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Tag: the americans with disabilities act

Planning Ahead

It’s always a good, no – make that a great idea – to plan ahead when doing most anything. My thought in this edition though is for building or buying a home when people with disabilities and the elderly are involved – especially with arthritis. What’s described below is not consistently true, but it’s a good rule to follow. In 1994 we decided to build a 1600 sq. ft. home. Being in a wheelchair for 23 years at that time, I knew very well what I wanted to include and what things to avoid. Obviously, stairs, steps and a wheelchair… Read More

Interacting with the disabled

Public services and buildings are required to have in place facilities and policies to accommodate people with disabilities as required by the American’s with Disabilities Act. These regulations make it increasingly likely that people without specific disabilities will interact more frequently with the disabled.  We often get questions about interacting with the disabled. Here are a few simple rules to help smooth the way for an easy and pleasing interaction: When interacting with a person using a wheelchair: Maintain eye contact. Ask if assistance is needed, rather than assuming it is. Don’t lean on a wheelchair.  The chair is considered… Read More

Religious freedom for all

Even though the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed and fully implemented in 1992, not all facilities were required to become “accessible.”  The ADA covered “public accommodations” but has no authority over private institutions and organizations. So let’s talk a bit about “places of worship.” Churches, synagogues, fellowships or whatever a place of worship chooses to be called do not fall under the auspices, rules and guidelines of the ADA.  Because these institutions are private religious organizations, they are not required to become compliant with Title III of the ADA regarding “public accommodations.” Now, I have been in many… Read More

Good Neighbors

  The sweltering heat of summer is upon us.  Record-breaking temperatures have already hit the northeast.  We, here in the south, are always anticipating the “dog-days” of summer-but few can honestly say they enjoy the heat indices commonly above 105.   A healthy able-bodied person may go to the lake for a swim or take a cool dip in a pool.  So refreshing and what a relief!  Yet, for many with disabilities these options are not available.  Therefore, one must take precautions not to get overheated in this volatile time of the year.  It is common for people with spinal… Read More

Vacation Time

Everyone needs a break from the hustle and bustle of his or her everyday routine. Whether you are working a 40-hour a week job, being a house-mom, volunteering or even retired, we all like to get out and get away from our usual environment and take a vacation – and especially right now has many Covid-19 restrictions are being lifted all across the country. Trips to the big city, camping, theme parks and national and state parks are just a few of the multitude of possibilities for a family vacation.             For people with disabilities, just a smidgen of planning… Read More

Just Say Thank You

Ewing Mays began his “mission” by visiting his fellow veterans with whom he shared a common bond.  All of them had been wounded in the war and many of them, like Mr. Mays, had lost a leg or an arm in the service of their country.  He knew what they were going through.  He had been there.  And he was determined to help as many as he could.  He wanted to help them to understand that life could still be worthwhile and he wanted to share with them what he had learned and what he had done to overcome his… Read More

Reaching Out

Followers of this website may have noticed some changes recently. We are trying to reach out to more people with the addition of a blog.  Our founder, Ewing W. Mays, started Mays Mission as a way to reach out and raise awareness for people with disabilities, and it’s what we have been doing for over 48 years now. And hopefully as we grow stronger in the online community this will open up new employment opportunities for interested people with disabilities seeking work. Mays Mission for the Handicapped was conceived to offer on the job training and employment to persons with… Read More

The Greatest Gift

It’s that time of year again – the Christmas season. The brightly colored autumn leaves have fallen to the ground, announcing a time of rest and relaxation for many living things. We’ve stuffed ourselves with juicy Thanksgiving turkey and loads of luscious desserts from our bountiful buffets. People are putting up the Christmas decorations and the malls are calling for us to come and shop. In all the hustle and bustle, let’s not forget the “reason for the season,” the birth of Jesus. He came to us just as foretold by prophets of old (Isaiah 7:14). Without his birth, there… Read More

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