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FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Legislation

National

Advocacy

• Where can I locate a disability advocate or obtain free legal services?
• Where can I obtain information on disability rights and rights advocacy?

Government

• How do I find out about government programs?

Legislation and Rights

• I was denied public accommodation at an establishment. What can I do?
• I was denied access to a government program. A government building did not have access for the disabled. What can I do?
• What is the U.S. Department of Justice Mediation Program?

Representatives

• I would like to contact my state representative to the U.S. Congress. Where can I locate contact information?

Voting

• I encountered difficulty when I went to vote. What can I do?

State Listings

Wisconsin

• Are there any organizations in Wisconsin that have experience working with the ADA?
• How do I find out about government programs in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
• I would like to contact my state senate and assembly representative. Where can I locate contact information?
• I would like to write to my legislators but do not know how to get their attention about the issues I am facing.

National

Advocacy

Q: Where can I locate a disability advocate or obtain free legal services?

• A: Each state has a federally mandated protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities. While each state system may offer varied services, all of them offer four core programs including Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI), serving individuals with mental illness who live in 24 hour care or treatment facilities, Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PADD), Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights, serving individuals with disabilities who are ineligible under the PAIMI and PADD programs, Client Assistance Program (CAP), serving clients of Vocational Rehabilitation, as well as Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PATT).
  

To find your state's protection and advocacy system, visit:
New Horizons Un-Limited: Legislation: Advocacy
National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems, Inc.

Q: Where can I obtain information on disability rights and rights advocacy?

• A: Disability Rights Activist brings together much information that can enable individuals to advocate for their rights. Their website discusses ways in which one can advocate more effectively offering information on how to organize and hold press conferences, how to raise funds, how to educate, and how one can strengthen their communications with politicians and the media.

• A: Justice For All works to inform individuals of their rights via an online network in which information from Washington DC and legislative alerts are shared. To access the network, simply join the mailing list.

• A: Visit NHU's Legislation and the Law: Legal and Constitutional Rights in which we offer links to several advocacy organizations and offer information about an individual's rights relating to many issues that affect their lives.

Government

Q: How do I find out about government programs?

• A: Look through your phone book and call your local county commission for disabled persons or other appropriate offices.

• A: According to the U.S. Department of Justice, "Title III prohibits discrimination based on disability in public accommodations. Private entities covered by title III include places of lodging, establishments serving food and drink, places of exhibition or entertainment, places of public gathering, sales or rental establishments, service establishments, stations used for specified public transportation, places of public display or collection, places of recreation, places of education, social service center establishments, and places of exercise or recreation. Title III also covers commercial facilities (such as warehouses, factories, and office buildings), private transportation services, and licensing and testing practices."

  U.S. Department of Justice offers "How to File a Title III Complaint."

Q: I was denied access to a government program. A government building did not have access for the disabled. What can I do?

• A: Title II of the ADA examines State and local government activities and public transportation. Title II requires that State and local governments must enable people with disabilities to benefit from all programming, despite the size of the agency or funding received from the Federal government. These programs, services and activities include public education, employment, transportation, recreation, health care, social services, courts, voting and more. The buildings of these governments must be accessible to the disabled and need to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices and procedure in order to avoid discrimination.

  U.S. Department of Justice offers "Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Discrimination Complaint Form."

Q: What is the U.S. Department of Justice Mediation Program?

• A:The Department of Justice ADA Mediation Program is program that provides an alternative to settling your ADA disputes through informal methods. "Complaints under both title II (public entities) and title III (private entities) can be mediated. Disputes involving barrier removal or program accessibility, modification of policies, and effective communication are most appropriate for mediation. Through its program, the Department refers appropriate ADA disputes to mediators at no cost to the parties. The mediators in the Department of Justice program are professional mediators who have been trained in the legal requirements of the ADA by the Key Bridge Foundation. The Department's program has already resolved many ADA disputes quickly and effectively." For more information click on their website.

Representatives

• A: United States House of Representatives offers an online service in which individuals interested in contacting their district's representative can search by state and zip code and can then send a text message to their selected representative.

Q: How can I obtain information on elected officials and legislative issues?

• A: One of the quickest ways to find the names, addresses and phone numbers of your elected representatives on either the federal, state, county or local level is to call or visit your local library for this information.

• To find out who your legislative representatives are on the state or federal level. Call the Legislative Hotline at (800)363-9472.

• A: Visit our Legislation: Representatives for more information on elected officials in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, state legislators and International Representation

Voting

Q: I encountered difficulty when I went to vote. What can I do?

• A: With right comes responsibility! If you encounter any difficulty or access problems, on election day when you get out and vote, report your problem to the AAPD Disability Vote Project or write Adina Topfer, Project Director, AAPD Disability Vote Project, 1629 K. Street, NW, Suite 802, Washington, D.C. 20006 or call (202) 955-6114. AAPD's Disability Vote Project will push for meaningful election reform, continue efforts to get out the disability vote, focus on polling place and voting system access, encourage disability service providers to comply with the provisions of the National Voter Registration Act, and encourage people with disabilities to run for office and to get involved in the political process for the candidate of their choice.

State Listings

Wisconsin

• A: To obtain information regarding the ADA or seek assistance with a claim you believe to be covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, you may try contacting the resources listed below:
• Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy, Madison, WI, (608) 267-0214.
• Great Lakes Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center, (800) 949-4ADA or (312) 413-7756. Call for a detailed, complete catalog of information pamphlets and forms regarding the ADA that you can order for a nominal charge.
• Access to Independence, Madison Independent Living Center, (608) 242-8484. They can offer advice and answer questions pertaining to ADA, but they have no legal staff.
• Easter Seal Society of Wisconsin, Inc. Wisconsin residents can obtain basic information about the ADA and issues dealing with the ADA. E-mail Cleo Eliason: cleoe@wi-easterseals.org. If you live in Milwaukee County, you must contact MLCO Easter Seals, 3090 North 53rd Street Milwaukee, WI.

Q: I would like to contact my state senate and assembly representative. Where can I locate contact information?

• A:To find out who your legislative representatives are for the State of Wisconsin go to the Legislative Hotline:
  • In Madison: 266-9960
  • Toll-free: 1-800-362-9472

  or go to the Wisconsin State Legislators website. Click on the link Who Are My Legislators?. You can search by your address, your municipality or locate by map.

  Locate e-mail addresses for your Wisconsin State Legislators by clicking on Senate or Assembly and finding the E-mail Directory for each.

  For general information about the Wisconsin Legislature, legislative processes, bill histories, or other inquiries contact: Legislative Reference Bureau Reference Desk: (608) 266-0341.

Q: I would like to write to my legislators but do not know how to get their attention about the issues I am facing.

• A: The Milwaukee County Commission for Handicapped and Disabled Persons offers a brochure entitled "How to Effectively Communicate with Elected Officials" which is free of charge to the public and can be obtained by simply requesting one.

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