{"id":2745,"date":"2018-02-17T19:58:37","date_gmt":"2018-02-18T00:58:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/?p=2745"},"modified":"2019-03-23T22:47:42","modified_gmt":"2019-03-24T02:47:42","slug":"accessibility-rollbacks-protect-americans-disabilities-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.suitupmaine.org\/accessibility-rollbacks-protect-americans-disabilities-act\/","title":{"rendered":"ADA ACCESSIBILITY ROLLBACKS: Protect the Americans with Disabilities Act"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A bill that would roll back accessibility rules required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed the House last week–with Rep. Poliquin voting YES–and is headed to the Senate<\/span>. <\/span>Call Poliquin to protest his vote for the bill and contact Sens. Collins and King and tell them to oppose any attempt to bring the bill for a vote. <\/b><\/p>\n

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Health Care, Reproductive Rights & Disability Rights Working Group<\/a> C2A<\/strong><\/p>\n

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THE ISSUE<\/span><\/h4>\n

The <\/span>Americans with Disabilities Act<\/span><\/a> (ADA) is a cornerstone civil rights law enacted in 1990 following <\/span>decades of work<\/span><\/a> by Americans with disabilities and their advocates. House Republicans are now trying to roll back the section of the law that <\/span>requires public spaces be fully accessible<\/span><\/a> to people with disabilities. Last week, Rep. Bruce Poliquin voted YES on\u00a0<\/span>H.R. 620<\/span><\/a>, which allows businesses to delay making their establishments accessible until someone files a written complaint, shifting the burden of enforcing the ADA to people with disabilities. Under the bill, which passed the House and is headed to the Senate, businesses would have six months or longer from the time a complaint is filed to make the necessary adjustments. The <\/span>American Civil Liberties Union<\/span><\/a> says the legislation removes any incentive for a business to proactively ensure that people with disabilities have access. Proponents of the legislation argue that the change is necessary to prevent frivolous lawsuits, but disability advocates say that is just a <\/span>myth<\/span><\/a>. The <\/span>civil rights rollback<\/span><\/a>, which is opposed by more than <\/span>200 disability rights organizations<\/span><\/a>, was passed by the House on a party line vote. <\/span>Rep. Pingree voted against the bill.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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THE ACTION<\/span><\/h4>\n
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  1. Call your senators.<\/strong> Tell Collins and King to oppose any attempt to bring this bill to a vote in the Senate.\u00a0If you have a disability, be sure to tell them how this bill will affect you, or how the ADA\u2019s business accessibility rules help you in your daily life.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Call Reps. Pingree and Poliquin. <\/b>Thank Rep. Pingree for standing up for people with disabilities and tell Poliquin that his vote against the ADA will cost him in November.<\/li>\n
  3. Speak out and spread the word on social media!<\/b> Go to <\/span>Rooted in Rights<\/span><\/a> for shareable videos, printable signs, and other social media tips. When commenting on social media, use the hashtags #StopHR620 #HR620 #HandsOffMyADA #CivilRights #EqualAccess<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    TALKING POINTS<\/span><\/h4>\n