Office of Equity and Human Rights: ADA Title II and Disability Equity

Office of Equity and Human Rights: ADA Title II and Disability Equity This page is hosted by The Office of Equity and Human Rights' Disability Program.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted on July 26, 1990, provides protections to individuals with disabilities in the areas of employment, State and local government services, public accommodations, and telecommunications. Title II of the ADA prohibits all state and local governments from discriminating on the basis of disability, but moreover, its goal is to promote equal access and f

ull participation. The City of Portland works to ensure that every program, service, benefit, activity and facility operated or funded by the City of Portland is accessible to people with disabilities. The City strives to eliminate barriers that may prevent persons with disabilities from accessing our facilities or participating in City programs, services and activities. The City’s ADA Title II Program Manager and ADA Title II Policy Analyst are responsible for supporting Portland’s efforts to comply with Title II of the ADA. The ADA Title II Policy Analyst provides technical support around ADA Title II issues and can be reached by phone or email:503-201-4531 or sue.minder@portlandoregon.gov

07/22/2025
07/17/2025

The 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is around the corner! If you’re celebrating online, don’t forget to include alt-text for your images!

05/09/2025

Earlier this year, a PBS production team visited NLS to collect information for a short video documenting how the creation of “talking books” for blind readers in the mid-1930s led to the audiobook revolution in the publishing industry. Tamara Rorie, head of the NLS Patron Engagement Section, was interviewed on camera about the first audiobooks, which were developed by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) in partnership with the Library of Congress. Rorie also talked about the evolution of NLS audiobook formats, from long-playing records to today’s digital downloads, and her own experiences as a lifelong NLS patron. The 6½-minute video, now available on the American Experience | PBS YouTube page, also includes interviews with AFB’s Tony Stephens and Audible’s Diana Dapito. It’s one of short four videos in “The Curb Cut Effect,” an American Experience series that explores how adaptations originally made to improve accessibility for people with disabilities—such as audiobooks, closed captioning and the addition of easy-grip handles to kitchen tools—now are used by, and benefit, everyone.
Links to multiple versions of the video, which include one with extended audio description and one with on-screen ASL interpretation, are in the first comment below.
[Image: The PBS production team with Tamara Rorie at NLS on February 10.]

05/08/2025
05/07/2025

It’s Speech-Language-Hearing Month! Effective communication is an essential part of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA requires public entities (state and local governments) and private entities (businesses and nonprofit organizations that serve the public) to provide auxiliary aids and services to make sure that individuals with speech, hearing and vision disabilities can understand what is said or written and can communicate effectively.

Read our fact sheet on effective communication to learn more: https://adata.org/factsheet/communication

05/02/2025

May 1st marks the start of National Speech-Language-Hearing Month! This year the ADA National Network is collaborating with American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to raise awareness about communication disorders. We will be sharing articles and resources related to making effective communication accessible and achievable for all, all month long!

05/02/2025

Tomorrow night is AAPD's annual National Community Event! This free, virtual event celebrates our community's collective progress and power and uplifts disability culture. It is open to all in the community and allies who care about accessibility and equality.

Join us at 6:30 PM ET to listen to Mychal Threets discuss community, authentic representation and mental health with our Comms Director. Watch the subjects (Patrice and Garry) and director of Hulu documentary Patrice: The Movie discuss disability marriage equality, then watch the film with our free screening link (thanks to the Patrice team for generously providing the link through May 5!). Learn about the work of our incredible Hearne awardees, and how AAPD is working to meet this moment. And do it all safely, from the comfort of home.

Register to join us for free at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-aapd-national-community-event-tickets-1245268554769?aff=oddtdtcreator

We will email you everything you need to tune in. Tickets are free, but donations are appreciated.

Image description in alt-text and comments.

05/01/2025
04/05/2025

The American Foundation for the Blind is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Migel Medal Awards, the highest honor in the blindness field. The Migel Medal is awarded in two distinct categories: Leadership in the Field of Blindness and Low Vision and Leadership Impacting Positive Change to Broader Society.

The deadline to submit nominations is April 30, 2025. Awards will be presented during AFB’s 2025 Leadership Conference.

Know someone whose work deserves this recognition? Nominate them today! Learn more: https://ow.ly/LT4r50VoWAX.

The Disability Program in the Office of Portland Office of Equity and Human Rights is conducting a series of focus group...
04/03/2025

The Disability Program in the Office of Portland Office of Equity and Human Rights is conducting a series of focus groups with Portlanders with disabilities.

Focus groups will be conducted virtually June 1-Sept 1, 2025 and participants will be compensated $125 for their time. Interested in participating? https://tinyurl.com/Disability-Talks

Any questions for or more information, contact: brie.scrivner@portlandoregon.gov

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