In-house Training Schedule

2010 Training Schedule

All In-House Trainings are conducted at our Colorado Springs facility at 3630 Sinton Rd. Ste 103. Sessions are $15 which includes lunch or dinner and appropriate handouts. If you are interested in attending via telephone, please call our office at (800) 949-4232.

*Disability Etiquette 2010 February 11th, 2010 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Candice Brandt - In today’s politically correct world it is difficult to know how to interact and talk to one another, especially if you have never interacted with a person with a disability before. People with disabilities are entitled to the same courtesies you would extend to anyone. What kinds of things should a person be aware of when interacting with a person with a disability? Is there such a thing as being too courteous? In this session, several types of disabilities will be discussed, as well as common issues people with disabilities face today. This is a great session for business owners, customer service representatives, employees, volunteers, and anyone wanting to know how to better relate with a people with disabilities.

Everything you ever wanted to know about service animals but were afraid to ask February 24th, 2010 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM New Date

Cristi Harris - This session is designed for service animal handlers as well as people from the business community and government agencies. The various laws pertaining to service animals will be discussed as well as the upcoming new regulations for Title II and Title III. This training will provide guidance for handlers in self advocacy and will help business and government entities understand their obligations. This is a great opportunity to create a dialog between service animal handlers and the business community. We will answer questions regarding allergies, fear of animals and appropriate interaction with service animals.

*New Tools in Accessible Transit March 11th, 2010 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Geoff Ames, Sandy Lahmann and Cristi Harris - Transit riders with disabilities, transit providers, and service providers are all invited to learn about the ADA requirements for fixed route bus systems and paratransit as we debut three tools newly developed and produced by Meeting the Challenge, Inc. and funded by the Federal Transit Administration. These tools include the results of our 2009 national accessible public transit survey, our riders guide to public transit for people with disabilities, and our ADA transit document portal.

New Tools in Accessible Transit March 31th, 2010 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM New Date

*Your Employment Rights as a Person with a Disability April 15th, 2010 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Chantal Woodyard - Know your employment rights as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Through this training you will be able to identify what makes a person qualified under the ADA. We will discuss everything from interviewing to post-offer medical exams and reasonable accommodations on the job. This session is available only to consumers with disabilities and is provided at no cost.

ADA ABA Guidelines April 21st, 2010 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Rob Gilkerson - During this session, participants will focus on the differences between the current ADA Standards enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice and the proposed ADA/ABA Guidelines, which are similar to ANSI A117.1-2003. The proposed ADA/ABA Guidelines include areas that range from recreational facilities to children’s standards, areas which have not been previously addressed by the current ADA Standards. This session has been postponed.

*Effective Communication & Sign Language Interpreters May 13th, 2010 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Candice Brandt - What does the ADA say about the interpreting industry? Must an entity always provide a sign language interpreter if requested? What do interpreters need to know about the ADA today? How does the ADA interact with state interpreting laws? This training will serve as a good opportunity for sign language interpreting professionals to be up to date with the current ADA amendments. Other professionals with questions about utilizing interpreters are encouraged to attend.

Mental Health & the Workplace May 19th, 2010 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Chantal Woodyard - This training will provide the basic provisions of the ADA involving mental health issues in the workplace. Participants will be able to identify common mental health conditions and their impact in the workplace. Common accommodations for those with mental health disabilities will also be discussed. This forum is a great opportunity for employers to gain valuable resources and materials on this topic.

*Developing Student Leaders in the ADA: Knowledge, Training, and Leadership June 10th, 2010 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Sandy Lahmann with guest co-presenter Joe Cordova - Post-secondary students with disabilities are often misinformed regarding their rights and responsibilities under the ADA. This lack of understanding can lead to problems for the student and their higher education institution. Training the student in the ADA is a first step. However, empowering the student to become an ADA leader will create a climate of empowerment, energy, and cooperation. We encourage post-secondary education, transition, and high school staff members to attend this session.

*ADA Basics July 15th, 2010 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Chantal Woodyard and Cindy Powell - Though the ADA will be 20 years old on July 26th, most people, including people with disabilities, know little or nothing about the ADA. An introductory overview of the five titles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) will be presented.

* SPECIAL EVENT * July 26th, 2010 1:00 - 6:00 pm
ADA 20 Year Celebration & Open House

Join us as we celebrate 20 years since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Come learn more about what services we can offer you! This event is free and open to the public! Participants will enjoy: Food, Drink, Prizes, Networking, Games, ADA Information! Won't you please join us!!

*Transitioning from IDEA to ADA August 12th, 2010 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Sandy Lahmann - Transitioning from high school to post-secondary education can be confusing for students with disabilities and their parents. Significant differences exist between IDEA, which ends upon graduation from high school and transition programs, and the ADA, which applies to post-secondary education. Students, and their parents, are invited to attend this session to learn about their rights under the ADA and to learn self-advocacy strategies.

ADA & Seniors August 18th, 2010 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Pat Going - Often, seniors don't think of themselves as people with disabilities. This session will examine how to educate the increasing number of seniors about the ADA and highlight the more applicable sections of the ADA for the 50+ population. This training will include specific disability/senior etiquette and awareness exercises. Participants will learn more about population projections related to the senior population, relevant ADA issues for seniors, accessible businesses, accommodating aging workers, and disability etiquette.

*Serving Customers with Disabilities September 16th, 2010 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Pat Going and Cindy Powell - People with disabilities comprise the largest minority group in the U.S. The 54 million Americans with disabilities are potential customers for businesses that are accessible. The primary focus of this training will be tips for providing outstanding customer service to people who possess billions of dollars in discretionary spending: people with disabilities.

Register for Serving Customers with Disabilities

Effective Communication September 22nd, 2010 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Cindy Powell - After receiving a request for a sign language interpreter, is it okay to ask a deaf person to bring a friend or family member to interpret? Can I ask a staff member who knows a lot of sign language to interpret? Where can I find an interpreter? Who pays for the interpreter? What does the ADA say about Braille, captioning, large print, telecommunications and other auxiliary aids and services that promote effective communication? This training answers all of those questions and much more.

Register for Effective Communication

*Supervisors Primer – How to interact with your employees with disabilities
October 14th, 2010 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Jana Burke - Designed to address the needs of supervisors, this session provides a brief overview of the ADA employment provisions under Title I, and best employment practices to ensure compliance with the law. Special attention is paid towards accommodating employees with disabilities, confidentiality, and other personnel issues.

Register for Supervisors Primer

HR Strategies for ADA Compliance October 20th 2010 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Jana Burke - This training on the Americans with Disabilities Act is designed specifically for Human Resources professionals. Please note – this session will NOT include an overview of the ADA employment provisions. Instead, we will focus on an in-depth discussion of effective policies, practices, and procedures for ADA and ADAAA compliance. Attendees will leave with resources and tools to make ADA compliance easier and less stressful!

Register for HR Strategies

*ADA Update – Keeping up with the Changes in the ADA
November 11th, 2010 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Candice Brandt - The ADA has now celebrated its 20th anniversary. Since its passage, the ADA has had several changes to provide greater accessibility for people with disabilities. In this session, participants will be given an overview of the ADA & the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 as well as an overview of significant cases that have molded and enforced the law.

Register for ADA Update

Building codes & ADA Standards November 17th, 2010 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Rob Gilkerson - This session will focus on the differences between the current ADA Standards enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice, and ANSI A117.1-2003 which is enforced by local building code officials. Throughout this presentation common errors and mistakes seen in new construction will be reviewed. Numerous examples that appear to be accessible will be discussed. Examples of accessible facilities will also be shared.

Register for Building Codes and ADA Standards

How to conduct a facility audit December 15th, 2010 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Patrick Going, Rob Gilkerson and Geoff Ames - This is a practical “how to” session that will take you through the process of conducting an ADA accessibility audit in an existing facility. Throughout the session, participants will be informed on common ADA accessibility errors and misconceptions. This training is a must-have for anyone responsible for physical barrier removal! FYI: This training is an expanded power point version of the Existing Facility Checklist CD. After the presentation participants will receive hands-on training by completing a quick facility audit of the training facility.

Register for How to Conduct a Facility Audit

* Please note that we have added evening sessions to our schedule.