Announcements:

• Lizzo changes the lyrics of her song ‘Grrrls’ after receiving backlash from disability advocates for using an ableist slur
• We are honored to announce the 2022 recipients of the CDAD Leadership Award.
• Exciting news: the Board of Trustees for the LA Community College District has voted unanimously to not appeal the Payan case to the Supreme Court!
  • Read more about the decision not to appeal
  • Update from AHEAD: Many of you joined us on January 31 for Paul Grossman’s webinar about the potential for serious damage to the ADA in a legal case brought by several blind students against the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD). We are thrilled to report that the Board of Trustees of the LACCD has just unanimously voted to instruct its attorneys NOT to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, ending the threat of irreparable harm to the ADA. AHEAD particularly acknowledges the unflagging efforts of Paul Grossman, whose tireless advocacy to convince the Board to do the right thing undoubtedly made an enormous impact in the result here. We also offer our deepest thanks to the plaintiffs and their attorneys, who worked on this case at the trial court and appeals court. This victory would not have happened without the efforts of all who took action, so thank you to everyone who signed the petition, shared it with others, sent emails, and otherwise told the Board loud and clear that disability rights are not negotiable!

Welcome to CDAD!

The Commission on Disability Access and Design’s vision is a university community free from physical and attitudinal barriers to services, programs and activities through Universal Design.

CDAD works with the university community to create a welcoming, supportive and inclusive university environment. The commission supports and reaffirms NAU’s stated commitment to affirmative action and diversity.

Why Our Work Is Important

The CDAD Leadership Award

The CDAD Leadership Award honors faculty, staff, students, departments, organizations or community members who have made outstanding contributions to the disability community at NAU. Only faculty, staff, and students may make nominations. The awardees are announced and honored at the President’s Annual Diversity Awards Celebration.

Meetings

Come join us for our monthly meetings every second Thursday of the month from 11-12:30 (unless otherwise stated)! For now, all commission meetings will be held in a hybrid format: through Zoom and in-person (location TBD).

Join Zoom Meeting (Meeting ID: 824 4674 9885; Password: 941222)

See Agendas and Minutes

Remaining Fall 2022 Meetings

• Thursday, December 8th, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Spring 2023 Meetings

• TBD

$2.25 Million Fund Available in Justice Department Settlement with Amtrak

The co-chairs of CDAD would like to share the above settlement decision announced by Amtrak. Amtrak is now accepting claims for monetary compensation for people with mobility disabilities who traveled or wanted to travel from or to one of 78 stations and encountered accessibility issues. Claims must be submitted by May 29, 2021. On December 2, 2020, the Department of Justice and Amtrak entered into an agreement that Amtrak will fix its inaccessible stations and pay $2.25 million to victims hurt by inaccessibility at 78 stations. Full press release. 

For more information on the ADA or this settlement, please visit ADA.gov or call the toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301. 

Share your experiences

Inspired to share your story? Please consider contributing to our Disability Experience Story Project. We would love to share your experiences with the entire campus.

A note from your colleagues with hearing loss: Just use a microphone already