"Too often a man is judged by his physical limitations, but his spirit is overlooked. Just because you can't see doesn't mean you don't have vision. Just because you can't walk doesn't mean you can't go the distance." 

      Musician Stevie Wonder, in a tribute to actor Christopher Reeve

ARE YOU SAVVY ABOUT THE ADA?

How familiar are you with the ways in which the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) promotes access for people with disabilities? Grab a paper and pencil and try your hand at the following multiple choice questions and discover how your knowledge stacks up against this important civil rights legislation guaranteeing access to goods and services for people with disabilities. Then rate yourself - and possibly discover a few more ways to help break down barriers.

1.  When communicating with a person who is hard of hearing, it's important to
     position yourself:

1. Directly facing the person - some hard of hearing people can also lip read
   
   
2. Slightly to the side of the person

2.  Accessible paths of travel for entrance to public buildings should be:

a.  At least one foot wide

b.  At least three feet wide

3.  The ADA defines a person with a disability as: 

1. An individual with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities
   
   
2. A person who has a record of such an impairment
   
   
3. A person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment
   
   
4. All of the above

4.  When a customer who is deaf requests a sign language interpreter so he or
     she can participate in a County public event: 

1. Staff can request a family member or friend to interpret
2. Staff must ask the customer the type of sign language preferred and arrange for an interpreter

5. In parking lots, the required ratio of disabled-accessible parking spots to 
    regular spots is:

a.  At least one accessible spot for every twelve regular parking spaces


b.  At least one accessible spot for every 25 regular parking spaces

6. In parking lots, a van accessible space (eight foot parking space plus an eight 
    foot aisle) is:

a.  Never required

b.  Always required. The first required accessible
     space must be van accessible

7.  Approximately how many feet of space does a person in a wheelchair require
     in order to turn around and reverse direction?

a. One foot

b. Five feet

 8.  To provide effective communication for individuals with hearing or vision
     impairments:

a.  Tell the person that they need to provide their own accommodations

b.  Upon request, provide auxiliary aids and services, such as qualified
     interpreters, assistive listening devices, written materials, braille or
     large print materials, or taped text

9. If a table or countertop is higher than 34 inches, staff may offer the service
    at a lower desk instead:

a. True

b. False

 10. All videotapes produced now by the County must contain:

a. Closed captioning

b. If a video is old and does not have captioning, a sign language
    interpreter can interpret

c. Both of the above

11. Service animals that assist people with disabilities are used:

a. To guide people who are blind, to alert people who are deaf or hard of
    hearing, or to assist wheelchair users

b. Only by people who are blind.

12. If a person enters a public building with a service animal, staff may NOT
      request proof that the service animal is licensed or trained to assist, but
      staff MAY ask if a service animal is required because of a disability:

a. True

b. False

13. County offices can communicate via phone with people who are deaf, hard 
      of hearing or speech impaired by:

a. Using a TTY

b. Using the Maryland Relay Service

c. Either one of the above

14.  A County employee may complete forms for a customer who requests it
       and has:

a.  A visual disability

b.  A cognitive disability that impairs the person's ability to think or
     comprehend

c.  Either a visual or cognitive disability

15.  When developing County Web sites, staff must:

a.  Follow the County's Website accessibility standards and ensure
     that pages can be read aloud by screen reading computer software
     (used by people who are blind) and meet all other accessibility
     guidelines. 

b.  Provide a link to an organization that assists people who are blind
     with Web-related issues

ANSWERS:

1.a;  2.b;  3. d; 4.b;  5.b;  6.a;  7.b;  8.b;  9.a; 10.c; 11.a; 12.a; 13.c; 14.c; 15.a.

 HOW DID YOU DO?

If you answered 11-15 questions correctly, give yourself a pat on the back. You have a very strong grasp of how to comply with the ADA.

If you answered 5-10 questions correctly you show a fast-developing knowledge of the ADA's particular requirements. Keep up the good work!

If you answered 0-4 questions correctly, check out our links below and brush up on this far-reaching law. 

Would you like more information about how Montgomery County is embracing the Americans with Disabilities Act? Visit the ADA section on our Web site or - for specific questions - contact Betsy Luecking at betsy.luecking@montgomerycountymd.gov

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