The Disability Handbook for the Executive Branch
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The Disability Handbook For The Executive Branch Deval L. Patrick, Governor Massachusetts E M N E S T E E P I E V T Office on Disability Timothy P. Murray, Lt. Governor Q I T E T A P T L R A C E I B 1 Ashburton Place, # 1305 I Mrya Berloff, Director D L A M S V B Boston, MA 02108 Acknowledgements: Every attempt was made to provide a concise and easy to follow guide for staff of Executive Branch Entities to use to ensure all our services, programs and activities are accessible to all our citizens. Creation of this handbook involved the close cooperation of many people. Among them are numerous collaborators and reviewers including: Sandra Borders, Director Massachusetts Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity Patricia Correa, Director, Disability Rights Project Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General Martin S. Ebel, Commissioner Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination Bill Henning, Executive Director Boston Center for Independent Living A. Victoria Mederos, Information Analyst Massachusetts Office on Disability Jonathan O’Dell, Director, Communication Access and Technology Training Services Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Michael Pineault, Deputy Chief Counsel Office of the Governor A special acknowledgement for untold hours spent in developing and compiling this document goes out to: Barbara E. Lybarger, General Counsel Massachusetts Office on Disability Creation of this document would not have taken place without the signing of Executive Order 478. Therefore, a very special thank you for his commitment to the promotion of equal rights and equal opportunity goes out to: Governor Deval L. Patrick E M N E S T E E P I E V T Q I 2 T E T Mass. Office on Disability A P T L R A C E B I D I A L M S V B The Disability Handbook Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: ..................................................................................................................2 I. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................I-1 1. THIS HANDBOOK ..........................................................................................................I-3 2. WHO IS CONSIDERED DISABLED? .............................................................................I-4 3. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ACCESS .................................................................................I-5 4. GETTING STARTED ......................................................................................................I-5 5. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES...................................................................................I-14 6. CONTACTS ..................................................................................................................I-22 II. ACCESSIBILITY AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH...........................................................II-1 1. PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY.........................................................................................II-3 2. CONSIDERATIONS FOR PHYSICAL ACCESS............................................................II-5 3. CONSIDERATIONS FOR COMMUNICATION ACCESS ............................................II-11 4. CONSIDERATIONS FOR INFORMATION ACCESS ..................................................II-17 5. CONSIDERATIONS FOR STAFF ACTIVITIES ...........................................................II-25 6. CONSIDERATIONS FOR SERVICE ANIMAL USERS................................................II-26 7. CONSIDERATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION ..........................................................II-27 8. CONSIDERATIONS FOR SAFETY .............................................................................II-29 9. CONSIDERATIONS FOR CONTRACTING AND ACQUISITIONS..............................II-31 10. CONSIDERATIONS FOR TECHNOLOGY ACCESS ..................................................II-32 11. LICENSING, CERTIFICATION AND TESTING ...........................................................II-33 12. ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS, CRITERIA AND METHODS OF ADMINISTRATION......II-34 III. MEETINGS, DOCUMENTS AND TRAININGS...................................................................III-1 1. EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES AND MEETING ATTENDANCE...........................III-3 2. MEETINGS WITH NON-EXECUTIVE BRANCH ATTENDEES....................................III-4 E M N E S T E E P I E V T Q I T i Mass. Office on Disability E T A P T L R A C E B I D I A L M S V B The Disability Handbook 3. DISSEMINATING NEWS RELEASES, PUBLIC NOTICES, TEXTS, AND OTHER DOCUMENTS ...............................................................................................................III-7 4. HOSTING ACCESSIBLE MEETINGS AND EVENTS...................................................III-8 5. NON-EXECUTIVE BRANCH EVENTS .......................................................................III-11 6. AUDIO-VISUAL MEDIA ..............................................................................................III-12 7. TRAINING ...................................................................................................................III-14 IV. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS....................................... IV-1 1. WHAT ARE ACCOMMODATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS? ...................................... IV-3 2. HOW TO HANDLE REQUESTS AND COMPLAINTS ................................................. IV-4 V. DISABILITY RIGHTS LAWS IN MASSACHUESTTS ........................................................ V-1 1. ABUSE / NEGLECT / TREATMENT CONDITIONS...................................................... V-4 2. ARCHITECTURAL ACCESS ........................................................................................ V-6 2. AUTOMOBILES & TRANSPORTATION....................................................................... V-8 4. DISABILITY COMMISSIONS...................................................................................... V-14 5. EDUCATION ............................................................................................................... V-15 6. EMPLOYMENT ........................................................................................................... V-18 7. EQUAL RIGHTS ......................................................................................................... V-20 7. HATE CRIMES............................................................................................................ V-23 8. HOUSING ................................................................................................................... V-25 9. PUBLIC PLACES & PROGRAMS............................................................................... V-28 10. SERVICE ANIMALS.................................................................................................... V-32 11. TELECOMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY ......................................................... V-34 12. VOTING ...................................................................................................................... V-36 13. WHEELCHAIRS.......................................................................................................... V-38 14. ZONING ...................................................................................................................... V-38 E M N E S T E E P I E V T Q I ii T E T Mass. Office on Disability A P T L R A C E B I D I A L M S V B The Disability Handbook VI. DISABILITY PRIMER ........................................................................................................ VI-1 1. DISABILITY TERMINOLOGY ...................................................................................... VI-3 2. DISABILITY ETIQUETTE............................................................................................. VI-5 3. DISABILITY ACCESS SYMBOLS................................................................................ VI-9 VII. APPENDICES................................................................................................................... VII-1 A. TEXT OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 478...................................................................................... A-1 B. JOINT OPEN MEETING LETTER FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND MOD ........................ B-1 C. STATE ACCESSIBILITY LINKS ........................................................................................... C-1 D. PARTIAL LIST OF CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES................................................ D-1 E. MASSACHUSETTS DISABILITY-BASED STANDARDS FOR EXECUTIVE BRANCH ENTITIES ....... E-1 ARTICLE 1. PURPOSE............................................................................................................. E-1 ARTICLE 2. APPLICABILITY .................................................................................................... E-1 ARTICLE 3. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS..................................................................... E-2 ARTICLE 4. DEFINITIONS........................................................................................................ E-2 ARTICLE 5. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS.................................................................. E-5 ARTICLE 6. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................... E-6 ARTICLE 7. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS.............................................................................. E-11 ARTICLE 8. COMMUNICATIONS..........................................................................................