Ms. Bowen was a teacher before she went to law school — and she’s never stopped being one. She can clarify the most difficult issues for the most sophisticated audience. But she doesn’t think you have to be a lawyer to understand the key principles and put them to work. She conveys complex concepts in a straightforward, even-handed, entertaining way.

She draws on her extensive knowledge and training materials, but never simply repeats a “stock” presentation. Each session is

  • Tailored to what the participants already know and what they need to know
  • Filled with specific examples that may come up in your organization and approaches for addressing them
  • Updated with hot topics and recent developments
  • Geared for group interaction or open discussion

Irene Bowen is sought after by businesses, organizations, advocacy groups, and others for speeches and training.

Her programs are engaging, insightful, and packed with up-to-date information.

Her trainings are known for their solid content and lively interaction.

How you benefit from training

ADA One’s training programs can help your organization

  • Prevent discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act and similar laws
  • Help your employees
    • understand how to better serve individuals with disabilities – and how that benefits your business or organization
    • avoid mistakes that could hurt your organization
    • know how to report problems to managers, in hopes of swift resolution
  • Prevent complaints or litigation
    • Avoid the inevitable expense
    • Avoid negative publicity
  • Gain a solid knowledge base for developing assessments, transition plans, self-evaluations, and barrier removal plans
    • Know how to spend your money in the right way; avoid costly mistakes just because you “didn’t know”
    • Learn to work effectively with outside contractors
  • Show a good faith effort at compliance
  • Position yourself for establishing a defense to claims that may arise

Why ADA One is the one for ADA training

What others have said about Ms. Bowen’s trainings and presentations:

“Without doubt, you gave one of the finest presentations I’ve been witness to in my many years of being present at similar conferences.” — John W. Patten, former Publisher, Business Week

From participants at conferences:

“I’ve been coming to [the association’s] conferences for 20 years, and this is one of the best training sessions I’ve ever attended. Thank you!”

“Fantastic.”

“WOW… This was a great experience.”

“Excellent for both beginners and those more experienced who need updates.”

“Made technically difficult material clear to a non-legal audience.”

“One of the best sessions that I have heard. (I’ve been involved with [the national organization] for 15 years!)”

“Irene Bowen was exceptionally knowledgeable and provided very helpful and practical information.”

We can provide overviews or in-depth coverage of all ADA topics – bringing in subject matter experts, as needed, for detailed treatment of almost any issue. No one else has the

  • experience
  • depth and breadth of knowledge and
  • insight into what it all means and how the government approaches compliance.

We can also address section 504, the Fair Housing Amendments Act, the Architectural Barriers Act, and the federal accessibility standards.

Training topics

  • Preparing for DOJ’s new ADA rules and the ADA Amendments Act
    • Overview
    • Title II
    • Title III
    • In-depth session, including ADA Standards
  • Review of hot topics/current developments
    • Case law developments in topics listed
    • Federal regulatory updates (rules, policies, technical assistance)
  • Intensive training in all aspects of title II, title III, and/or section 504
  • Other subjects, with presentations adapted to your interests and setting, including
    • Using DOJ’s ADA Tool Kit: an action guide for public entities
    • Project Civic Access: what you can learn, how to prepare for one or do your own
    • ADA and section 504 overview (with, as appropriate, Fair Housing Act, Architectural Barriers Act)
    • Overview of accessibility requirements
    • Emergency preparedness
    • Details of ADA accessibility requirements
    • Avoiding litigation, responding to complaints (2-4 hours)
    • Planning for accessibility, working with experts (3-4 hours)
    • Effective communication
    • Access to courts
    • Law enforcement and corrections
    • Historic preservation
    • Access to museums
    • Access to health care
    • Access to hotels
    • Physical access on campus

Formats and settings

We offer sessions from one hour to two weeks, in large or small groups, live or via audio conference.

Irene Bowen

Examples of Irene Bowen’s recent training sessions and speeches

Department of Justice examples, 2007-2008

  • U S Attorney’s Office, N.D. Iowa, ADA Tool Kit for state and local governments
  • Community College Conference on Legal Issues
  • Harvard University, Graduate School of Design, Office of Executive Education: Universal Design, Fair Housing, and the New ADA/ABA
  • National Association of ADA Coordinators (NAADAC) (semi-annual four-day training): plenary, Project Civic Access, title II, accessibility, higher education, transportation, emergency preparedness, effective communication, law enforcement, correctional institutions
  • Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD): introduction to law for DSS providers, emergency preparedness, access on campus
  • ADA and IT Centers: Best Practices in Design: Balancing Local, State, and Federal Requirements
  • Virginia Tech, two-day in-forum on program and facility access on campus
  • Virginia AHEAD: Crisis on Campus
  • American University’s conference on Assisting Law Students with Disabilities in the 21st Century: Brass Tacks (published in Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law)
  • Department of Justice’s Institute for Legal Education: Big Cases, Big Impact
  • Paralyzed Veterans of America national advocacy conference

ADA One examples, 2008 & 2009

  • National Association of ADA Coordinators — plenary (“New Rules from DOJ? What Lies Ahead and How to Prepare”) and concurrent sessions (see NAADAC, above)
  • Council on Law in Higher Education: The ADA: Preparing for Change
  • California Association for Post-Secondary Education and Disability (CAPED): Access on Campus: Keeping It Clear During Construction
  • U.S. Department of Education’s Disability Network: “New DOJ Rules: Where Are They? What Would They Mean for Higher Education?”
  • Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)
    • Management Institute (February 2009): Plenary: Managing Change on the College Campus: The Impact of Amendments to Federal Laws and Regulations; Managing Physical Access on Campus: Current Issues and Trends (concurrent session)
    • Annual conference (July 2009): Keeping It Legal: Learning from Others’ Mistakes, Avoiding Accessibility Complaints and Litigation; Blueprint for Success: How to Promote Physical Access on Campus; Year in Review
    • Audio conference, Keeping It Legal (November 2009)
  • National Association of College and University Attorneys: Higher Education Discrimination Law: ADA/Section 504 Facilities Access: What You Don’t Know Could Cost You; Virtual seminar, ADA Facilities Access
  • American Institute of Architects 2009 national convention: New ADA Requirements: What’s Ahead; Birmingham and Alabama chapters, “Preparing for the Proposed (New?) DOJ Regulations,” September 2009.
  • National Association of ADA Coordinators (NAADAC) conference, plenary and concurrent sessions on ADA regulations, title II issues, emergency preparedness, law enforcement (April and October 2009)
  • Maryland Disability Network