background image
Winter
Winter
2008-09
2008-09
The Post
Polio
S
uppo
rt
Group of
Maine
T
he Post Polio Support
Group of Maine is a
private, nonpro? t 501
[c] (3) organization. We offer
the latest information on the late
effects of polio to more than
seven hundred polio survivors,
their families, and health care
providers throughout Northern
New England and parts of
Canada. Support for our work
comes from donations from
the public and from a grant
furnished by the Pine Tree
Society. For more information,
contact us at:
The Post Polio Support Group of Maine
c/o 674 Hallowell-Litch? eld Road
West Gardiner, Maine 04345
Phone: (207) 724-3784
NOW ON THE WORLWIDE WE
B:
http://www.ppsgm.org
Polio Update
Polio Update
2008 Annual Conference Results
At our Annual Conference September 13, 2008, we had two great speakers who provided
us with a wealth of information about both disability rights and respiratory issues. Here
is a general synopsis of their presentations.
Disability Rights
Attorney Sean Ociepka is from the Disability Rights Center in Augusta, which is an
oversight and advocacy agency for those with disabilities. In Maine, we have three basic
legal provisions or Acts to protect those with disabilities:
1. Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - employment requirements for those dealing with
federal
agencies
2. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 1990, expanded in 1992, and amendments
in
2008
3. Maine Human Rights Act, 1971 and amended in 1973 to include those with
disabilities – administered by the Maine Human Rights Commission
Under Title 1 of the ADA, any business with more than 15 employees can?t discriminate
against those with disabilities, in such areas as hiring, ? ring, or work conditions, and
must provide reasonable accommodations to employees.
Under Title 2, state and local facilities need to make modi? cations to provide equal
access to services, which does not necessarily mean changes to a building. It may
mean providing services somewhere else for those unable to access a public facility.
However, if the facility were built or substantially renovated after 1992, it must now be
fully accessible. Communities need to have written plans and policies in place to make
services available to everyone—even if it means going to a person?s home to provide
those services.
Under Title 3, public accommodations (those businesses that cater to the general public),
must modify policies for those with disabilities, but it is dependent upon the age of the
building and the size of the business. If a building was built prior to 1992, the business
has the duty to remove barriers to accessibility if readily achievable and affordable, but
small businesses having small incomes are not expected to do as much. New buildings
(built after 1992) or substantially renovated older ones must be fully accessible.
In Maine, Attorney Ociepka recommended we contact the Maine Human Rights
Commission (207-624-6050) if we have questions or concerns about disability rights, or
you may contact the Disability Rights Center (207-626-2774) which could determine the
need to ? le a claim with the Maine Human Rights Commission. These services are free
to residents of Maine. Other states have similar agencies, which can usually be found
through a listing of state agencies.
continued on next page
WHAT’S INSIDE
Page
Conference Results ......... 1-2
In The News .....................3
Director Retiring ...............3
David Hersey’s Story .........4
Superfoods ......................4
Some Useful Websites .......5
Thank You to Pine Tree
Society of Maine ...............5
Ten Ways to Take Charge
of Your Own Healthcare .....6
Thank You to Rick Meade ...6
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