Organization: Penn State University
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 07:48:04 EST
From: Peter M. Weiss <PMW1@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.c+health
Subject: Re: Info on Disabilities

In article <C+HEALTH%93011117013319@IUBVM.UCS.INDIANA.EDU>, "ROBERT J. WILBERT"
<BOB@SNYFARVA.BITNET> says:

>I am looking for listserv/s that might help in meeting the requirements of the
>American Disabilities Act. (...)

From a ADA-LAW (the answer to your principle question) --

Date:         Sun, 10 Jan 1993 23:45:34 EST
Reply-To:     ADA Law <ADA-LAW@NDSUVM1.BITNET>
From:         "Woodill, Gary" <FCTY7310@RYEVM.RYERSON.CA>
Subject:      A SOLUTION TO CHATTINESS?

There are now a number of lists related to persons with disabilities. Part
of the reason for this is that each list has a different focus, and there
should be a moderator for each list who will occassionally bring discussion
back to the main purpose for the list's existence. I have noticed however,
that many of the lists on disability start sounding the same after while. One
reason is the practice of cross-posting, which, while useful can get out of
hand if two or more lists end up with mostly the same material. As well, many
of the lists on disability end up with lots of personal stories and issues
which, while important to the members involved, tend to make all the lists
somewhat "chatty". Again, there is nothing wrong with this, it is just not
what some people want.

In my own case, I started the Disability Research List specifically to meet
other people involved and interested in disability research. I had tried the
Handicap Digest (L-HCAP) but it was not meeting my particular needs. One
reason is that I am not disabled and therefore had few "stories" to share
from personal experience. But, on the other hand, it is obvious that L-HCAP
is meeting real needs of persons with disabilities to make contact with each
other, and to share significant moments in their lives.

What I suggest is that people become aware of the different lists on disability
and the "flavour" of each list, in order to choose the list(s) which best meets
their needs. Below is an annotated list of disability lists on Bitnet. If I
have missed any, please let me know, and I will compile an amended list.

LIST     NODE      DESCRIPTION              COMMENTS

ADA-LAW@NDSUVM1    Americans with           No comments. New user.
                   Disabilities Act List

ALTLEARN@SJUVM     Alternative Approaches   Mostly long arguments about the
                   to Learning List         nature of learning and of the
                                            characteristics of learning
                                            disabilities. Famous for Zippy's
                                            long and useful lists of resources.

AUTISM@SJUVM       Autism and Developmental  No comments as I have not tried
                   Disabilities List         this list. An offshoot of ALTLEARN

BLIND-L@UAFYSYB    Computer Use for and by   I have not tried this list.
                   Persons who are blind

BLINDNWS@NDSUVM1   Blind News Digest         Ditto.

COMMDIS@RPITSVM    List on Speech Disorders  Ditto.

DEAF-L@SIUCVMB     List on Deafness          Ditto.

DISRES-L@RYERSON   Disability Research List  About 75 members who are generally
                                             fairly quiet. Steady stream of
                                             announcements and repostings. Not
                                             very chatty.

L-HCAP@NDSUVM1     Handicap Digest           Very large - exists on several
                                             networks. Very chatty - every
                                             thing from dating to the newest
                                             devices. Lots of opinions and
                                             lots of passionate discussion.

In addition to the above, anyone interested in the subject of disabilities
should know that Jay Leavitt at the University of Buffalo has set up a
GOPHER specifically for resources on disability. Contact him at the
following address for specific instructions: LEAVITT@UBVMS

None of the above is intended to try to suppress anyone's communications on
any list. However, with such a number of resources, perhaps they can be used
for effectively to meet everyone's needs.

Gary Woodill
FCTY7310@RYERSON  or FCTY7310@ryevm.ryerson.ca
================

/Pete (pmw1@psuvm.psu.edu)
--
Peter M. Weiss                     | not affiliated with psuvm.psu.edu|psuvm
31 Shields Bldg -- Penn State Univ.| "Connectivity is more than a Connection"
University Park, PA USA 16802-1202 | E. Michael Staman, _The Circuit_, Apr 92
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU