact
us. The Pacific
ADA Center's website is also full of up-to-date,
useful information and resources.
Supporting employees with Long COVID: a guide
for employers - An Office of Disability Employment Policy
(ODEP) news brief shared helpful information for employers about how
to support and accommodate workers dealing with Long COVID. It also
talks about the impact of Long COVID on employment, especially for
those from underserved communities. The news brief includes stories
from people with Long COVID, a list of symptoms, and advice for
dealing with challenges in the workplace related to Long COVID.
EEOC releases two reports on the federal
workforce and disabilities - One report focuses on the
impact of telework on the Personal Assistance Services (PAS), and how
agencies changed their PAS programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The
other report looks at how government agencies hire people using
Schedule A, and what's working well. Schedule A lets federal agencies
hire people with certain disabilities without needing them to go
through the usual competitive hiring process.
Share ideas about disability inclusion in very
small businesses –
The Department of Labor (DOL) wants to hear from people about how to
support small businesses owned by individuals with disabilities, or
that plan to hire or have workers with disabilities. They're asking
for ideas on how to support the success of small businesses and
improve job opportunities for people with disabilities.
How we can make AI less biased against disabled
people – The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is
increasing, but we aren’t fully addressing AI bias. This can lead to
discrimination against marginalized groups like people with
disabilities. Some people think we need new laws to fix this problem.
Others think we need to have neutral third parties check the AI for
bias.
FCC wants feedback on ASL and multilingual
emergency alerts - The Federal Communications Commission’s
new rules say that wireless providers must put out certain emergency
alerts in 13 of the most commonly spoken languages in the US, as well
as in American Sign Language (ASL). Now the FCC is asking people to
share their thoughts on 18 different emergency message examples in
these languages and ASL.
ADA charges based on neurodiversity continue to
rise - The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
says that the percentage of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
charges based on neurodiversity-related conditions has been
increasing since 2016. Experts think it is because more people
understand what neurodiversity is and are asking for accommodations.
Accessibility devices to make solar eclipse an
inclusive experience – Accessibility advocates are working
together to make sure that eclipse events are inclusive and
accessible to people with vision and hearing disabilities. Resources
and specially designed materials and technology are available to make
sure that everyone can experience the eclipse together.
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