Overview
The Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) is one of the most comprehensive civil rights laws prohibiting
discrimination on the basis of disability. The Act
was signed into law on July 26, 1990. It is sweeping civic rights legislation for people with disabilities. It promotes equal opportunities in aspects of daily life.
Understanding What "Disability" Means Under the ADA
To be covered under the Americans
with Disabilities Act as a qualified person with a disability, one must fit one part of the three pronged definition:
• A person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities;
• A person with a record of such a physical or mental impairment; or
• A person who is regarded as having such impairment.
ADA was constructed into four
major "Titles" each centered on a category of accessibility.
Below each Title are highlights of the protections afforded to persons
with disabilities.
• Title I – Employment: Employers
may not discriminate against an individual with a disability in hiring
or promotion if the person is otherwise qualified for the position.
Employers can ask about one’s ability to perform a job, but cannot
inquire if someone has a disability. Employers must provide "reasonable
accommodation," such as job restructuring and modification of equipment
when necessary. A working person with a disability must have equal access to the activities and benefits of employment.
• Title II – Public Services: State
and local governments must remove barriers, programmatic and physical,
that restrict people with disabilities from using their services and
activities. Public entities must make every effort to integrate people with disabilities into existing and future services, programs, and
activities, and be able to communicate "with all of the public
(telephone contacts, office walk-ins, or interviews), provide for the
public's use of the facilities, and allow access to programs that
provide State or local government services or benefits."
• Title III – Public Accommodations: Restaurants,
hotels, theaters, doctors’ officers, pharmacies, retail stores,
museums, libraries, parks, private schools, and day care centers may not
discriminate on the basis of disability. (Private clubs and religious
organizations are exempt.) Auxiliary aids and services must be provided
to individuals with hearing or vision impairments.
• Title IV – Telecommunications: Telephone companies must provide telecommunications relay services for 'hearing-impaired and speech-impaired' individuals 24 hours per day. Public Service Announcements (PSAs) must be captioned.
For more information visit www.ada.gov
