The Illinois ADA Project's Conference "Making the ADA Work for Business" will be held on September 12, 2005 from 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. at UBS Tower at 1 North Wacker Drive in Chicago.

The Conference will be targeted toward businesses and Equip for Equality, the Chicagoland Business Leadership Network (CBLN), Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Department of Human Services, and Ability Links have agreed to co-sponsor the Conference.

• Best Practices for Reasonable Accommodations: Low Cost and No Cost Solutions: This session will be a panel discussion regarding cost effective ways to respond to reasonable accommodation requests.
• Website and Computer Accessibility: This seminar will explore the variety of ways that businesses can assure that employees and customers can access necessary information and make purchases using their computers to access the internet. Improved website and computer access results in increased sales.
• ADA Hot Topics: What are the EEOC and the Courts Saying?: Join two nationally recognized ADA Attorneys for an exploration of ADA hot topics such as: Pre-employment testing, leave policies, selecting effective accommodations, and disability harassment.
• Interaction between the ADA and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Employee leave is one of the most complex and common situations that businesses face. This training session will help blaze a trail through the various laws that apply.

The Michigan ADA Steering Committee participated in three celebrations of the 15^th anniversary of the ADA on July 26, 2005. The events were held in Flint, Kalamazoo and Marquette. Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate the spirit of the ADA!

Also on July 26, Steering Committee Co-Chair Curt Hansen participated in a disability awareness training at General Motors Corporation in Detroit. The training was well-received and we look forward to participating in upcoming General Motors trainings.

Coming soon:
Americans with Disabilities Act
How Does the ADA affect your Business?
Thursday, September 8, 2005
8:00-8:30 A.M. Registration
8:30-11:30 A.M. Session
Muskegon Community College
221 S. Quarterline Rd., Muskegon, MI 49442

For more information, please contact:
Dwana Thompson
Phone: (231) 760-1964
Fax: (231) 760-1677
Email: thompsond5@michigan.gov

ADA Ohio is participating in and helping to plan several very interesting upcoming events in Ohio.

• The League of Women Voters of Ohio is holding a series of forums on election reform to discuss concerns about Ohio House Bill 3. The purpose of the forums is to try to reach a consensus on various provisions of the bill, including accessibility for voters with disabilities. Ohio House Bill 3 makes numerous modifications and additions to the statutes contained in the Election Law.
• The Ohio Governor's Council on People with Disabilities will be presenting their annual Employer of the Year award at their annual meeting on August 25, 2005 at the Ohio State House Atrium, Columbus.

Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (ODDC) is planning a conference on "Keys to Housing Options" targeting people with disabilities, their families, and the people who support them. The conference is being planned for October 19-20 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus. In conjunction with this conference, each year ODDC selects an Ohioan to receive its advocacy award. This award honors an outstanding advocate - a person who has worked actively in support of improving the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families. Council created this award in honor of Elsie D. Helsel, a lifetime advocate for people with disabilities.

ADA Wisconsin Partnership was pleased to present "The ABCs of the ADA" on Wednesday, August 10 in Wausau at Northcentral Technical College and again on Thursday, August 11, 2005 at the Crowne Plaza in Madison. A combined total of 185 registrants attended the two conferences. The mix of attendees represented counties, cities, private businesses, non-profit organizations, libraries, design firms and more.

Topics focused on providing overviews of Titles I(Employment), II(Government Agencies) and III(Public Accommodations) of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Sally Conway of the U.S. Department of Justice was to be the featured speaker at both sites, however storms and travel delays kept her from presenting in Wausau. Thankfully, the show went on using our excellent regional and local talent. Robin Jones of the Great Lakes Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center, ADA Wisconsin Partnership members Sandy Popp and Diane Meredith, and Henry Kosarzycki of the Department of Commerce pulled together to present the various topics.

Sally Conway made it to Madison, presented for the full day and was very well received for her wealth of knowledge and easy presentation style. Dennis McBride of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Milwaukee office presented the employment sessions.

The conference was co-sponsored by Great Lakes ADA and Accessible IT Center, WI Department of Health and Family Services, WI Department of Workforce Development Disability Navigator Project, Northcentral Technical College, Wisconsin Paralyzed Veterans Association and UW-Stout, SVRI-Research and Learning Resources.

The ADA Wisconsin Partnership is a statewide coalition of organizations, business groups and government agencies that work together to promote the understanding and implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Partnership is affiliated with the Great Lakes Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (GLDBTAC), located at the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago.