Disability Awareness
Americans with Disabilities Act
Methods of Providing Program Accessibility
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):
The ADA builds upon existing civil rights laws and adds persons with a disability as a protected class. The ADA was enacted on July 26, 1990 after being passed overwhelmingly in both houses of Congress (Senate 91-6, House 377-28). It was then signed into law by President Bush. The ADA protects the rights of 56 million Americans with disabilities by ensuring access to employment, state and local governments, public accommodations, telecommunications, and transportation.
Title I-Employment regulates employment practices of private employers.
Title II-Public Sector Services mandates employment and program access requirements for state and local governments, hotels, movie theaters, private schools, retail stores, etc.
Title III-Private Sector Services governs public accommodations and commercial facilities provided by private business.
Title IV-Telecommunications contains technical requirements covering telecommunications and establishes relay services for persons with disabilities and ensures they have access to a broad range of products and services.
Title V-Miscellaneous Provisions contains enforcement and other provisions affecting the first four titles of the ADA and amending other federal laws.