The Great Lakes ADA and Accessible IT Center provides services and information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) via trainings, publications, and a toll-free telephone line in a six state region comprised of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The Center funds and partners with Steering Committees from each of the states that comprise its service area. The members of the committees represent state and local government agencies, businesses, non-profit service providers, and disability focused organizations in their respective states. Each Steering Committee is engaged in diverse activities and projects to increase knowledge and awareness of the ADA.
Each Steering Committee provides information on its activities through articles featured in the Great Lakes Vine section of The Chronicle. For more information about the ADA contact the Great Lakes ADA Center at (800) 949-4232 (V/TTY) or via our online contact form.
The Illinois ADA Steering Committee has been reorganized and renamed Illinois ADA Project. The new identity for the steering committee reflects its commitment to providing a full range of services to persons with disabilities and entities that have a vested interest in ADA issues. The Illinois ADA Project offers free in-house trainings on the ADA, technical assistance via telephone, and disseminates publications regarding the provisions of the ADA.
ADA Indiana has been a consistent and valued partner of The Center and is the source of many innovative ideas and initiatives designed to promote awareness of the ADA. Recent projects included the creation of a calendar commemorating the 15th anniversary of the ADA and a survey of citizens of Indiana regarding the impact of the ADA.
One of the hallmarks of the Michigan ADA Steering Committee is their active promotion of projects and organizations that promote the ADA through the allocation of mini-grants. A recent mini-grant recipient was the Michigan AgrAbility Project, which assists farmers and agriculture workers with disabilities to create a working environment that is accessible and safe.
ADA Minnesota provides a variety of services and information concerning the ADA: from publications regarding the provisions of the ADA, technical assistance, and the allocation of mini-grants. One of the unique projects funded by a mini-grant from ADA was an accessible Minnesota travel guide.
ADA Ohio has helped foster voluntary compliance of the ADA through the production of publications in partnership with entities such as the Ohio Board of Realtors. They have also co-sponsored a pre-conference seminar on FMLA and ADA issues in conjunction with The Ohio State University's Multiple Perspectives on Disability Conference.
ADA Wisconsin is active in promoting physical accessibility in small towns throughout the State via local Chambers of Commerce. In addition, they are sponsoring a session at the Wisconsin Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) conference focusing on accessible use of the Internet in employment.