Message from the Director
What an October!
By Jim DeBeaugrine, Director
Despite the challenges our agency has faced and will continue to face, it is important to reflect on the many positive aspects of how the services we provide make a huge difference in the lives of so many people.
October truly proved to be Disability Employment Awareness Month. It was a fabulous month for highlighting the people we serve in a variety of venues. Throughout this edition of The Champion, we will be highlighting the many events and activities the agency participated in to focus on the abilities of our customers.
Due to an arrangement worked out between APD's Communications Office and the Tallahassee Democrat, the newspaper ran a story every day throughout the month of October in its Business section about a person with a disability who is working. This opportunity allowed potential employers throughout the Big Bend to see the contributions that people with disabilities make to a business's bottom line. Also, success stories were published in other newspapers around the state. This awareness effort will hopefully change attitudes and possibly eliminate stereotypes.
I was very proud of our agency for taking the lead in organizing a recognition event for employers that hire people with disabilities on October 8 in Tallahassee. APD and Vocational Rehabilitation presented six awards to employers from around the state. Governor Charlie Crist attended and told me personally how much he enjoyed participating in this event.
We also received a Cabinet Resolution declaring the month of October as Disability Employment Awareness Month. APD employee Katie Bowman spoke to the Governor and Cabinet on the importance of employment to people who have disabilities.
I was able to serve as the keynote speaker at my alma mater, Florida State University, for its celebration of Disability Awareness Week which was an honor.
I also had the honor of leading the parade for the Fall Festival at Sunland Center in Marianna to cap off a fabulous month.
I am proud to be associated with the people who work for the agency and those to whom we provide services. Thank you for all you do.
Clicking on most photos will open a larger version.
Event Salutes Exceptional Employers
As part of Florida's observance of Disability Employment Awareness Month, APD joined Florida Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and the Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) in presenting the Florida Exceptional Employer Awards. The October 8 event in the Tallahassee City Commission Chambers recognized businesses from across the state that are committed to hiring people with disabilities.
Governor Charlie Crist, Tallahassee Mayor John Marks, APD Director Jim DeBeaugrine, and VR Director Bill Palmer presented the awards to six businesses to recognize their commitment to hiring and retaining people with disabilities and for their willingness to create unique employment opportunities.
The Florida Exceptional Employer Award was presented to representatives of these deserving businesses:
- Baptist Hospital of Pensacola
- Kmart of Florida
- Martin Electronics of Perry
- Micro Systems of Fort Walton Beach
- SunTrust Banks of Florida
- TJ Maxx of Florida
Governor Crist also took the opportunity to present APD customer and Area 2 employee Katie Bowman with the Supported Employee of the Year award on behalf of the Florida Association for Persons in Supported Employment.
"It is so important that persons with disabilities be able to live independently, and workforce opportunities are vital to that independence," Governor Crist said. "I encourage all businesses in the state to make the hiring of these hardworking employees a priority. Together, all of us can create a diverse and dynamic workforce for our communities and for all of Florida."
DeBeaugrine said, "We are excited to recognize businesses that have made a significant commitment to hiring and keeping people with disabilities on their payroll. These workers are extremely reliable and committed to their jobs. We think it just makes good business sense to include employing individuals with disabilities in a company's hiring practices."
Representatives from the Big Bend Business Leadership Network spoke on the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities and the role their organization plays in supporting those hiring choices. The Able Trust and the City of Tallahassee sponsored the recognition.
Disability Mentoring Day Kickoff
By Melanie Mowry EttersHundreds of students from all over Central and North Florida participated in the kickoff of Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) activities in Florida. The opening ceremonies on October 2 included remarks from the Honorary Chairman of DMD 2008, Harris Rosen. Rosen spoke about his humble beginnings and how he was able to build his Orlando area hotel empire.
The keynote speaker was para-olympian Randy Snow. He shared his experience of competing in a wheelchair race where he took the safe route and received a silver medal. His message was to go for what you want and do not take the safe route because he will never know whether he could have gotten the gold.
A career fair and expo filled the majority of the day for the students. Several workshops were offered to help the young people prepare to enter the job market and succeed in the workplace. There were sessions on resume writing and interview techniques, budgeting and financial planning, and the high-tech jobs of the future.
The statewide DMD committee helped organize the event. The Able Trust was a major sponsor.
Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) is a national, broad-based effort to promote work opportunities for students and job seekers who happen to have disabilities. The Agency for Persons with Disabilities joined many other state and local agencies in sponsoring community events throughout Florida (see story below). Students and job seekers were matched with employers for an on-site job shadowing experience in an effort to promote career development through hands-on career exploration, internships, and employment opportunities.
Florida DMD — A Success!
By Jeff SaulichOnce properly kicked off by the official ceremonies in Orlando (see story above), Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) was poised for greatness. When the big day came on October 15, events all over Florida matched mentors with mentees in a variety of creative ways. The accounts that follow from some of APD's area offices are just a few examples of this year's DMD successes.
Area 1 - Pensacola
The Area 1 office was the catalyst for a host of DMD partnerships between supported employment providers and Northwest Florida businesses. Participating providers were Arc Santa Rosa, H.E.R.O.E.S., Work Opportunities, Trio Consulting, and Horizons of Okaloosa County. The businesses that provided mentoring opportunities included the Book Garden, WEAR-TV, Video Game Swap Shop & Computer, County Court Judge, PetSmart, the Mayor's Office of Crestview, Sharing & Caring, Okaloosa County School Board, Southern Management, Publix in Navarre, Hillman Veterinary Clinic, and the JobsPlus Center.
Student Brian Calloway was thrilled to have a mentoring opportunity at WEAR-TV, Channel 3, in Pensacola. He shadowed one of the station's best videographers, received a tutorial in video editing, sat in the control room during a live broadcast, toured the station's new digital studio, and met several on-air personalities.
A Disability Mentoring Day Awards Ceremony was held on October 15, when individuals and mentors were given certificates of appreciation. DMD students were recognized again at the Family Care Council Supported Employment Meeting on October 22. One student presented his person-centered employment plan with a PowerPoint presentation developed with the assistance of Tara Crawford of Trio Consulting. United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Florida coordinated mock interviews with an operations manager for each student at its Transitional Education Center.
Area 3 - Gainesville
The Area 3 office reported that there were 15 mentor locations in Alachua County, with 60 mentees participating. Area 3 staff are quick to thank their DMD partners—Levy Arc, Bradford Arc, and Columbia Arc—for their contributions to the effort's success. One of the most colorful mentor locations was the Greathouse Butterfly Farm in Earlton, FL. Participants were treated to a hands-on tour of the farm, learning about the stages of a butterfly's life. They even fed the butterflies with sponge brushes dipped in Gatorade. Meanwhile, two mentees learned about all phases of the farm's operation.
"I was amazed at the level of interest and desire to assist exhibited by those who were participating in the job shadowing experience," said Renee Cooke, general manager of Greathouse Butterfly Farm. "The experience from our prospective was enlightening, encouraging, uplifting, and definitely beneficial and I am grateful for it."
Area 4 - Jacksonville 
The Area 4 office assisted seven individuals from the Jacksonville area in one-on-one mentorships. The mentoring businesses included CSX, KinderCare, S.A.F.E. Management, Hyatt, and It's a Small World II. Highlights included matching someone with an interest in recreation and football with S.A.F.E. Management, where part of his day was touring the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium!
"Kudos go out to two individuals who went to CSX," said Nancy Hanisch, Area 4 employment coordinator. "Their day started at 8 a.m. and did not end until almost 5 p.m.!"
Hanisch did a bit of extra duty herself. She was interviewed about DMD activities for an article in the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Area 7 - Orlando
Brevard County had two businesses mentor students for Disability Mentoring Day—a Publix supermarket in Port St. John, FL, and the Holiday Inn Cocoa Beach. Eleven students participated, according to the Area 7 office in Orlando. The job shadowing for the students at the Holiday Inn started out with a tour of the facility. The students then went to the kitchen, under Hotel Chef Rich Poirier's guidance, and baked brownies for their luncheon later that day. Participants then joined the maintenance staff for more hands-on training. The day ended with Hotel Manager Kim Armore discussing interviewing tips over a luncheon of pizza and brownies.
At the Port St. John Publix, the day started with a talk with Store Manager Richard Reindeau, followed by job shadowing assignments with Publix staff. The mentees chose working in the bakery and at the seafood counter. They also were trained in shelf stocking, bagging groceries, and cashiering. Reindeau and some of the store staff spoke with the students over a lunch provided by the store.
"All the participants had a great time," said Judy Dunning, Area 7 employment coordinator.
Area 8 - Fort Myers
DMD activities in Area 8 weren't confined to just one day. Representatives of SunTrust Bank came to Cape High School on October 14 to talk about hiring tips for job seekers and the company's online application process, which includes job simulation assessments. On October 15, the Career and Service Center, the engineering firm of Henkels & McCoy, and Goodwill Industries gave presentations on career exploration and resources to students at North High. Guest speaker George Richards of the Office of Statewide Prosecution gave an inspiring keynote address.
During the second half of October, Publix supermarkets hosted four group mentoring events, providing mentees with the opportunity to observe employees performing their jobs behind the scenes. Participants were given an overview of the company's Job Application Kiosk (JAK) system. Each session concluded with a luncheon. On October 23, Goodwill Industries honored students, partners, agencies, and academic leaders involved with the High School High Tech program with an awards ceremony and an overview of the program. Students were presented with DMD participation certificates.
Area 10 - Fort Lauderdale
The Area 10 office held the Broward County DMD event at its offices in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Mentees were given many job shadowing opportunities connected with the office's operations. Lunch was provided by Olive Garden and Red Lobster, and gift bags were presented to all the individuals that participated.
"We had a total of seven people attend the event for the day," said Cora Brown, Area 10 employment and training specialist. "There were individuals from the Center for the Blind in Lighthouse Point and A Loving Heart, an APD group home."
Area 12 - Daytona Beach
On October 8, organizers of the Volusia and Flagler Disability Mentoring Day held a "Meet and Greet" reception at the Daytona State College's Culinary Arts Program Hosseini Building. Agency and community business leaders met with their respective individuals to whom they were assigned to be mentors. Over 100 guests were in attendance. J.R. Harding, Ed.D., chairman of the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged, was the guest speaker. Dr. Harding gave an inspiring speech about overcoming great odds in life's challenges, related to his disability, his successful career, and his happy marriage.
On Disability Mentoring Day, October 15, Felix Prado was mentored by Area 12 Administrator Ed De Bardeleben. Prado, who receives services from APD, spent the day with De Bardeleben and the Area 12 team to learn firsthand about all that the agency is involved with in helping individuals with developmental disabilities. Prado learned about intake eligibility determination, case management, residential licensing and monitoring, provider enrollment, quality assurance, and the coordination of training opportunities for providers. Prado's goal is someday to work in an office like APD. The Area 12 management team presented Prado with a DMD Certificate of Participation. Everyone benefited and enjoyed the day-long event.
Area 14 - Lakeland
Through a collaborative effort between statewide partners and local committees, Polk County had its first Polk County Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) Kickoff at the University of South Florida Technology Building in Lakeland. Partners included the Polk County School Board (PCSB) and the Polk County Business Leadership Network. Publix's headquarters in Lakeland generously hosted a continental breakfast for the October 15 event. Eighty-nine participating students and adult job seekers had the opportunity to be matched with employers for the day for an on-site job shadowing experience.
The Kickoff celebration featured three inspiring speakers. Marilyn Worthington of SunTrust Bank gave a presentation on how the company supports DMD. Carlos Battles, from Abilities of Florida, who is Polk County's local community work incentive coordinator, provided valuable information on Social Security work incentives. Nancy Woolcock, the assistant superintendent of learning support for the PCSB, elaborated on the school board's commitment to Disability Mentoring Day. After the Kickoff ceremony, the PCSB provided transportation for its students to be taken to their mentors.
"On behalf of APD, I would like to thank the Polk County School Board, the Polk County Business Leadership Network, and all those who helped make this day possible," said Jennifer Monje, Area 14 human services program specialist. "It is because of them that we had such great success!"
Suncoast Area - Tampa
Staff members at the Suncoast Area office shared Disability Mentoring Day with four mentees. The participants were assigned to individual staff members and shadowed their workday. APD staff also provided an employment awareness training and community resource list to the mentees to further assist with their employment goals.
"Disability Mentoring Day was a huge success!" said Glorie Singleton, Suncoast's community liaison. "It's a wonderful experience for both staff and our community to gain valuable knowledge and experience."
The Suncoast office also participated in the United Way Day of Caring. APD staff members had an exciting time at the Corporation to Develop Communities (CDC) of Tampa. Staff members collaborated with CDC staff to assist people in the community. It was an opportunity for both organizations to exchange information about the services they provide. As a result, the Suncoast office and CDC joined forces to host a "Dress for Success" event, providing gently used business attire to 57 men and women.
Employment Works on the Treasure Coast
By Peter Karlan
The APD Area 15 office, which serves Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, and Indian River counties, recently participated in a special ceremony to honor individuals in successful employment as part of Disability Employment Awareness Month. Indian River State College (IRSC) and local providers joined APD on October 30 to recognize three individuals in our program for their successful employment endeavors. The ceremony took place at the IRSC campus in Fort Pierce.
The individuals recognized were John Phillips, Loyal Rawlings, and Craig Wallace. Phillips was congratulated by both APD and IRSC for recently marking his 10-year anniversary at Publix of Vero Beach. Rawlings was recognized for developing his own customized employment option, and Wallace was cited for a successful transition from high school to work.
These individuals were honored for their outstanding contributions to their communities and their commitment to becoming more independent. Each APD customer that chooses to work is not only greatly empowered; they also provide a valuable service to their employers. The idea of inclusive employment transcends traditional services that sometimes might not assist individuals to achieve their fullest potential.
Speaking of choosing to work, Wallace did not attend the awards ceremony because he didn't want to take time off from his job!
We should all celebrate the employment accomplishments of the individuals we serve daily, and be glad that we have the opportunity in October to formally recognize them.
Cabinet Recognizes Disability Employment
During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, October 14, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink introduced a Cabinet resolution declaring October as Disability Employment Awareness Month in Florida. Governor Charlie Crist and the members of the Cabinet supported the declaration.
Leaders from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Florida Vocational Rehabilitation, the Division of Blind Services, and the Able Trust were there to accept the resolution. APD Director Jim DeBeaugrine spoke on behalf of the agencies.
State employee Katie Bowman addressed the Governor and Cabinet on the importance of people with disabilities being included in the state's workforce. Bowman works as a receptionist for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities' Area 2 office in Tallahassee.
The theme for the month-long celebration was "Florida's People: Its Talent & Strength."
Search Ends with a Job
When most people get ready to graduate from high school, they start planning for the future. Lawrence Jones is no exception. He spent his final year in school participating in a job training program called Project Search held at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. Project Search trains students with disabilities in a variety of nontraditional jobs including preparing an operating room. In March, Jones was the first of his class to land a permanent position with benefits at the hospital as a respiratory care assistant.
Jones has a highly responsible position delivering oxygen tanks throughout the hospital. He also delivers and stocks supplies on all four floors of the hospital, then recycles the empty boxes. Jones says, "At the beginning I was kind of confused, but was sure I was going to get it." And according to his boss, he definitely gets it.
"He knows everyone in the hospital. When he does his rounds, he is constantly saying 'Hello' to employees and patients," says Assistant Manager Jackie Kelley of the hospital's Respiratory Department. "It is a pleasure to work with Lawrence. He is so eager to help and will do anything you ask. He is so excited about his job and about life."
The hospital employees enjoy Jones' positive attitude. Jones says he knows the key to getting along with co-workers. "I respect them. It's all about respecting everyone." Another important tip Jones shares on success in the workplace is enjoying your job. "I have fun," says Jones.
FSU Celebrates Disability Awareness Week
Students at Florida State University came to the student union to learn more about the inclusion of people with disabilities on their campus during the kickoff of Disability Awareness Week.
About 50 students and other interested people listened to remarks from fellow students with disabilities and FSU officials. The keynote speaker for the event was Agency for Persons with Disabilities Director Jim DeBeaugrine.
DeBeaugrine talked about his experience as a student at FSU and how his best friend was legally blind. DeBeaugrine noted that the young man was his friend first and that DeBeaugrine rarely thought about his friend's visual impairment. The APD director told the group that every person changes the world, but the real question is how. He urged students to demonstrate inclusion and that will help change the world for the better.
FSU also held a Disability Expo with more than a dozen disability organizations displaying information about their services.
APD Continues to Implement Waiver Law
On January 1, 2009, Medicaid waiver recipients will have their cost plans adjusted to reflect their actual spending on services during the prior year. In the 2008 Legislative Session, the Legislature approved an adjustment to individual cost plans to reflect actual dollars spent plus 5 percent or the person's current cost plan, whichever is less.
During November and December, APD will be reviewing cost plans from the state's 2007-08 fiscal year. Many times an APD customer's cost plan is approved for more services than are actually used. The Legislature voted to eliminate the unused services from cost plans as a method to control future spending.
The law—Chapter 393.0661 (6) Florida Statutes (2008)—defines how the process will work and who will or will not be affected.
APD Director Jim DeBeaugrine said, "The re-basing of cost plans should not eliminate any needed services for the people our agency serves. It is a cost containment exercise that will assist the agency in curbing the rapid increase in service requests we see each year. This effort should not have a dramatic effect on any of our customers."
The agency will review the plans of the 31,000 waiver recipients to see if any actual reductions in services will occur as a result of this law. Letters will be mailed to APD customers in November, making them aware of this legislative requirement. The customers adversely affected will have the option to request a fair hearing if they choose.
APD Selects Chief of Staff
Tamara Yang Demko has joined the Agency for Persons with Disabilities as its chief of staff. Demko will also serve as APD's legislative affairs director.
Demko comes to APD from the Department of Health where she was the assistant deputy secretary for health. She also served as the officer of women's health strategy. She began working for the Department of Health in March 2007.
At APD, Demko will lead the agency's legislative office, sharing the agency's needs with members of the House and Senate, in addition to the Governor's Office. She will also assist the agency with meeting legislative requirements. Demko will supervise the Budget and Planning Division including the Data Research and Program Planning offices. She will serve as second in command of the agency.
In March, Governor Charlie Crist appointed Demko as the executive director of the Autism Task Force. She will continue in that role at APD.
Demko has an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and a juris doctorate from Harvard Law School in Cambridge. She is a member of the bar in Florida, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia.
Around the State
Olsen Wins Award
Area 14 Administrator Eric Olsen was the 2008 recipient of the Michael J. Hemingway Public Service Award for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis in Florida. This award was presented to Olsen in September at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis in Bonita Springs. The award recognizes public officials who are having a significant impact in the state of Florida through their support and commitment to behavioral approaches to treatment.
Tacachale Keeps its Customers Satisfied
By Wayne Jespersen
Tacachale's correspondence files are overflowing with positive reviews from satisfied parents and guardians, many sent unsolicited via e-mail and postal mail. The Developmental Disabilities Center in Gainesville received even more positive feedback as a result of its annual Family and Friends of Tacachale Survey this summer.
The replies to the survey almost doubled last year's total, with 230 returned surveys out of a potential 730 compared to a total return last year of 120. This far exceeds industry standards; Tacachale's receipt of more than 30 percent of its surveys is more than three times what is usually considered a good response.
Not only did Tacachale obtain a high response level, the survey's results overwhelmingly gave the center strong support. An average of 92.9 percent responded either with "strongly agree" or "agree" to questions about resident care procedures. In response to the final survey point, "Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of life he/she has at Tacachale," the survey reported a nearly unanimous vote of confidence. 97 percent said they "strongly agree" or "agree," two percent said "just OK," and one percent reported they "don't know."
–Hazel Barnett
As impressive as those numbers are, the written comments that Tacachale has received from parents and guardians put this success in human terms.
"...since my son entered Tacachale in 1990, he is 500 percent better," wrote the parent of a Tacachale resident. "I can say for sure that it is the way Tacachale is run—the staff and the facilities—you have made a difference. My son is a worker at the workshop. Compared to what his ability was before he went there, he is now a miracle. It just goes to show that the direct care and medical care he received over the years contributed to his success."
"My son is very happy at Tacachale and is especially proud that he has a job right there on campus," Hazel Barnett wrote. "This tells me that things are going the way they should for him. Thanks so much!"
"The homes are clean, the food is good—what more could anyone want?" wrote Judith Rutledge. "Most of all, the love and care that the residents receive is what really counts. Thanks to each and every one who takes care of the residents. Keep up the good work!"
As a staff member at Tacachale, I can vouch for the fact that we are always striving to improve residents' care. We are also working to keep the lines of communication open between Tacachale and our families and friends, to maintain the connections that are vital to our success as an APD community.
Sunland Swim Team Wins the Gold
The Sunland Swim Team participated in the State Aquatics Championship held in Vero Beach, October 3-5. Four members of the team qualified to attend and compete in the 25-meter freestyle event. The accomplishments of these athletes were very admirable, as they won three gold medals and one silver medal. Sunland Center in Marianna is proud of its athletes and their commitment to the State Special Olympics program.
Sunland Residents Hit the Trail
Each year, residents of APD's Sunland Center in Marianna look forward to participating in the annual Bonifay Rodeo Trail Ride. 2008 was no exception. The residents enjoyed the opportunity to ride with numerous equestrian participants from the community.
It was a three-day ride in Sunland's famous horse-drawn wagon. The dusty trail ended in Bonifay, FL, where all the riders participated in the Rodeo Day Parade.
Sunland Throws Fall Festival
By Beth BasfordThe grounds of Sunland's Environmental Park were humming on Saturday, October 25, as the Developmental Disabilities Center in Marianna celebrated its 30th Annual Fall Festival.
The day of festivities began with a parade through the park, led by a contingent of dignitaries. APD Director Jim DeBeaugrine and Sunland Superintendent Dr. Tracy Clemmons were joined by State Rep. Marti Coley (R-Marianna), Health and Human Services Coordinator Bob Brown-Barrios representing Governor Crist, APD Chief of Residential and Clinical Supports Becky Maguire, and Jolie LaTourelle-Jones of APD's Bureau of Residential and Clinical Supports.
Following the parade, visitors strolled through the beautifully decorated grounds, where they found over 100 vendors offering a variety of delicious foods and handmade crafts. Three stages throughout the park boasted live entertainment by country, gospel, and contemporary musical groups. Whimsical clowns showed off their skills with artistic balloons, while the Sunland Swingers square-dance team thrilled the crowd with their talents.
Festivalgoers also enjoyed old-fashioned cane grinding and syrup making exhibitions, along with opportunities to ride Sunland's popular horse-drawn wagon throughout the wooded trails that meander around the park.
Sunland's annual Fall Festival draws a crowd of about 3,500 people from Marianna and the surrounding communities. The event offers many excellent opportunities for the community to become better acquainted with Sunland staff, residents, and their families. The Sunland Fall Festival is a team effort and the support the center receives from the community is greatly appreciated.
ADAAA Becomes Law
By Jeff SaulichPresident Bush has signed the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 into law, expanding the definition of disability for people claiming discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It had passed both houses of Congress by voice votes, including a unanimous vote in the Senate.
The ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) was introduced in response to Supreme Court rulings in 1999 and 2002 that individuals who could compensate for their disabilities with medications, medical devices or prosthetics did not qualify for protection under ADA. Due to those rulings, most plaintiffs lost their discrimination claims when they went to trial.
The new act states that the Supreme Court erred by "...eliminating protection for many individuals whom Congress intended to protect..." under the original ADA, which was adopted in 1990. The ADAAA also states, "The definition of disability in this act shall be construed in favor of broad coverage."
The ADAAA will prohibit employers from considering mitigating measures such as medication, prosthetics, and assistive technology, in determining whether an individual has a disability. It will also protect people who experience discrimination based on a perception of impairment, regardless of whether the individual experiences disability.
The legislation was supported by a broad coalition of disability advocates, civil rights groups, and employer trade organizations. The result is a law that represents the interests of employers as well as employees. For example, the ADAAA says that reasonable accommodations are required only for individuals who can demonstrate they have an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, or have a record of such an impairment. Accommodations are not required for an individual who is only regarded as having an impairment.
The ADAAA takes effect on January 1, 2009. For more information on its history, including the complete text of the act, visit: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-3406
Champion Staff
Melanie Mowry Etters - Editor
Jeff Saulich - Photo Editor
Lloyd Harger - Web Development