The U.S. Access Board has released technical bulletins on accessibility to restrooms, bathing facilities, and drinking fountains. This material explains specifications for water closets, toilet compartments, showers, bathtubs, and drinking fountains in the ADA and ABA Accessibility Standards. Each guide clarifies common sources of confusion, answers frequently asked questions, and offers recommendations for best practice. Examples of compliant restrooms and bathing rooms are included to illustrate how various requirements can be met.

These bulletins are the latest installment to the Board's online guide to the ADA and ABA Standards, which currently covers the first five chapters of the standards. The guide also features a series of animations on different topics, including toilet and bathing facilities. The Guide to the ADA Standards addresses design requirements for places of public accommodation, commercial facilities, and state and local government facilities subject to the ADA. The Guide to the ABA Standards covers standards that apply to facilities that are designed, constructed, altered, or leased with federal funds.

The new guidance addresses most of the requirements for plumbing elements and facilities in Chapter 6 of the standards. Bulletins on other requirements of the chapter applicable to lavatories and sinks, washers and dryers, and saunas and steam rooms, will be issued at a later date.

Technical Bulletins on the ADA and ABA Standards (Chapter 6)

• Drinking Fountains  [PDF] [ABA version]
• Toilet Rooms           [PDF] [ABA version]
• Bathing Rooms        [PDF] [ABA version]

For people with disabilities, COVID-19 is especially dangerous.  This short documentary talks about some of issues people with disabilities are facing. Many people feel that legislation has fallen short on helping this vulnerable population. 

Watch the documentary

Meet Ashley.  When she is not busy participating in Special Olympics or dancing with her friends, this vibrant young lady is out self-advocating!  She encourages others to get involved also.  We are so fortunate to have her as a member of the network. 

What’s your story?  Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Ashley is a 24-year old self-advocate diagnosed with PDD-NOS which is on the autism spectrum.  She has a passion for advocacy especially in the area of employment.  She does a lot of public speaking around the state of Wisconsin and has been featured on the TV, the radio and in the newspaper.  She was diagnosed when she was in kindergarten and had to deal with extensive bullying in elementary and middle school.  Ashley says that, “High School was a little better for me in the area of friends.  There was less bullying but it was a huge challenge to fit in and manage the school work”.  For that reason, she understands first-hand the challenges and painful experiences for people with special needs.  She sees the great value in self advocating and leading a self- determined life.  

How are you involved with self-determination? Why did you join the SD Network?

Ashley is on the Board for People with Developmental Disabilities and Executive Committee for People First.   She first learned about self-determination when she attended the JumpStart! Program at Nicolet College.  She took several classes in this program and learned how to advocate for herself. During that time, she started Partners in Policy Making and started developing a network. She indicates that Disability Advocacy Day, in March, and the Self Determination Conference are both great opportunities to meet people who are self advocates and learn more strategies about living a self-determined life.

Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in terms self-determination?

The most exciting thing happening for Ashley right now is the Self-Determination Channel. She says, “I love making the videos and educating our audience.  I encourage everyone to subscribe to this channel.” 

What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined? 

Ashley has several tips to share:  

1. You are going to have people tell you in life that you cannot do something due to your disability....you need to prove them wrong every time.  Anyone can do anything they put their mind to.
2. You own your journey and your limits so, put your best effort in on everything you do.
3. Don’t let your disability define you.  For example, she is not Autism....she is Ashley Mathy. Be proud of who you are.
4. You need to have the dignity to fail which means you are going to fail at some things but its important to get back up and learn from your mistakes.  It’s ok to fail.  

What are some of your hobbies?

Ashley loves to be in Special Olympics in her spare time.  Her favorite sport is track, but she also participates in bowling, bocce, and snow-shoeing.  Also, Ashley love to go horseback riding and takes advantage of every dance she can go to.  She loves to dance with her friends.

 We love hearing the views and opinions of Network members. We need to mention that the views and opinions expressed on this site are those of the person who is sharing them. They do not necessarily reflect InControl Wisconsin or any of our supporters and funders.

For some people with disabilities, social distancing is literally not possible. For people who need physical assistance to complete their basic needs, it's not possible to keep six feet apart from caregivers. This puts them at greater risk of contracting the virus. 

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Working from home has become the new norm for many people. Due to the pandemic, many employers didn't have a choice but to figure out how to let employees work from home. Before the pandemic hit, working from home wasn't an option when people with disabilities asked for it as an accommodation. Now, many are wondering if things will change after the pandemic. The hope is that employers will be more open to letting people work from home. 

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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is pleased to release our informational video about Electronic Visit Verification (EVV). Please share with members, participants, workers, and others who may be interested.

With coronavirus rapidly moving through the country, a federal civil rights agent warns that states may not use discriminatory tactics to decide who will be treated. An investigation was just launched March 28 to be sure states are not basing medical care on disability or other protected classes. Washington's and Alabama's laws dealing with coronavirus medical plans are what caused this investigation.

The fear of a shortage of breathing machines sparked these care rationing plans after Italy allowed doctors to choose who lives and who dies. In the US, it is reminded, we may not base these choices in a discriminatory way.

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The Administration for Community Living recently released Annual Report on Centers for Independent Living is available by clicking here.  The report reflects the more than 236,000 individuals who, in Program Year 2018, benefited from community-based services to live independently in communities across our nation.

The report includes:

- The extent to which CILs receiving funds under Part C (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended) have complied with the standards and assurances in section 725 of the Act;
- The identification of individual CILs in the analysis contained in that information; and
- Results of onsite compliance reviews, identifying individual CILs and other recipients of assistance under Part C.