Welcome to SMG eNEWS™
2005, July 1st

The Solutions Marketing Group’s eNews is a bi-monthly communiqué that connects business to the market of people with disabilities.

Profiles in Excellence
Profiles in Excellence is a monthly article, published by SMG, that features companies and organizations that demonstrate leadership in accessibility, employment, customer service and marketing to the nation's 54 million Americans with Disabilities.

JPMorgan Chase - From the Inside Out
By Joan Leotta

Many companies seek to improve themselves by dealing first with external factors—taking lessons from other businesses or enhancing customer relations, for example. When it comes to diversity, however, JPMorgan Chase reversed that strategy, starting with the inside—their own employees—and creating an atmosphere of inclusivity. That inclusive environment has become a springboard for creative ways to develop better products and services for their customers with disabilities. ...
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Accessibility
sponsored by Universal Design Newsletter

Court Expands Scope of Disabilities Law From the Associated Press

The Supreme Court, expanding the scope of a landmark federal disabilities law, ruled that foreign cruise lines sailing in U.S. waters must provide better access for passengers in wheelchairs. The narrow 5-4 decision is a victory for disabled rights advocates, who said inadequate ship facilities inhibited their right to "participate fully in society."...
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New Products From the Universal Design Newsletter

Profile Hand Dryer, Portable Wheelchair Lift, Sliding Drawer-Style Dishwasher, Front-Loading Washer and Dryer. ...
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Customer Service
sponsored by W.C. Duke Associates, Inc.

Sprint Relay^SM Customers Now Benefit from Telecommunications Services From HostReview.com

Sprint announced that it has completed the first milestone in enrolling its telecommunications relay service in the FCC's Telecommunications Service Priority Program. Sprint TRS, communications services available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing or have a speech disability, is comprised of a network of 14 call centers geographically disbursed throughout the United States. ...
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Employment

It Pays to Check It Out --
Ticket to Work Conference & Expos

This summer, the Social Security Administration is hosting a series of Ticket to Work Conferences and Expos around the country to promote and build awareness about the Ticket to Work program. Ticket to Work connects disability beneficiaries to various programs – from employment to vocational rehabilitation – so they have the tools, assistance, and guidance they need to find the right job. ...
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Sodexho USA Named "Employer Of The Year" By The Autism Services Association

Sodexho USA, the nation’s leading provider of food and facilities management services, was recently named ‘Employer of the Year’ by the Autism Services Association (ASA) for 2005. ASA was established in 1963 by a group of concerned parents, citizens and community leaders to serve the needs of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities in central and eastern Massachusetts. ....
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Marketing

Firm Provides Access All Areas From L’Oreal HQ To Small Shops
North West Evening Mail

Adapting your business to meet the requirements of disabled people can deliver a double boost to the health of your firm. It means a company can avoid falling foul of public laws, which are enforcing tighter regulations for access for disabled people. Plus a reputation for good service and easy access can open up a vast market of disabled customers....
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News & Announcements

Coast to Coast Motorcycle Trip for Spinal Cord Injury Awareness and Research

Casey Martin Award - Nominations For the 2005 Casey Martin Award Now Available

Kelly Buckland's Disability Rights Advocacy Efforts Have Earned National Recognition from HP