Access - Disability Rights Arkansas

Sep 16 2020

Disability voters, ASSEMBLE. Tonight on KABF-FM 88.3

Voters with disabilities represent a large, diverse community. Like every other voter, people with disabilities care most about the policies that affect their everyday lives. And perhaps more than any other time in our lifetimes, we can draw a bright line between elections and their implications on our daily lives. Health care, the economy, education, and our civil rights – all of these issues hang in the balance this election season. With fewer than 50 days until Election Day, and with the pandemic still in full force, voters are not only thinking about which candidates they will support, but how they will cast their vote to make sure it counts.

Tune in tonight, Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. We’ll tell you all you need to know about when and how to register to vote; how you can cast your ballot early; how absentee voting works; staying safe (and keeping your cool) on Election Day; and how to make sure your vote is counted.

You can listen live on KABF-FM 88.3, livestream the show at kabf.org, or you can listen anytime on our website – we always post a recording of the show at disabilityrightsAR.org/speak-up-arkansas. Listen in – and MAKE YOUR VOTING PLAN TODAY!

Tonight’s guests include:

Christian Adcock is an advocate with DRA. He has been with us since November of 2013 and has worked in a variety of issue areas for the agency. He is currently focused on voting rights issues and outreach efforts related to the 2020 census.

Loriee Evans is a full-time volunteer for Indivisible Little Rock and Central Arkansas, organizing their work registering, educating and mobilizing voters, and then holding elected officials accountable to those voters. Loriee collaborates with social justice and voting rights advocates in Arkansas to work toward a government that will represent all voters.

Barry Jefferson represents the 10^th District on the Pulaski County Quorum Court. Mr. Jefferson was first elected to the Pulaski County Quorum Court in 2019 and is serving his 1st term as Justice of the Peace. Mr. Jefferson is Managing Partner/ Jefferson Consulting, LLC., in Jacksonville, Arkansas and gives his time to a number of worthy organizations and causes, not least the Jacksonville NAACP.

Susan Inman was Director of Elections for a former Arkansas Secretary of State, former member of the Arkansas State Board of Election Commissioners, founder and first president of the Arkansas County Election Commissions Association. She has volunteered with the US Department of State as an international election observer, observing over a dozen elections in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus and most recently in Ukraine observing their presidential elections in 2019. As a voting rights advocate, Susan volunteers by speaking to groups about voting and the voting process.

SHOW NOTES:

Our guests gave us several websites so that you have all the info you need at your fingertips! Here they are:

vipvoter.org A nonpartisan voter outreach campaign by Indivisible Little Rock and Central Arkansas. Contains information on how and where to register and vote; information on the various races, candidates and issues; and ways to get involved in your community.

#VoteSafeAR is also run by Indivisible LR/Central Arkansas, and is dedicated to helping people obtain and cast an absentee ballot to ensure that you can cast your ballot safely during the pandemic. Find them at vipvoter.org/VoteSafeAR

Already registered? Look up your voter registration at https://www.voterview.ar-nova.org/VoterView to make sure your registration is on file and there are no issues. (You don’t want any surprises on Election Day!)

GoVoteAR.org is another great place to find important information such as registration deadlines; early voting dates and links to your County Clerk’s office to get early voting location; links to request an absentee ballot, and more!

Check out the NAACP-Jacksonville’s website at https://www.naacpjvark.org/ for Get Out the Vote and other election-related activities.

In addition to Presidential, Senate and Congressional races, there are a number of state house seats, judicial races, school board elections, and more up for grabs on Election Day. There are also some important ballot initiatives you’ll want to get smart about before heading to the polls. Check out the VERY excellent resources at https://www.uaex.edu/business-communities/voter-education/ – there you can read up on the candidates, learn more about the ballot initiatives you’re being asked to vote on, and even take a look at the ballot you’ll be completing when you vote. PRO TIP – print it out, study up, mark your choices on your printed ballot, and take it to the polls so you can use it to help you vote.

And last but CERTAINLY not least, your pals here at Disability Rights Arkansas have put together some resources for you, including videos about registering to vote, early voting, voting absentee, AND what to do it you run into a problem at the polls. (Hint: take two phone numbers with you when you vote: your County Clerk’s, and DRA – 800-482-1174). Check it out at DisabilityRightsAR.org/voting-rights.

It’s go time, Arkansas! Make a plan, cast your vote, and let your voice be heard this Election Day! As our guest Susan Inman says, “Vote like your life depends on it – because it DOES.”

Jul 28 2020

Protected classes are still protected during a pandemic

There exists some confusion as to whether a business has the right to deny anyone they choose entry into their business. In fact, a business cannot exclude ANYONE from their business “for any reason.” It is illegal for a business to exclude people for their race, gender, age, disability, etc. These are termed protected classes because the law explicitly protects them from discrimination. Protected classes are STILL protected during a pandemic.

Here’s what the law says: https://k4q.c18.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Right-to-freedom-from-discrimination.pdf

We’re always here to answer your questions! Call us at 800-482-1174 or visit us at disabilityrightsAR.org.

May 14 2020

Small wins for DRA are big wins for people with disabilities

We get a lot of calls here at Disability Rights Arkansas, from people experiencing all kinds of challenges. Some of those challenges are big – they impact a lot of people, and they’re the kinds of stories you read about in the papers. But the majority of our clients don’t need to go to court. They just need someone to listen and help them navigate complicated systems or ensure their voices are heard. A little advocacy can go a long way – and while these stories rarely make the front page, they do change lives for the better.

One of our clients, a PASSE beneficiary, contacted us after the PASSE failed to complete a home ramp installation. The PASSE paid a local business to build the ramp last fall, but the ramp never got built, even though the business had accepted payment. One of our attorneys filed a grievance with the PASSE on behalf of the client. The PASSE, in turn, connected our attorney with a senior investigator from their fraud investigations unit. Together, our attorney and the investigator contacted the local business to get them to start construction on the ramp, but the business refused to begin construction. Finally, the PASSE agreed to pay another local contractor to build the ramp – and he completed the ramp in April of this year.

Recently, another client called seeking help getting accommodations for his job at a grocery store, where he was in charge of the frozen foods section. He has Autism, among other disabilities. He typically worked alone and was the only employee in his department. This kept him busy enough – but then the pandemic hit. Suddenly the inventory increased dramatically, and his stress levels with it. He wanted accommodations so that he could stay mentally healthy and perform his job effectively, but he was afraid that speaking up might be used as an excuse to terminate him. Our attorney explained the laws and the process for requesting accommodations from an employer. We helped him draft an effective letter. He gave that letter to his manager, who was more than happy to grant his accommodation. He starts in a new department next week.

We’re in the business of protecting and advocating for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities. Sometimes that means making sure a client gets a ramp. Or helping someone request accommodations that help him or her stay in a job they love and depend on.

So we celebrate all of our wins. Because when we win, it means that someone with a disability gets something they need to live life on their own terms.

Apr 06 2020

DRA’s resident Seeing Eye dog shares tips for interacting with service animals during COVID-19

Hello Humans! This is Boomer, the resident Seeing Eye dog here at Disability Rights Arkansas! Like most of you, social distancing is affecting my regular work routine. So, I have decided this is the perfect time for me to try my “paw” at blog writing.

As a guide dog, I am responsible for keeping my human, who is blind, safe as she navigates and travels throughout her daily life activities. I’m a lucky dog to get to go everywhere my human goes! In the past few months alone, I have crossed the Golden Gate Bridge in California, played in the snow in the mountains of Colorado, and watched Roger Federer (among many other great tennis stars) play some tennis in Ohio. My regular days see me working at the DRA office, running errands around town, and going for long neighborhood walks. No matter where I’m working, one thing is always guaranteed: I am going to attract attention. Let’s face it… I’m a great looking guy! I love to be admired, but it needs to be from a distance. My work requires a lot of focus and when humans call out to me, whistle, or try to pet me, it can distract me. If I’m distracted, then I could be putting my human and myself in danger. Even when it looks like I am not working, for instance, I often rest quietly at my human’s feet in restaurants and waiting rooms, I am still working while I’m being a good boy. Believe it or not making eye contact and staring at me can make me anxious and cause me to lose focus. It is always best to ignore a working dog when you see one in harness or vest.

It is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic not to try and pet me or otherwise ignore social distancing recommendations. Although animals CANNOT contract COVID-19, if you pet me or touch my harness, you could potentially leave behind germs for my human and her family. Also, while I am trained for many things, I am not trained to maintain a social distance perimeter of six feet. you can help by announcing yourself to my human and she will adjust our positioning accordingly. Please understand that while you may have the best intentions, it is never okay to touch a person who has a disability or their service animal without their express permission. If you would like to offer assistance to a person who is blind or has a different disability, simply ask if you may help in some way. Especially to a person who is blind, it can be scary to be grabbed by a stranger! I love people, but it makes me uncomfortable for this to happen to me or my person! I have dog friends, but when I am working I cannot play with your pet. Even if your pet is on a leash, it prevents me from working safely if I am distracted. A long leash is not a solution for trying to social distance. This can get us all tangled up together!

Human friends, please take care of yourselves in the days and weeks ahead. If you are fortunate to have a furry family member, enjoy the extra time with them! Do your part to “flatten the curve.” If you see a service animal, allow them to do their job. Some of these special animals have partners with underlying health conditions. As cute as we are, your distancing could save our humans!

Much Love,

Boomer

P.S. If you are interested in learning more about Seeing Eye dogs, check out seeingeye.org

Boomer is a dog and therefore doesn’t have email. However, you can email his human with any questions at mhernandez@disabilityrightsar.org.

Apr 06 2020

Linguabee offers free VRI services at COVID-19 test sites

Getting tested for COVID-19 is stressful enough without having to worry about how to communicate with people at the test site. That’s why Linguabee is offering free VRI services to Deaf people at remote test sites where an interpreter would otherwise be unavailable. Please visit the Linguabee website for additional information and instructions: https://www.linguabee.com/covid19

Linguabee’s instructions for Deaf/Hard of Hearing users prior to arrival at testing site:

1.Contact our Care Team

Contact our care team using Live Chat, email, text or call 855-585-5859 and request for VRI services when you need to test for COVID-19.

Include the following information when you reach out to us:

Your full name
When you plan to get tested
Address of the testing site you plan to visit

Download App

In the meantime, download the Whereby app for your mobile phone or tablet. If you are using the desktop, you will need the latest version of Chrome.

3.Test video connection

Our care team will be in touch with you and test the video connection to make sure everything is working. This ensure you are all set without additional stress at the testing site.

Q&A

1. Is this offering extended to residents in all 50 states and 5 territories?

We are providing this service in ASL, anywhere. Just to be clear, it’s only for ASL. If a different sign language is needed, we will not be able to support this.

2. At what point does the offering of free VRI services cease after the COVID-19 test is administered? To clarify, if any follow up visits need occur, at what point does the free VRI service transition into paid service?

We will provide free service at the test site. If they are diagnosed with C19 and directed to a hospital or medical center, that facility is responsible for interpreting services themselves. If needed, we will work with the Deaf consumer as long as they provide contact info and we’ll reach out to the facility to let them know that a Deaf patient is coming and they should schedule for an interpreter with the agency they are working with.

3. Are there hours/days/limitations of this offer?

This is a 24/7 service, however, as you can guess, finding an interpreter at the last minute during the overnight hours may prove to be difficult.