Spa Area Independent Living Services

On March 12, 1990, over 1,000 people marched from the White House to the U.S. Capitol to demand that Congress pass the Americans with Disabilities Act, or the ADA. When they got there, about 60 of them cast aside their wheelchairs and other mobility aids and crawled up the Capitol steps.

The “Capitol Crawl,” as it’s known, was a physical demonstration of how inaccessible architecture impacts people with disabilities. It also highlighted the urgency behind the need to pass the ADA. 34 years later, we continue to call for — nothing about us without us.

Tonight from 5:30pm - 7:30pm, AAPD is hosting an ADA Celebration in Washington, DC, where will have a panel to learn from activists of color who participated in the Capitol Crawl. It's not too late to sign up to watch this event virtually, and we hope you'll join us! Get your free ticket to tune in virtually here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-aapd-ada-celebration-tickets-910770106907

Image description in Alt Text and in comments below

On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the most sweeping affirmation of rights for the disabled in American history at the time, into law.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities. The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability just as other civil rights laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, s*x, national origin, age, and religion. The ADA guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to enjoy employment opportunities, purchase goods and services, and participate in state and local government programs.

The ADA Protects People with Disabilities
A person with a disability is someone who:

has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities,
has a history or record of such an impairment (such as cancer that is in remission), or
is perceived by others as having such an impairment (such as a person who has scars from a severe burn).

Employment
Section of the ADA: Title I

Applies to: employers that have 15 or more employees, including state/local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions.

General requirement: Employers must provide people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from the employment-related opportunities available to others. This includes things like recruitment, hiring, promotions, training, pay, and social activities.

Section of the ADA: Title II, Subtitle A

Applies to: all services, programs, and activities of state and local governments.

Examples of state and local government activities include:

Public education
Transportation
Recreation
Health care
Social services
Courts
Voting
Emergency services
Town meetings
The ADA applies to state and local governments even if:

the state or local government is small or
they receive money from the federal government.
General requirement: State and local governments must provide people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all of their programs, services, and activities.

Public Transit
Section of the ADA: Title II, Subtitle B

Applies to: public transit systems.

General requirement: Public transit systems must provide people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from their services.

Businesses That Are Open to the Public
Section of the ADA: Title III

Applies to:

Businesses and nonprofits serving the public. Examples of businesses and nonprofits include:

Restaurants
Hotels
Retail stores
Movie theaters
Private schools (including housing)
Doctors’ offices and hospitals
Day care centers
Gyms
Organizations offering courses or examinations
Privately operated transit. Examples of privately operated transit include:

Taxis
Intercity and charter buses
Hotel shuttles
Airport shuttle

Telecommunications
Section of the ADA: Title IV

Applies to: telecommunication companies.

General requirement: Telephone companies must provide services to allow callers with hearing and speech disabilities to communicate.

Other Important Requirements
Section of the ADA: Title V

The ADA also includes other requirements for how to implement the law. Examples of these requirements include:

Prohibiting retaliation against a person who has asserted their rights under the ADA
Stating that a person with a disability is not required to accept an aid or accommodation if they do not want to
Authorizing courts to award attorneys’ fees to the winning party in a lawsuit under the ADA
Directing certain federal agencies to issue guidance explaining the law.

Community Event: Back 2 School Bash for 3 School Districts/Communities on August 3rd

CSO's Food Pantry at 2228 Albert Pike in Hot Springs is open today (July 25) from 12-4 p.m. Make sure you qualify: https://csoark.org/food-assistance/

Are you a resident of or know someone who lives at Mountain View Towers in Hot Springs? Let them know that CSO is hosting a food pantry enrollment event this Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Did you know that registering for an account at access.arkansas.gov is the easiest way to keep track of your health insurance and benefits? Once you register for an account, you can link your existing SNAP, TEA, or Medicaid cases to your account to see them all in one place. If applying for new coverage, you can upload all paperwork and verifications to this same account. If any additional documentation is requested, your Access Arkansas account is a convenient and easy place to submit it and keep track of it. Click here to access your Access Arkansas account. https://access.arkansas.gov/Learn/Home

In need of emergency food or groceries? Little Rock Compassion Center is here for you!

Our food pantry is open every Thursday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm to assist those in need. If you or someone you know could use a helping hand, please stop by. We’re committed to supporting our community through tough times.

For more information, contact us at 501-296-9114.

Are you needing food help? Check out the Arkansas Food Bank website 🍎
https://arkansasfoodbank.org/locations/

CSO's Food Pantry at 2228 Albert Pike Road in Hot Springs is open today (July 23) from 12-4 p.m. Make sure you qualify: https://csoark.org/food-assistance/

Happy Tuesday friends!
We are eager to spend time with you today and hear about all of the blessings God has provided in your lives this week!

We will be serving loaded pasta salad and garlic bread with peach cobbler for dessert. We will have water and/or Gatorade to drink. We are still asking that everyone only receive one plate until everyone is served. Once we see that everyone has received a plate we will then start handing out seconds or to go boxes. Everyone has been really great about this and we appreciate your cooperation. 😀
We will be serving in our normal location which is the big empty fenced parking lot next to the 420 Eats Food Court at the corner of Malvern Avenue and Church Street at 3 o’clock. 

We have Bibles for those that want them, life books, hygiene items, and our closet of clothes/blankets for anyone needing those resources.

As always and MOST IMPORTANTLY, if you are in need of prayer PLEASE see a volunteer, we are privileged to be able to pray for and/or with you! 

Have a great day everyone! Go be the reason someone chooses Jesus!

Today, we celebrated the accomplishments of our consumers and honored our dear staff member, Ronnie Horton, by naming the front room after him - “Ronnie’s Room!” We were blessed to be joined by his family and so many consumers who were impacted by Ronnie's kindness and compassion.

Thank you to everyone who shared their heart and spoke today during the Room dedication. Forever Ronnie’s Room!

Thank you to all who contributed to making today possible with your generous donations - Hot Springs Chambers Bank, Corrie Condon, and Tim Looper. We are so grateful for your kindness and continued support.

Thank you to all who volunteered their time to help us today, we are so grateful for this community!

The 2024 Sales Tax Holiday begins in Arkansas on August 5-6 - MySaline The State of Arkansas will hold its sales tax holiday, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday August 3, 2023, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday August 4, 2024. This allows shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain Electronic Devices, School Supplies, School Art Supplies, School Instructional Materi...

TOPPS Afterschool Program! Picking up at PB, Watson Chapel & White Hall School Districts! See information on flyer 📓📚✏️

Today

CSO's Food Pantry at 2228 Albert Pike is open tomorrow (July 18) from 12-4 p.m. Make sure you qualify: https://csoark.org/food-assistance/

🥣☕Hungry? Our kitchen staff make two meals a day here at Jericho Way. We serve a hot breakfast from 7:30-8:30am, and lunch from 11:00am-12:00pm. Stop in to 3000 Springer Blvd and join us for a meal!

The Central Arkansas Development Council’s (CADC) Summer Utility Assistance Program will begin July 8, 2024 and continue until funds are exhausted. The program helps households with utility payments and crisis assistance. The federally funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) ensures that families maintain safety and health during extreme weather seasons. Contact CADC to apply.

Let your neighbors know that CSO will be distributing food in Mountain Pine this Friday! Garland County residents only, check eligibility here: https://csoark.org/food-assistance/

Mountain Pine School District Mountain Pine Police Department

This Friday!

EH2030 is serving loaded nachos and German chocolate cake at the Church Street parking lot, 3:00 p.m. Next to 420 Eats Food Court.

Attention Hot Springs Arkansas!
THE COOLING CENTER will be open Mon. July 15, and Tues. July 16!

Time: 12 noon-6pm.
Location: 109 Hobson Ave.

It's the moment you've been waiting for: our newsletter is out! Check it out for details about our upcoming programs and events, including EmpowHer Expressions and Presentation Night with our EmpowHer Camp leaders in Washington, D.C. https://mailchi.mp/disabilityempowhernetwork/ffqowq3rao-16236270