All Means All’s Post

Attention higher education colleagues! The Department of Justice has just unveiled its latest rule on digital accessibility, sparking lots of questions about compliance timelines. Here's the scoop: Most public universities will have a swift two-year window to ensure digital accessibility. However, for institutions catering to smaller audiences (defined below) under 50,000, a slightly more lenient three-year timeframe applies. Wondering if your institution falls under the two or three-year bracket? Let's break it down: 🔹 State universities: Whether flagship, regional or city-based/ named, they're on the two-year track as they are deemed to serve the whole state's population. 🔹 City universities (outside state systems): If their city boasts a population over 50,000, they also have two years to comply. 🔹 Community colleges: Their timeline hinges on the population they serve. Named for a county? It goes off that county's population size. Similarly for cities, with the 50,000 mark as the dividing line. Stay ahead of the curve and ensure your school's digital front door is inclusive for all users. Let's make accessibility a top priority in education and keep your institution compliant! #DigitalAccessibility #HigherEd #DOJ #InclusionMatters #A11y

July is #DisabilityPrideMonth. If you're a young person with cancer, you are protected by the Equality Act (England, Scotland and Wales) or the Disability Discrimination Act (Northern Ireland). That means that your employer or place of education has to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to make sure you’re able to work safely, or learn on an equal footing. You might not feel like you’re disabled, but these laws are in place to help protect you and help you be able to live your life. Your rights at work 💻 If you're working your employer has to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to make sure you’re able to work safely. These can include: - Time off for appointments - Extra breaks - Letting you return gradually (phased return) Your rights in education 📚 If you’re in education, you’re eligible for ‘reasonable adjustments’ to make sure you can access learning on an equal footing. These can include: - Extra time in exams - Speech-to-text software - A note taker Find out more about your rights after cancer 👇 https://lnkd.in/eqpRpfJ9

Disabilities, Vol. 4, Pages 444-458: Strategies for Increasing Accessibility and Equity in Health and Human Service Educational Programs: Protocol for a National, Mixed Methods Study

Urgent! Section 504 regulations are 51 years old and outdated. They do not address digital equality, housing, emotional support animals and other accommodation issues that colleges are experiencing. Along with AHEAD and CAPED I am calling on President Joe Biden; U.S. Department of Education; and Department of Justice - ocr@ed.gov, DPCscheduling@who.eop.gov, and Ask.CRT@usdoj.gov to release updated Section 504 guidance for students NOW!! Please like, share and contact the above departments with the message below, as we would like to have this refreshed during this administration. Thank you. Sample message - I am a member of the Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD), the leading professional membership association for individuals committed to equity for persons with disabilities in higher education. I am writing to demand the immediate release of a Department of Education Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The current regulations, outdated by nearly 50 years, have left significant gaps in access to reasonable accommodations at institutions of higher education. Failure to update these regulations will result in continuing and devastating impacts on students with disabilities. This is especially important to [our community at NAME OF INSTITUTION / OR “to me in work”] because [ADD SHORT DESCRIPTION OF HOW THESE CHANGES WILL HELP YOU DIRECTLY

We are deeply concerned about the new Better and Fairer Schools Agreement 2025-2034, which overlooks the needs of students with disability.   The Agreement, which the Australian government released details about yesterday, fails to address key recommendations made by CYDA in August last year.   It is slated to replace the current National School Reform Agreement from January 1, 2025, but is still awaiting state and territory sign-on. “This Agreement would essentially sideline an entire cohort of children and young people who deserve equal access to quality education,” said CYDA CEO Skye Kakoschke-Moore.    Check out our full statement here: https://lnkd.in/gtvsWEv2 #InclusiveEducation #StartingTogetherStayingTogether ID: Light green and white text on a dark green background reads "New Education Agreement continues trend of exclusion of students with disability. Read full release via the link." A graphic of a hand holding a loudspeaker sits top right. The CYDA web address cyda.org.au and logo run along the bottom of the image.

As we honor National Disability Pride Month, we want to recognize the PA students, faculty, and staff representing diverse abilities. These individuals exemplify strength, determination, and the drive to make a difference in healthcare and PA education. Notable data from 2022 among graduating students: • 2.4% expressed dissatisfaction with their program's student success center/ADA office • 29.4% expressed satisfaction • 21.1% felt neutral, suggesting room for improvement in communication and accessibility • 2.2% reported that their programs do not offer these vital resources, emphasizing the urgent need for inclusivity and accessibility in educational settings • 44.9% reported that while their programs offer support, they've never utilized it, highlighting potential barriers to engagement that merit exploration and resolution We are reminded of the progress we’ve made and the work still to be done. We reaffirm PA education’s ongoing journey toward full accessibility and support. This month is a time to reflect, celebrate, and advocate. #NationalDisabilityPrideMonth #PAeducation

Got this email from the Office of Civil Rights. Keep going! Make it be heard! Section 504 regulations are 51 years old and outdated. They do not address digital equality, housing, emotional support animals and other accommodation issues that colleges are experiencing. Along with AHEAD and CAPED I am calling on President Joe Biden; U.S. Department of Education; and Department of Justice - ocr@ed.gov, DPCscheduling@who.eop.gov, and Ask.CRT@usdoj.gov to release updated Section 504 guidance for students NOW!! Please like, share and contact the above departments with the message below, as we would like to have this refreshed during this administration. Thank you. Sample message - I am a member of the Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD), the leading professional membership association for individuals committed to equity for persons with disabilities in higher education. I am writing to demand the immediate release of a Department of Education Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The current regulations, outdated by nearly 50 years, have left significant gaps in access to reasonable accommodations at institutions of higher education. Failure to update these regulations will result in continuing and devastating impacts on students with disabilities. This is especially important to [our community at NAME OF INSTITUTION / OR “to me in work”] because [ADD SHORT DESCRIPTION OF HOW THESE CHANGES WILL HELP YOU DIRECTLY

📢 Important Reports Released by New Brunswick Child and Youth Advocate 📢 Today, I want to highlight two critical reports released by Kelly Lamrock, Q.C., @New Brunswick's Child and Youth Advocate, which call for significant reforms in our education system: 1. A Policy of Giving Up: How New Brunswick Schools Illegally Stopped Educating Hundreds of Students and Why the Government Must Protect Vulnerable Children 🔹This report exposes how partial day school programs are unlawfully denying education to hundreds of students, disproportionately affecting children with disabilities and those from vulnerable backgrounds. It urges the government to take immediate action to protect the rights of these children and ensure they receive the education they deserve. 2. Legal Guidance Memorandum: The Rights of Students with Disabilities in the Context of Inclusive Education 🔹This memorandum provides a comprehensive guide on the rights of students with disabilities, emphasizing the legal obligation to provide inclusive education. It offers practical steps and policy recommendations to ensure that schools comply with their duty to accommodate and support all students effectively. These reports are a wake-up call for policymakers, educators, and advocates to address the systemic issues in our education system and uphold the rights of every student. I encourage everyone to read and share these important documents. - - - #InclusiveEducation #ChildAdvocacy

The U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has released the annual IDEA state determinations for 2024. Michigan has once again been designated as "Needs Assistance" for two or more consecutive years. https://lnkd.in/g9CrJ_Jv Just 6 states have received a “Meets Requirements” rating each of the past 11 years (2014-2024): KS, MA, MN, MO, PA, WI. Other than in 2018, when Michigan dropped to the "Needs Intervention" rating, the state determination has never moved out of the "Needs Assistance" rating since the Results Driven Accountability system was implemented in 2014. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires the U.S. Dept. of Education to annually assign every state a “rating” on its implementation of IDEA, based on the state’s performance on its State Performance Plan (SPP). The 2024 determinations are based on performance for FY 2022. Each state is assigned one of the following ratings: – Meets requirements and purposes of the IDEA Part B – Needs assistance in implementing the requirements of IDEA Part B – Needs intervention in implementing the requirements of IDEA Part B – Needs substantial intervention in implementing the requirements of IDEA Part B Read more from The Advocacy Institute on How the States Stack Up: 2024 IDEA State Determinations: https://lnkd.in/gMedb8TV #IDEA #SpecialEducation #StateDeterminations

I believe that everyone, including individuals with disabilities, deserves access to safe, accessible, and equal education because it empowers each person to contribute to a more inclusive society. Let's champion #educationday together. Why do you believe everyone deserves access to safe, accessible, and equal education? Find out more about Social Development Direct Equal Education work here: https://lnkd.in/eQCEqJqc