The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law under President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990, as one of the most sweeping affirmation of rights for individuals with disabilities in American history. In 2008, the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) was passed, to broaden the definition of disability. The Americans With Disabilities Act divided into five titles:
TITLE I – Employment
Title I of the ADA requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities and prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in all aspects of employment. For example: an employee says that they cannot work a fixed schedule because of a medical condition or medication they take for that condition, and requests a flexible work schedule.
TITLE II – Public Services
Title II of the ADA states that state and local government agencies cannot deny services to people with disabilities or deny participation in programs or activities that are available to people without disabilities. For example: a resident who uses a wheelchair wants to participate in a beach event, and they request an ADA beach access mat. In addition, Title II of the ADA requires public transportation systems, such as public transit buses, to be accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Title III - Public Accommodations
Title III of the ADA applies to facilities such as restaurants, hotels, grocery stores and retail stores as well as privately-owned transportation systems. Title III requires that all new construction and modifications must be accessible to individuals with disabilities. For existing facilities, barriers to services must be removed if readily achievable. For example: a customer wants to eat at a local restaurant, but there is no accessible entrance. The restaurant will have to add a ramp (remove the barrier) so that the customer can gain access to the restaurant.
Title IV - Telecommunications
Title IV of the ADA states that telecommunications companies offering telephone service to the general public must have telephone relay service to individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TTYs) or similar devices.
Title V - Miscellaneous
Title V of the ADA includes provisions prohibiting either (a) coercing or threatening or (b) retaliating against individuals with disabilities or those attempting to aid people with disabilities in asserting their rights under the ADA.
The
Job Accommodation Network is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy and has a wealth of information and resources on the ADA.
