Institute on Disability Awareness at Niagara University

10/15/2026

Do you know your state’s White Cane Law?

October 15th is White Cane Day! The white cane is a tool for navigating and a symbol of independence, dignity, and advocacy for blind people.

Today, Erica Rodman, Educational Program Developer at Niagara University’s Institute on Disability Awareness, and her guide dog Fozzy talk about what drivers need to know.

In New York, drivers approaching an intersection or crosswalk must yield to pedestrians using a white cane or guide dog who are crossing OR waiting to cross appropriately.

Have you looked up the law in your state? What questions do you have about safely sharing the road with blind pedestrians?

[Video description in comments.]

10/14/2026

What does inclusive hiring actually mean?

October is Disability Employment Awareness Month, and we’re taking a closer look at how employers can make their workplaces more accessible and inclusive.

That starts before someone is even hired!

Inclusive hiring means making sure people with disabilities have the same opportunities to apply, interview, and be considered for employment as anyone else.

There are a few things employers can do to make their hiring practices more inclusive:

1. Review job descriptions. Are all of the listed requirements actually necessary to perform the job?

2. Make sure online applications are accessible to people who use screen readers and other assistive technology.

3. Let applicants know that accommodations are available during the interview process and how to request them.

4. Consider whether your interview process allows candidates to demonstrate their qualifications without unnecessary barriers.

5. Train hiring managers on disability awareness, reasonable accommodations, and avoiding assumptions about what someone with a disability can or cannot do.

Inclusive hiring doesn’t mean changing the qualifications for a position. It means making sure the hiring process itself isn’t what prevents a qualified person from getting the job.

This October, we are encouraging employers to take another look at their hiring practices. Are they as accessible and inclusive as they could be?

10/09/2026

Tomorrow, October 10th, is World Mental Health Day.

More than 1 in 5 adults in the United States live with a mental illness. Mental health conditions can affect people in many different ways, and for some, they are also a disability.

This year’s World Mental Health Day theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change,” is an important reminder that awareness should start with listening to the people who live these experiences every day.

We know that lived experience matters. When we talk about accessibility, inclusion, education, employment, or community participation, disabled people and people with lived experience should always be part of those conversations from the beginning.

Mental health disabilities may not always be apparent, and neither are the barriers someone may be navigating. Remember that creating more inclusive communities starts with listening, learning, challenging stigma, and recognizing that people are the experts on their own experiences.

10/08/2026

October 8th is World Sight Day!

World Sight Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about eye health, vision care, and the importance of access to regular eye care.

It is also a good time to remember that vision exists on a spectrum. Millions of people live with blindness, low vision, and other visual disabilities, and access goes far beyond eye care.

Accessible technology, audio description, braille, high-contrast materials, clear signage, and inclusive environments all help ensure that people who are blind or have low vision can fully participate in their communities.

This World Sight Day, take care of your eyes AND help us keep working toward a world that is accessible to all people - no matter how they see it.

10/07/2026

Accessibility at work is about more than providing accommodations when someone asks.

It is also about creating a workplace where access is considered from the beginning.

Are your documents accessible? Are captions available during virtual meetings? Can employees participate remotely when needed? Are trainings and workplace events planned with accessibility in mind? Is important information communicated in more than one way?

Individual accommodations are important, but accessibility is also about workplace culture.

When accessibility and inclusion are part of an organization’s culture, that commitment trickles down. It shapes how people communicate, how decisions are made, and how employees are treated. Most importantly, it helps create a workplace where disabled employees know they are valued, accepted, and included.

This Disability Employment Awareness Month, take a look around your own workplace. Where is accessibility already part of your culture, and where could you do better?

The Institute on Disability Awareness provides education, training, and consultation to help organizations build more accessible and inclusive workplaces. Message us to learn more.

09/16/2026

It’s Disability Voting Rights Week!

Did you know that accessible voting systems are available at polling places to allow voters with disabilities to cast their ballots privately and independently?

Depending on the voting system, accessibility features may include an audio ballot, tactile controls, adjustable text size or contrast, and other options for voters who cannot independently read or mark a standard paper ballot.

Why does that matter? Privacy and independence.

A disabled voter should not have to give up the privacy of their ballot simply because they cannot see, read, or physically mark a standard ballot.

Federal disability and voting rights laws protect the right of voters with disabilities to participate in the voting process, and accessible voting technology is an important part of making that right a reality.

What if you are newly disabled or not sure how accessible voting works? Contact your local Board of Elections before Election Day to learn what accessible voting system is available in your area. Organizations such as your state's disability rights agency, local independent living center, or centers for the blind and visually impaired generally have resources available to help as well.

This Disability Voting Rights Week, know your rights and know your options at the polls!


Photo credit: cpr.org, Boulder County Clerk

09/14/2026

Yesterday marked the anniversary of an important moment in disability civil rights history.

On September 13, 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the Fair Housing Amendments Act, expanding the Fair Housing Act to include protections for people with disabilities.

Since September is also National Service Dog Month, we thought we would answer one of the questions we get most often:

What does the Fair Housing Act say about service dogs and emotional support animals?

Under the Fair Housing Act, housing providers may be required to make a reasonable accommodation for an assistance animal when the animal is needed because of a person’s disability.

In housing, that term can include both:

🐕‍🦺 Service animals that are trained to perform disability-related work or tasks.

🐾 Other assistance animals, including animals that provide disability-related emotional support.

This is different from the Americans with Disabilities Act. Under the ADA, emotional support animals are not service animals and do not have the same public-access rights.

Under the Fair Housing Act, an assistance animal is not treated simply as a pet. A reasonable accommodation might include allowing the animal despite a no-pets policy or waiving a pet fee or deposit.

If a disability or the disability-related need for the animal is not apparent, a housing provider may request reliable information supporting the accommodation request. There are also limited circumstances in which a particular accommodation may be denied.

HUD withdrew its previous detailed assistance-animal guidance in 2025, and later announced a shift in enforcement priorities. However, these changes did not eliminate Fair Housing Act protections for assistance animals.

Different laws cover service and assistance animals in different settings, which is why the rules for housing can look very different from the rules for restaurants, stores, workplaces, or airplanes.

09/11/2026

Honoring the Heroic Guide Dogs of 9/11

September is National Service Dog Month, a time to recognize the extraordinary impact service animals have on our lives. Today, on the anniversary of September 11th, we remember two incredible guide dogs whose unwavering loyalty and expert training saved lives amidst tragedy.

When the World Trade Center towers were struck, thousands rushed to escape. For two blind individuals, their path to safety relied entirely on their guide dogs.

Roselle (a yellow Labrador) was with her handler, Michael Hingson, on the 78th floor of the North Tower. Despite the smoke and chaos, Roselle remained completely calm, leading Michael and a group of coworkers down 78 flights of stairs to safety just before the tower collapsed.

Salty (also a yellow Labrador) refused to leave his handler, Omar Rivera, on the 71st floor. Together with a supervisor, Salty navigated the dark, crowded stairwells, safely guiding Omar out to the street.

Both Roselle and Salty were later awarded the Dickin Medal for their devotion to duty.

Service dogs are lifesavers, eyes for the blind, and fiercely loyal partners. Today, we honor Roselle, Salty, and all service animals who dedicate their lives to protecting and assisting humans. Pictured below is Roselle with owner Michael Hingson and Omar Rivera with Salty.

09/10/2026

Access with Erica!

Our Educational Program Developer, Erica, asked about accessible seating for the Circus Hollywood show at The Great New York State Fair. Staff responded warmly and provided folding chairs in the designated accessible area, giving Erica a seat close enough to see part of the show.

Accessible seating is not only for people who use wheelchairs or other mobility equipment. It can also support people with visual disabilities and many other access needs.

Sometimes accessibility is as simple as listening, understanding the need, and finding a solution.

If you need help brainstorming ways to make your venue more accessible, reach out to us!



[VD: Erica speaks to the camera while wearing a light turquoise top with braille across the chest. She stands in front of a metal barricade displaying an accessible seating sign. The video includes a panoramic view of the venue and a large black guide dog lying quietly in harness. A blurred staff member brings over two folding chairs. The Institute on Disability Awareness logo appears on a navy background at the end.]

09/10/2026

September is Deaf Awareness Month! 🤟

This week’s newsletter explores Deaf culture, identity, communication, and some simple tips for more accessible interactions.

Read this week’s edition: https://mailchi.mp/niagara.edu/september-is-deaf-awareness-month

By Erica Rodman, Educational Program Developer September is Deaf Awareness Month, a time to recognize the contributions, rich culture, and history of the Deaf Community.