From: cedisabl@sprynet.com
Subject: Documents in accessible format
CE Disabled Services
Lynwood and friends,
My posts regarding accessible information is based on many years of work and 
experience on this issue.  In addition, please know that Gregg Trapp and I 
are 
friends and that in some cases our difference in opinions are the result, in 
part, of the difficulty of access to information. His posting is from the ADA 
regs which change periodically and we do not always have the latest versions. 
With the advent of computers many things like access to information can now 
be 
done thru the computer.  While we are considering this issue, let's not 
forget 
that many people with learning disabilities and those with traumatic brain 
injuries and others also are unable to read print materials.
"Given the intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act, shouldn't these be 
provided in a media convenient for the individual?" Lynwood Gallager's 
original 
comment.
My answer remains, yes, all print materials that are provided to sighted 
should 
be available to us in a format of choice.  To do otherwise is discrimination 
as 
defined by those laws I am familiar with.  I know of local banks that provide 
materials in braille for those that request it. San Diego Gas and 
Electric and Pacific Bell read and answered my braille letter and stated that 
accessible format materials were available on request.  North County Transit 
District (San Diego County, CA) has route and schedule information available 
on 
cassette tape, they also provided me cassettes of the agendas, minutes and 
other 
information for TPAC and board meetings. I have heard of theaters that have 
accessible programs available on request.  MacDonalds has braille menus, as 
do a 
few other local eating places. Check the extract below about Friendly 
Restaurants Department of Justice settlement.  It states they, too, will 
provide 
menus in an accessible format and since this was a DOJ mandate item, I can 
only 
assume that DOJ requires this. My HMO has provided information on cassette 
tape. 
 Many Federal agencies, including DOJ, have materials available in 
alternative 
formats, braille, cassette tape and computer disk. Section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states, "NO otherwise qualified handicapped 
individual in the United States, shall, solely by reason of his handicap, be 
excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to 
discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial 
assistance". Subsequent legislation has reenforced these items. This means 
that 
all State and local govenment entities and those contractors, manufacturers 
service organizations and many others who get money from the federal 
government 
can not discriminate against people with disabilities.  See the extract below 
from the Department of Justice Technical assistance guide that states that 
print 
materials must be provided in an accessible format.  Since the ADA is mostly 
the 
same then this should also apply to the ADA.  California has a "White Cane 
Law" 
and other laws which are very specific regarding discrimination toward those 
who 
are visually impaired or blind.
Sorry to make this so long, but it is an important issue worth our taking the 
time to understand.  Much of our local access to information is due to those 
of 
us advocates asking for alternate formats and educating the business and 
government workers about these laws.  It was not done overnight nor was it 
done 
without indivduals speaking up and insisting on being treated equally.  As to 
the comments about readers, this is an option that should be open to the 
individual.  After many years of seeing the world thru others eyes, I 
personally, prefer to "SEE FOR MYSELF".  Or in this case read it for myself. 
Web Sites:  ADA Document Center   http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu/kinder/
            EASI Internet access  http://www.rit.edu/~easi
            DOJ ADA Home Page     http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm    
  
            Trace Research        http://www.trace.org 
"Source: U.S. Attorney's Office
Friendly's to Make Restaurants Accessible to Customers with Disabilities
Under Settlement with Justice Department, Reports U.S. Attorney's
Office
     BOSTON, May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney General Janet Reno and United 
States Attorney Donald K. Stern announced that The Friendly Ice Cream 
Corporation, one of the nation's largest family restaurant chains, will make 
its 
704 restaurants in 15 states more accessible to diners with disabilities 
under 
an agreement reached today with the Justice Department.  The agreement, filed 
today in federal district court, affects more restaurants than any other 
agreement the Justice Department has ever reached under the Americans with 
Disabilities Act (``ADA''). It sets out the steps the company will take to 
ensure that patrons with disabilities will have full access to Friendly's 
restaurants across the country.
     In addition, Friendly's will: redesign dining areas to accommodate 
wheelchair users; make parking areas accessible and provide accessible routes 
to 
an accessible entrance, including, where necessary, the installation of curb 
cuts; provide an accessible path of travel within the restaurant, which 
includes 
providing detectable warnings for or removing objects, such as coat hooks, 
that 
protrude into the path of travel and present a danger to patrons with vision 
impairments; modify counter heights to make them accessible; make existing 
restrooms accessible or construct accessible unisex restrooms; relocate 
telephones, mirrors, and paper towel dispensers to make them accessible to 
people using wheelchairs; replace inaccessible doorknobs that impede access 
to 
people who have limited manual dexterity; and provide auxiliary aids and 
services, such as menus in an audio format for customers with vision 
impairments 
and helping customers with mobility impairments reach goods in self-service 
areas.
          Department Of Justice
           Civil Rights Division
           Coordination and Review Section
           Washirigion. D.C 20330
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GUIDE
TAG-5-84-3, R3-88
1. Title:
Obtaining Tape Recorded or Braille Transcriptions of Documents for Use by 
Visually-Impaired Persons
3. Background:
In 1978, Congress enacted section 119 of the Rehabilitation, Comprehensive 
services, and Developmental Disabilities Amendments (Pub. L. 95-602, 92 Stat. 
2982), which amended section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 
794) to prohibit discrimination on the basis of handicap in programs or 
activities conducted by Federal Executive agencies.  The Department of 
Justice 
has generally interpreted the amendments to require Federal agencies to take 
appropriate steps to ensure effective communication with visually-impaired 
applicants, participants, personnel from other Federal entities, and members 
of 
the public. Therefore, in order to provide persons with impaired vision 
information as to the existence and location of accessible services, 
activities, 
and facilities, a Federal agencv may find it necessary to tape record or 
transcribe in Braille information concerning its programs or activities. 
If I can provide any information or assitance please contact me.
 
Dr Clyde Shideler
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