[Nfb-krafters-korner] OT Mercer County's ADA workshop

[Becky Frankeberger]

Mercer County's ADA workshop to help local arts community comply with
disabilities
guidelines
Published: Wednesday, May 11, 2011
http://www.buckslocalnews.com/articles/2011/05/11/pennington_post/news/doc4d
bd945430934089439166.txt?viewmode=fullstory
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http://www.buckslocalnews.com/articles/2011/05/11/pennington_post/news/doc4d
bd945430934089439166.txt?
 Kurt Osenlund, Pennington Post
On Wednesday, May 18, the Mercer County Cultural & Heritage Commission will
be hosting
an ADA Technical Assistance Workshop, designed to help members of the local
arts
community comply with the terms set forth in the Americans with Disabilities
Act
(ADA). One of three such workshops (the next is slated for fall 2011), the
event
will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. in room 211 of the McDade Administration
Building
at 240 South Broad Street in Trenton.
"Arts organizations that receive funding through state and local governments
need
to make their programming accessible to people with disabilities," says Tom
Shaw,
director of the Mercer County Office of the Disabled. "Thus, this workshop
will benefit
any local arts agency in making its arts programming accessible by providing
information
on how best to include people with disabilities and aging seniors in
cultural events."
Shaw will be the May 18 workshop's keynote speaker, introducing guests to a
program
that will offer an overview of the ADA, information on the New Jersey
Cultural Access
Network Self-Evaluation Survey and Planning Tool, and discussions on the
various
levels of disability. There will be a post-presentation Q&A period, during
which
attending arts organizations and individuals can ask specific questions
about proper
accommodations.
The workshop is open to any official, 501c3-certified non-profit related to
the arts,
but grant recipients are especially urged to attend, as a lack of compliance
could
put their funding at risk. Resource material will be provided on site, and
attendees
will also be given advice and tips on what to do if they've been targeted
for ADA
non-compliance. Those looking to attend are asked to RSVP by Monday, May 6.
"People of all abilities deserve access to the arts, and workshops such as
this go
a long way toward helping our friends in the arts meet ADA standards," says
Mercer
County Executive Brian M. Hughes. "Oftentimes, non-compliance is a result of
simply
not understanding what is required under the law, and we want to make sure
that our
arts community's programming is accessible to all."
For more information, call 609-278-2712, or email
ltramo at mercercounty.org