Welcome ADA Ask the Expert

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WHAT IS THE GREAT LAKES ADA CENTER AND WHAT DO YOU DO?

The DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA Center provides information, materials,

technical assistance and training on the Americans with Disabilities

Act of 1990 (ADA). Topics addressed includes the non-discrimination

requirements in employment, the obligations of state and local

governments and business to ensure that programs, services and

activities are readily accessible to and useable by people with

disabilities. This includes access to the information technology

used by these entities including but not limited to websites,

software, kiosks, etc.

The DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA Center's AIT Initiative, encourages

incorporation of accessible information technology in K-12 and post

secondary school settings. Accessible Information Technology

incorporates the principles of universal design so that people with

a wide range of abilities and disabilities can access information

disseminated electronically.

The DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA Center is a program of the Department of

Disability and Human Development under the College of Applied Health

Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA Center's service area is designated as

Region 5 and is one of ten regional centers funded by the National

Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), a

division of the U.S. Department of Education.

The six states which comprise Region 5 are: Illinois, Indiana,

Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Each state has created an

ADA Steering Committee representing the business community,

government agencies, disability rights groups, and other interested

parties. With the support of the DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA Center,

statewide Steering Committees participate in, enhance, and utilize

local resources, trainings, technical assistance, and conferences,

to support voluntary compliance with the ADA.

HOW CAN I CONTACT THE ADA CENTER WITH A QUESTION?

The DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA Center staffs a toll-free information

line and provides informal guidance on the Americans with

Disabilities Act (ADA) and Accessible Information Technology (AIT).

The Center's Technical Assistance Specialists can answer most

questions you have immediately and will research and return your

call on complex questions if necessary. They may also be able to

provide you with expert referrals for disability issues, which are

not addressed by the ADA. Technical Assistance is available from the

DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA Center Monday - Friday, from 8:00am to 4:30pm

Central Time at 800-949-4232 (V/TTY)

DBTAC: Great Lakes ADA Center

University of Illinois at Chicago

Institute on Disability & Human Development (MC 728)

1640 West Roosevelt Road, Room 405

Chicago, IL 60608

312-413-1407 (V/TTY)

312-413-1856 (Fax)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT http://www.adagreatlakes.org/.