Call to Action
Fitness Center Access Issues 2011
Opportunities to Advocate for Inclusion in Fitness and Recreation (continued)
In our November FITT column, we told you about the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) request for comments regarding fitness and recreation. Over the last few months, the DOJ hosted three public hearings and an unlimited opportunity via mail and online submission to gather comments and feedback on questions regarding proposed requirements for accessibility of fitness and recreation. The public comment period for submitting comments on any of the four Advanced Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRMs) published on July 26, 2010, is now closed, but that doesn't mean the chance for your voice to be heard has ended.
Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services issued its Healthy People 2020 objectives (http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/default.aspx), one of which is to increase the health and wellness of persons with disabilities (http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=9). It's an incredible challenge to maintain health and wellness if persons with disabilities do not have access to accessible exercise and fitness equipment, particularly if you are a person who is blind or visually impaired or has a mobility impairment.
Members of the Inclusive Fitness Coalition Health and Fitness Clubs Workgroup are investigating claims regarding access to fitness centers and gym equipment. If you are a member of a fitness center that has multiple facilities or if you have attempted to exercise at a fitness center with multiple facilities, the workgroup would like to hear your experiences. If you are a person with a visual impairment, please call or contact: the law firm of Goldstein, Demchak, Baller, Borgen & Dardarian, tel: 1-800-822-5000, e-mail: info@gdblegal.com, or the Law Office of Lainey Feingold, e-mail: lf@lflegal.com. If you are a person with a mobility impairment, please contact Robbins, Salomon & Patt, Ltd., Andrés J. Gallegos, tel: (312) 456-0381, e-mail: agallegos@rsplaw.com; or Richard Thesing, tel: (650) 269-6889, e-mail: jrthesing@sbcglobal.net.
Please help us to spread the word about this opportunity!
New documents this month:
Not Your Average Yoga Training
http://www.ncpad.org/exercise/fact_sheet.php?sheet=867
The Challenges of Injury and Disability
http://www.ncpad.org/yourwrites/fact_sheet.php?sheet=871
More news you might have missed this past month:
EEOC Reports Job Bias Charges Hit Record High of Nearly 100,000 in Fiscal Year 2010
http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/1-11-11.cfm
Justice Department Reaches Americans with Disabilities Act Settlement with H&R Block
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/January/11-ag-131.html
Fish Bowl Greeting Card Company (Children and adults with disabilities)
http://www.fishbowlcards.com/Default.aspx
Challenge Air Helps Children with Disabilities Soar
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/29/2041412/challenge-air-helps-children-with.html
NEW: An ADA Compliance Guide for Nonprofits
http://www.cct.org/impact/partnerships-initiatives/strengthening-communities/persons-with-disabilities
Autism Speaks Transition Tool Kit
http://www.autismspeaks.org/