ADA in the News: July 9, 2018

126 Major Businesses Rated “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” Fortune 1000 Corporations are recognized as a part of the 2018 Disability Equality Index (DEI)

Markets Insider

Results from the annual Disability Equality Index reveal 126 companies truly prioritizing the inclusion of people with disabilities and honored as the “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion”. Participants – Fortune 1000 corporations and Am Law 100 – are leaders across twenty-five unique business sectors with a significant global presence of over 7.8 million employees. The full company list can be accessed here: https://disabilityequalityindex.org/top_companies.

Woman alleges age, disability factors in termination from Supervan Service, Freightwatchers

St. Louis Record

A Jefferson County woman alleges her age and disability were factors in her termination from two St. Louis companies.

Kristine Branham filed a complaint on June 29 in the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court against Supervan Service Co. Inc. and Freightwatchers Inc. citing the Family and Medical Leave Act.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on July 11, 2016, she sustained a non-work related injury, a fractured ankle, which required continuing medical care and treatment and intermittent FMLA leave for medical appointments. She was later terminated by the defendants Oct. 12, 2016, the suit states, at the age of 40 and replaced by someone approximately 19 years younger.

The plaintiff holds Supervan Service Co. Inc. and Freightwatchers Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly terminated her due to her age, failed to make reasonable accommodation for her disability and subject her to different terms and conditions of her employment because of her disability.

The plaintiff seeks damages in an amount greater than $25,000 and any further relief as the court deems just and proper. She is represented by Charles R. Wooten of Roberts Wooten & Zimmer LLC in Hillsboro.

St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court case number 1822-CC10654

Assistive Technologies for Visual Impairment Market Strategies, Trend, Overview, Growth | by Leading Players

The Newsman

Technologies for Visual Impairment is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with Visual Impairment and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them.
The medical assistive technologies are the products, equipment or devices that are used to improve or the functional disabilities. The assistive technology devices used by the disabled people can be hardware, software or stand-alone devices. These devices are used to support vocational aids, assistive listening & environmental aids, aids for daily living, visual & learning aids, mobility aids, and others. The medical assistive technologies provide the devices that help to overcome the cognitive difficulties, impairments, in disabled & geriatric population.
The global medical assistive technologies market witnessed tremendous development in the assistive technologies and have evolved both in terms of performance and characteristics. Access to the assistive devices is essential for people (geriatric & disabled) with challenges for a harmonious interaction in the professional, social and community life.

Letter: BMV lacking in accommodations for disabled

Evansville Courier & Press

Why isn't the East Side BMV site more ADA compliant?

While waiting at this site today, I noticed an older female sitting for what seemed like a prolonged period of time without service. I saw her show someone next to her her ticket number, indicate she had a hearing deficit, and overheard her being told her number had been called some time ago.

At which point she walked up to the counter and spoke to the branch manager who advised that she would be called again. When her number was called out shortly, she again couldn't hear it. After waiting about 5 minutes I walked over to her, asked her number and if she had trouble hearing, then went to see the manager at the desk myself.

I advised her of the situation and made it a point to be sure this woman got prompt service. I also inquired why the branch wasn't ADA compliant with "now being served" number signs, not to mention the lack of proper exterior ramps for mobility impaired individuals and was bruskly informed that the branch met all ADA requirements.

Seems odd that the "Handicapped" parking spots in front of the branch have no direct access to a ramp anywhere close to the entrance (it is in front of an insurance agency next door). Could it be that BMV got a sweet deal from the developer and went with the cheapest bidder?

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