Northwest ADA Center

05/14/2026

The U.S. Department of Justice has extended the compliance deadlines for its web accessibility rule for state and local governments (also referred to as public entities) under the ADA.

Public entities serving populations of 50,000 or more now have until April 26, 2027 to comply. Smaller public entities and special district governments have until April 26, 2028.

This rule addresses accessibility of web content and mobile apps, helping ensure people with disabilities can access online services, programs, and information.

Learn more: https://www.ada.gov/resources/2024-03-08-web-rule/

Have questions about the ADA? Contact the Northwest ADA Center at 1-800-949-4232 or nwadactr@uw.edu

The Department of Justice published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on July 20, 2023 explaining how we propose updating the regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to add more specific requirements about web and mobile application accessibility. This fact sheet g...

05/11/2026

We’re sharing an upcoming webinar on accessible pedestrian signals (APS) and the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG).

This session will cover requirements designed to improve access to street crossings for pedestrians who are blind or have low vision, including audible signals, push buttons, and other accessibility features.

While this webinar is hosted by the Great Lakes ADA Center, it’s open to anyone, including folks in the Northwest region.

📅Date: Thursday, May 14th
⏰Time: 11:30am - 1:00pm PT

Learn more and register for free here:https://www.accessibilityonline.org/ADA-Audio/session?id=111218

Real-time captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided.

The Great Lakes ADA Center offers this session as a self-paced webinars.This session has been approved for 1.5 contact hours for AIA HSW and Great Lakes ADA Center’s Certificate of Attendance. Due to the verification process, the criteria to earn Continuing Education credit requires that you view ...

05/07/2026

Planning a camping trip this summer in the Pacific Northwest?

Many state and federal parks offer accessible camping options, including features like accessible campsites, restrooms, cabins, and routes. Availability can vary by location, so it can be helpful to check accessibility details in advance.

A good place to start is the National Park Service accessibility page. It features a map that links to individual national park webpages, where you can find information about accessibility features and services at each location.

Learn more: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/plan-your-visit.htm

Have questions about accessibility under the ADA? The Northwest ADA Center can help provide general information. Call 1-800-949-4232 or email nwadactr@uw.edu

Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

05/04/2026

Did you know?

State and local governments with 50 or more employees are required to designate an ADA Coordinator.

ADA Coordinators help ensure that their organization is meeting ADA requirements. This can include coordinating accommodations, addressing accessibility concerns, and supporting compliance efforts.

Learn more about the role of an ADA Coordinator: https://adata.org/factsheet/ada-coord-role

Have questions about how the ADA applies in your organization? The Northwest ADA Center can help! Call 1-800-949-4232 or email nwadactr@uw.edu

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal civil rights law, protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination when they use or participate in state and local government services, programs, and activities. A government agency covered by Title II is known as a public en...

04/30/2026

When can a business ask about a service animal?

Under the ADA, staff may ask only two questions if the need for the service animal is not obvious:

1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

Staff are not allowed to ask about a person’s disability or request documentation for the service animal.

Learn more about service animals under the ADA: https://nwadacenter.org/factsheet/service-animals-frequently-asked-questions

Have questions about how the ADA applies to a specific situation? The Northwest ADA Center can help! Call 1-800-949-4232 or email nwadactr@uw.edu

NWADAC maintains a fully accessible website with an accessibility statement describing our commitment to accessible web content (specifically the WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 – W3C developed by the Web Accessibility Initiative).

04/28/2026

For over 25 years, the National ADA Symposium has brought together leaders in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and accessibility. We are proud to co-host this year’s on-site event with the Great Plains ADA Center.

Virtual ADA Symposium
May 4-6, 2026

Phoenix in person ADA Symposium
July 19-22, 2026

This premier event brings together federal officials, nationally respected experts, and experienced practitioners to share cutting-edge information, practical guidance, and best practices. Deepen your knowledge, connect with leaders in the field, and stay at the forefront of ADA and disability-related developments.

Learn more and sign up here: https://gpadacenter.org/national-ada-symposium/

04/27/2026

Looking to learn more about the ADA on your own time?

The Northwest ADA Center offers recorded trainings on topics like service animals, healthcare access, and emergency preparedness.

These videos are a great way to explore ADA concepts at your own pace.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/

The intent of the Northwest ADA Center's YouTube channel is to provide educational videos about the Americans with Disabilities Act, disability language & etiquette, accessibility, and other disability-related issues. The Northwest ADA Center has aggressively staffed its project with professionals f...

04/23/2026

Did you know?

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), healthcare providers, businesses, and state and local governments may need to provide communication supports to ensure people with disabilities can access services.

This is called effective communication. Depending on the situation, it could include things like qualified interpreters, captioning, or other supports.

The goal is to make sure communication with people with disabilities is as effective as communication with others.

Learn more: https://www.ada.gov/resources/effective-communication/

Have questions about how this applies in a specific situation? The Northwest ADA Center can help! Call 1-800-949-4232 or email nwadactr@uw.edu

This publication is designed to help title II and title III entities understand how the rules for effective communication apply to them.

04/02/2026

The Northwest ADA Center has released an updated resource on Accessible Parking as a Workplace Accommodation!

This guide explains how accessible parking may be considered a reasonable accommodation under the ADA, including how requests are handled through the interactive process and what employers and employees should consider. It’s a helpful resource for understanding workplace rights and responsibilities related to parking accommodations.

Learn more: https://nwadacenter.org/accessible-parking-employment-accommodation

Have questions about workplace accommodations or the ADA? Contact your regional ADA Center at 1-800-949-4232 for free, confidential guidance.

NWADAC maintains a fully accessible website with an accessibility statement describing our commitment to accessible web content (specifically the WCAG 2.0 and 2.1 – W3C developed by the Web Accessibility Initiative).

07/15/2024

Recruiting Participants for a Research Study!

The Northwest ADA Center is conducting a study on healthcare experiences (good and bad) among people with disabilities who may also experience other forms of discrimination, such as people of color, non-native English speakers, or LGBTQ+ individuals.

We are looking for participants who:
✅ Are 18 years or older
✅ Have a disability
✅ Be a person of color and/or identify as LGBTQ+
✅ Can communicate in English or ASL
✅ Live in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, or Alaska

Participants will join a 1-2 hour focus group online via Zoom. Confidentiality is assured, and participation is voluntary.

Interested or know someone who might be? Please contact Kaitlin Brouillard at nwadaresearch@uw.edu or call 425-633-5127.
Feel free to share this post to help spread the word. Thank you!

05/30/2024

Ask an ADA Professional Questions Free Webinar: Early Childcare and the ADA
Wednesday, July, 10, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific
Children with disabilities under the ADA have a right to equal opportunities in early childcare programs as children without disabilities. Early childcare can include privately run centers, home day care, government-run centers, before and after school care programs, and summer programs. Care workers and providers often play an important role in children’s lives. For this reason, it is important that they understand their role under the ADA regarding the children they serve as well as the parents, guardians, siblings and other members of the public with disabilities that are involved in their services. Please join us for this live Q&A event with ADA professionals from the ADA National Network who will be answering questions related to the ADA rights of children with disabilities and the responsibilities of early childcare providers.
Info & register: https://www.accessibilityonline.org/ADA-Audio/session/?id=111115

The Great Lakes ADA Center offers this session as a self-paced webinars.This session has been approved for 1.5 contact hours for AIA HSW and Great Lakes ADA Center’s Certificate of Attendance. Due to the verification process, the criteria to earn Continuing Education credit requires that you view ...