Great Lakes ADA Center

Great Lakes ADA Center The Great Lakes ADA Center provides information, guidance & training on the ADA. Great Lakes ADA Center is a member the ADA National Network.

The ADA National Network consists of ten Regional ADA National Network Centers located throughout the United States that provides personalized, local assistance to ensure that the ADA is implemented wherever possible. We are not an enforcement or regulatory agency, but a helpful resource supporting the ADA’s mission to “make it possible for everyone with a disability to live a life of freedom and equality.”

06/04/2026

In what situation is a business owner permitted to ask a handler to remove their service animal if it’s being disruptive?

A decision to exclude a service animal cannot be based on the notion that an animal might threaten the safety of others. It also cannot be based on a business person’s assumptions or bad experiences with other animals. Each service animal must be considered individually.

Check out our FAQ page to learn more: https://adata.org/faq/can-i-exclude-animal-doesnt-really-seem-dangerous-disruptive-my-business

Welcome to Week Five of the Access Countdown campaign! Each week, we are sharing information related to accessibility at...
06/03/2026

Welcome to Week Five of the Access Countdown campaign! Each week, we are sharing information related to accessibility at softball and baseball games.

Did you know that under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), baseball and softball stadiums are required to have wheelchair spaces, companion seats, and designated aisle seats?

When asked about his experience, Ray Petty, who retired from the Great Plains ADA Center in December 2025 as a Capacity Building Coordinator, shared “Most grandstands for local softball and baseball do not have places for viewing from other than grand level. Some football stadiums do have ramp-ups – and at KU (Kansas University), there is an elevator to several levels where there are accessible seats with companion seats.”

Learn more and check out our archived webinars:
Ticketing and Accessible Seating: bit.ly/4uASNZx.
Sporting: The Spectator’s Experience: bit.ly/4dvvKYA.

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is a global set of standards for making websites and digital content accessi...
06/02/2026

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is a global set of standards for making websites and digital content accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.

Today, we want to share a great resource from AAArdvark called “WCAG in Plain English.” It provides easy-to-understand guidance on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), where you can explore different aspects of digital accessibility requirements in plain language.

Learn more: bit.ly/wcag-pe.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform workplace accommodations, but only if it is designed and use...
06/01/2026

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform workplace accommodations, but only if it is designed and used thoughtfully. Job Accommodation Network (JAN) provides a clear explanation of how AI can support job accommodations, improve efficiency, and reduce barriers for employees with disabilities, while also highlighting important considerations related to bias and implementation. bit.ly/4egeGY8.

Every last Sunday of the month, we highlight a topic as part of our Q&A of the Month. This month’s question is: Where ca...
05/31/2026

Every last Sunday of the month, we highlight a topic as part of our Q&A of the Month. This month’s question is:

Where can I use a wheelchair, scooter, powerchair, or other manual mobility aid?

Answer: ADA Titles II and III require that wheelchairs and manually-powered mobility aids be allowed in any covered areas open to pedestrian use, absent a fundamental alteration or direct threat.

Check full answer: bit.ly/may-qna

People with visual impairments, when visiting a restroom, will often need to touch more surfaces than sighted individual...
05/30/2026

People with visual impairments, when visiting a restroom, will often need to touch more surfaces than sighted individuals in order to locate the same facilities.

Tom Babinszki, an accessibility consultant at Even Grounds, has the solution through his project: tactile 3D-printed restroom maps. These maps are mini replicas of a restroom that you can feel—showing miniature versions of the sink, toilet, paper holder, hand dryer, urinals, and doors. Placed next to the ADA restroom sign, they let you preview the layout before entering, so you can navigate independently with minimal contact with surfaces.

Learn more: bit.ly/tactile-maps.

Missed our webinar? You can access our previous webinars in our archive for free! Check out this webinar, titled “What’s...
05/29/2026

Missed our webinar? You can access our previous webinars in our archive for free! Check out this webinar, titled “What’s New with WCAG 2.2?”

This session discussed the most recent recommendations provided by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that address web accessibility. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 builds upon the versions that came before and covers a wide range of recommendations for making web content more accessible to persons with disabilities.

Link to the webinar: bit.ly/3wtCrc9.
Explore other webinars in the archive: bit.ly/3SYAFYC.

Remember to register for our upcoming webinar, "Designing Streets for Everyone: Requirements, Research, and Guidance on ...
05/28/2026

Remember to register for our upcoming webinar, "Designing Streets for Everyone: Requirements, Research, and Guidance on the Use of Tactile Walking Surface Indicators for Pedestrians with Vision Disabilities."

Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026.
Time: 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM Eastern Time Zone.
Registration: bit.ly/4ve4166.
Registration closes one day before the webinar or when it reaches capacity.

Description:
The complexity of the built environment poses numerous and evolving wayfinding and other accessibility challenges for pedestrians with vision disabilities. Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI) are one tool that can be used to improve accessibility and safety within public-rights-of-way. This webinar will cover existing requirements and will then aim to demonstrate the considerable research evidence that supports the recommendations for the design and use of TWSI.

We want to share information about a program from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy,...
05/28/2026

We want to share information about a program from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP).

The program helps students and recent graduates with disabilities explore careers in the Federal Government. College career counselors, disability services staff, and student veteran services staff may register their school to participate in the program. The WRP is free for schools and students.

Learn more: bit.ly/odep-wrp.

Welcome to Week Four of the Access Countdown campaign! Each week, we are sharing information related to accessibility at...
05/27/2026

Welcome to Week Four of the Access Countdown campaign! Each week, we are sharing information related to accessibility at softball and baseball games. The Great Lakes region is home to many major professional baseball teams, including the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox, which are based in Chicago, where the Great Lakes ADA Center is located. We’re excited to continue this campaign over the next few weeks!

Today, we want to discuss about ticketing. Did you know venues are required to sell tickets for accessible seats in the same manner and under the same conditions as all other ticket sales? Venues also cannot charge higher prices for accessible seats than for non-accessible seats in the same seating section.

Learn more:
- ADA Requirements on Ticket Sales: bit.ly/49Rb0ti.

Check out our archived webinars:
- Ticketing and Accessible Seating Under the ADA: bit.ly/3N68x5A.
- Ask an ADA Professional RE: Ticketing and Accessible Seating: bit.ly/4uASNZx.

Address

1640 W Roosevelt Road, Rm 405
Chicago, IL
60608

Telephone

+18009494232

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