News & Events

  • Free Webinar - The Year 2024 in Review

    Thursday, January 23, 2025, 1-2 p.m. ET

    Presenters: Chris Sweet, Technical Assistant and Outreach Specialist Northeast ADA Center, Joe Zesski, Program Manager Northeast ADA Center

    Join us for our Annual Year in Review Webinar! Christopher Sweet and Joe Zesski of the Northeast ADA Center will look back to notable developments related to the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the Northeast ADA Center in 2024. They will share updates on ADA enforcement activities by different federal agencies, new technical assistance materials, and other federal efforts. Chris and Joe will also share what's new at the Northeast ADA and look ahead to some new resources coming in 2025.

    Register our Year in Review webinar


  • Season's Greetings from the Northeast ADA Center!

    From all of us at the Northeast ADA Center at YTI, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season! Visit our YTI holiday ecard!

    Please note that our Cornell offices will be closed from 4:30pm ET Tuesday, December 24, 2024, until 8:30am ET Thursday, January 2, 2025. The Cornell based Northeast ADA Center staff will be unavailable; however, our Technical Assistance email (northeastada@cornell.edu) will operate and be staffed on a limited basis during this time.


  • Free Webinar - Launching the new DisabilityStatistics.org: Get the latest ACS disability estimates with new tools

    Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 1-2:30 p.m. ET

    Presenters: Camille Lee and Bill Erickson

    Join us for the launch of the new and improved DisabilityStatistics.org website from Cornell University, with new functionality and disability estimates from the 2023 American Community Survey (ACS). In this webinar, you will learn:

    • Highlights of the latest ACS disability data and insights into the estimates developed by William Erickson, the researcher who supports DisabilityStatics.org
    • How to use the new interactive maps, charts, tables, and summaries at DisabilityStatistics.org
    • Plans for future development on DisabilityStatistics.org

    Register for the DisabilityStatistics.org webinar


  • Free Webinar – Pacific ADA Center: Effective Communication

    Thursday, December 12, 2024, 3-4 p.m. EST

    Join the Pacific ADA Center for a free virtual lunch and learn webinar on how the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects your rights to effective communication. Learn about the ADA and your civil rights as a person with a disability!

    Register for the Pacific ADA Center webinar

    Free Webinar – Great Lakes ADA Center: Loud and Proud! Maximizing Your Accessibility Info for Guests

    Thursday, December 12, 2024, 2-3:30 p.m. EST

    A cultural institution’s website is often the first point of contact for guests with disabilities. Are the bathrooms accessible? Where are the elevators? Can services like sign language interpretation be requested, and if so, how? Join members of the Cultural Access Collaborative as they examine how to offer practical and sustainable information to guests about your organization’s accessibility. Participants will have the opportunity to ask the speakers questions following the presentation.

    Register for the Great Lakes ADA Center webinar


  • Northeast ADA Center Closed November 28-29

    Please note that on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, the Northeast ADA Center’s technical assistance hotline will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. The hotline will reopen the following Monday, December 2, at 8:30 a.m. We encourage you to explore the resources available on the Northeast ADA Center website.


  • November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and National Epilepsy Awareness Month

    November is National Diabetes Awareness Month! 38 million Americans live with diabetes, a disease that can affect daily life. This November, check out the campaigns to increase awareness around diabetes such as #TheDropSpotted with Beyond Type 1 and “Take Charge of Tomorrow” with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

    November is also National Epilepsy Awareness Month (NEAM)! Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the world, and there are 3.4 million people living with epilepsy in America. The call to action this NEAM is “Share Your Purple Power!”  Learn more about NEAM and what you can do by visiting the Epilepsy Foundation.


  • Veterans and the ADA - Veterans Day, November 11, 2024

    In the United States, Veterans Day is observed on November 11, the anniversary of the World War I armistice in 1918. Veterans Day is a celebration of veterans and a time to honor and thank them for their service and sacrifice for our country. Learn about how the ADA protects veterans with disabilities in the workplace from the ADA National Network.


  • The ADA and Voting Access

    As we cast our ballots this week, it is important to remember how Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) addresses barriers to voting for people with disabilities. The ADA requires all state and local governments to provide accessible programs, services, and activities, including voting! This includes ensuring that entrances have sufficient signage, allowing service animals, and providing appropriate auxiliary aids and services for people with disabilities.

    To learn more about the ADA and voting access, read the Northeast ADA Center article on Voting Access Rights and additional voting resources on NortheastADA.org.


  • Make Halloween Accessible to All!

    Halloween is almost here, and while festivities are full of fun and treats for some, it can be an inaccessible experience for others. To ensure all trick-or-treaters and their families can enjoy the holiday, consider the following:

    1. Is the path to the candy open and accessible? Preferably no stairs.
    2. Are there treat options for dietary restrictions? Maybe add stickers!
    3. Are you aware of the different ways trick-or-treaters may say “trick-or-treat”?
    4. Are you ready to describe or show treats for trick-or-treaters who are blind or deaf?
    5. What Halloween decorations are nearby? Be wary of loud, sudden noises and strobing lights.
    6. Let the neighborhood know that you are making an effort to have an accessible Halloween. To learn more, read this short article on making Halloween accessible.

    Share this Northeast ADA Center Trick-or-Treating Allergy Awareness infographic with your friends and neighbors!


  • The Year 2024 in Review

    January 23, 2025, 1:00-2:00 pm EST

    Join us for our Annual Year in Review Webinar! Christopher Sweet and Joe Zesski of the Northeast ADA Center will look back to notable developments related to the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the Northeast ADA Center in 2024. They will share updates on ADA enforcement activities by different federal agencies, new technical assistance materials, and other federal efforts. Chris and Joe will also share what's new at the Northeast ADA and look ahead to some new resources coming in 2025. Register for our Year in Review webinar

    Presented By: Joe Zesski & Chris Sweet
  • Launching the new DisabilityStatistics.org: Get the latest ACS disability estimates with new tools

    February 26, 2025, 1:00-2:30 pm EST

    Join us for the launch of the new and improved DisabilityStatistics.org website from Cornell University, with new functionality and disability estimates from the 2023 American Community Survey (ACS). In this webinar, you will learn:

    • Highlights of the latest ACS disability data and insights into the estimates developed by William Erickson, the researcher who supports DisabilityStatics.org
    • How to use the new interactive maps, charts, tables, and summaries at DisabilityStatistics.org
    • Plans for future development on DisabilityStatistics.org

    Register for the DisabilityStatistics.org webinar

    Presented By: Camille Lee & Bill Erickson
  • Inclusive Summer Camps - A Review of Key ADA Considerations

    March 25, 2025, 1:00-2:00 pm EST

    Presenter: Jennifer Perry, Access Specialist Northeast ADA Center

    This webinar will review the ADA requirements for summer camps that aid in making camps more inclusive for participants with disabilities. ADA topics discussed will include physical accessibility, reasonable modifications of policies, effective communication, and eligibility criteria. ADA Settlement agreements that address some of these issues will be highlighted as well.

    Register for the Inclusive Camps webinar

    Presented By: Jennifer Perry
  • What is a Disability?

    June 10, 2025, 1:00-2:00 pm EST

    Presenters: Chris Sweet, Technical Assistant and Outreach Specialist Northeast ADA Center, Joe Zesski, Program Manager Northeast ADA Center

    Understanding what disability means under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) can be tricky. People often have their own preconceptions of what disability means or may assume a definition for disability from laws other than the ADA. This webinar explores the definition of disability under the ADA, its interpretation, and where it applies under the law. It also discusses how the ADA’s definition of disability is often different from definitions used by service providers, federal programs, and advocates.

    Register for What is a Disability webinar

    Presented By: Christopher Sweet & Joe Zesski
  • What is the ADA; 35 Years Along

    July 23, 2025, 1:00-2:00 pm EST

    Presenters: Joe Zesski, Program Manager Northeast ADA Center, Chris Sweet, Technical Assistant and Outreach Specialist Northeast ADA Center

    The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark civil rights law that was passed in 1990. It works to ensure equal access and equal opportunity for people with disabilities in the community. This webinar will explore what the ADA is, how it came to be, its impact over the last 35 years, and how it continues to protect the rights of people with disabilities today.

    Register for the What is the ADA webinar

    Presented By: Joe Zesski & Chris Sweet
  • Small Business at Work: Ensuring Inclusion for All

    August 12, 2025, 1:00-2:00 pm EST

    Presenter: Wendy Strobel Gower, Project Director Northeast ADA Center

    When a small business ensures access to both goods and services and commit to inclusive hiring, they can make a huge difference in their communities. This session will introduce a tool that helps to support small business as they seek to welcome community members both as customers and as employees.  Small businesses are required to comply with both Title I and Title III of the ADA, but translating the legal requirements into action can be challenging. To help small business owners understand the law and the benefits of inclusion, we will discuss the ADA and review the tools that can help to improve disability inclusion and promote ADA compliance in your business.

    Register for the Small Business at Work webinar

    Presented By: Wendy Strobel Gower
  • ADA Overview: A Focus on Title I

    September 9, 2025, 1:00-2:15 pm EST

    Presenter: Jeffrey Tamburo, Training and Content Development Specialist, Northeast ADA Center

    This session will present a broad overview of Title I of the ADA, the employment provisions.

    The presentation will last approximately 60 minutes followed by an additional fifteen minutes of Q&A time. One hour of CRC credit available.

    Register for the ADA Overview: A Focus on Title I

    Presented By: Jeffrey Tamburo
  • Disability Disclosure and the Interactive Process

    October 14, 2025, 1:00-2:15 pm EST

    Presenter: Jeffrey Tamburo, Training and Content Development Specialist, Northeast ADA Center

    Can an employer ask a job applicant or employee if they have a disability? How do I best support a job seeker/employee in making the best choice for them when it comes to disclosing a disability? What does the ADA mean by “the interactive process”? A job application invites applicants to “self-identify” as having a disability—what does this mean? This session will not only review what the ADA says about disability disclosure in the workplace, but also the very real human impact of disclosure. The presentation will last approximately 60 minutes followed by an additional fifteen minutes of Q&A time. One hour of CRC credit available.

    Register for the Disability Disclosure and the Interactive Process webinar

    Presented By: Jeffrey Tamburo
  • When the Employer Requests Documentation of Disability: Key Considerations for the Employment Service Professional

    November 18, 2025, 1:00-2:15 pm EST

    Presenter: Jeffrey Tamburo, Training and Content Development Specialist, Northeast ADA Center

    The ADA states that employers may request medical documentation as verification of disability, as long as it is “job related and consistent with business necessity.” What exactly does this mean? What are the guidelines for these requests? Who can provide this information and what should it say?

    The presentation will last approximately 60 minutes followed by an additional fifteen minutes of Q&A time. One hour of CRC credit available.

    Register for the When the Employer Requests Documentation of Disability webinar

    Presented By: Jeffrey Tamburo
  • Is an Accommodation Forever?

    December 9, 2025, 1:00-2:15 pm EST

    Presenter: Jeffrey Tamburo, Training and Content Development Specialist, Northeast ADA Center

    Much focus is given to exploring and implementing reasonable accommodations in the workplace, but it is equally important to continue to monitor accommodations to insure they remain effective over time. This session will explore best practices for the employment service professional to consider in their work with employers and supported employees when monitoring the ongoing effectiveness of workplace accommodations.

    The presentation will last approximately 60 minutes followed by an additional fifteen minutes of Q&A time. One hour of CRC credit available.

    Register for the Is an Accommodation Forever webinar

    Presented By: Jeffrey Tamburo