Blog

As an employee who spends my time at Cornell focused on the Northeast ADA Center, the Center and its operations are part of my daily life. Those of us who are lucky enough to work here assist people who want to learn more about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The primary way that we help is by providing confidential technical assistance to anyone who has questions about their rights or responsibilities under the ADA. Many of these people share that they never really understood “how” or “what” the ADA is, and after speaking with our Center’s staff, they get the information they were looking for.

Although we cannot solve the problems that all people are experiencing, we are a team of professionals who listen and offer the best referrals or resources possible. I am proud to speak with individuals with disabilities and family members of people with disabilities (the two largest contact groups that reach out to us), as the information we provide often has a direct impact on their daily lives. In many cases, particularly when they face discrimination, we advise them on how the ADA is enforced, so they can take steps (should they choose to) to enforce their rights under the ADA.

For the ADA to be fully implemented in our communities, education about the law is key, and that’s what we provide at the Northeast ADA Center.