ADA Resources to Help You Comply With New and Existing Regulations

walodging

ADA Resources to Help You Comply With New and Existing Regulations

GENERAL ADA RESOURCES

POOL/SPA AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

SERVICE ANIMALS

 

Allied member Northwest ADA Center offers free assistance and information to help businesses, organizations and individuals achieve a more disability friendly society. Affiliated with the ADA National Network and the University of Washington, the Center and collaborates with the Center for Technology and Disability Studies and is staffed by experts familiar with disability, rehabilitation, rehab engineering, special education, the built environment, accessibility to buildings and electronic accessibility, civil rights law, and business. Northwest ADA Center’s website has a wealth of information, including:

For more information, please contact WLA allied member:

Conrad Kuehn

Northwest ADA Center
6912 – 220th St. SW, Suite 105
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
800-949-4232
kuehnc@u.washington.edu

In recent years, hoteliers, retailers and restaurant owners have become increasingly likely to be slapped with a “drive by” private lawsuit seeking to profit off the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These lawsuits are not brought patrons, but by individuals who visit the establishment for the express purpose of finding a violation of the ADA and filing suit. These actions, known as “drive-by” lawsuits are on the rise and are costing the hotel, retail and restaurant industries millions of dollars per year. Find out from WLA allied member and WLA Allied Member and Cairncross & Hempelmann Attorney Sandip Soli shares important information about this trend.

For more information, please contact WLA allied member:

Sandip Soli, Attorney
Cairncross & Hempelmann
524 Second Ave., Ste 500
Seattle, WA 98104-2323
206-254-4493

Regulations issued in 1991 following the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) required that public accommodations (which include restaurants, hotels, retail establishments, theaters and concert halls) modify their policies, practices, or procedures to permit the use of a service animal by an individual with a disability. Essentially this means that service animals accompanying persons with disabilities have to be admitted to establishments with policies otherwise excluding pets or other animals. WLA allied member, Fisher & Phillips LLP, shares information on service animals and recent changes to the ADA Accessibility Standards:

Gone To The Dogs: Rules on Service Animals to Become Much Stricter

Act now to save 20% on valuable ADA trainings from AH&LEI, and enjoy a free copy of the article “Tips for Ensuring an Outstanding Guest Experience for Individuals with Disabilities” written by Minh N. Vu and Karen L. Stephenson.

Visit www.ahla.com for additional information on all ADA issues. AH&LA has comprehensive resources, such as Webinars, memos, advisories and other helpful materials for ADA compliance available in the members only section. For more information, contact Kevin Maher, senior vice president for Governmental Affairs, at kmaher@ahla.com or 202-289-3147.

As a benefit of your membership with WLA and AH&LA, order your free copy of Enabling Independence: Service for Guests with Disabilities, distributed by AH&LEI in partnership with Best Western International. Take advantage of this offer while it is available for a limited time only.

This bilingual DVD training program teaches employees how to deliver exceptional service to guests with disabilities. It offers practical guidelines for recognizing a disability, effectively communicating with people with disabilities, offering appropriate accommodations that meet their needs and respectfully assisting them during their stay as well as during emergency situations.

The program includes:

  • 33-minutevideo,presentedinEnglishand Spanish
  • Oneleader’sguideinEnglishfortrainerwithdiscussionquestions,practiceactivities,anaccomplishmentchecklistandanoptional10-question quiz.
  • Onelearner’sguide,companionmaterialinEnglishandSpanishinaside-by-sideformat.(Additionalparticipantcopiescanbepurchased separately.)

To obtain your free copy of Enabling Independence: Service for Guests with Disablilites (limit one per property), please call 1-800-344-4381 and reference offer code BWADA. Please note that this offer may not be redeemed through EI’s online store. The shipping/handling fee of $8.50 is due via credit card upon ordering.

AH&LA’s goal with this complimentary DVD is to generate a greater understanding and awareness throughout our industry on how to better assist our guests with special needs or disabilities.

Make sure to take advantage of this great WLA and AH&LA member benefit. This is just one of many reasons to be a WLA member!