Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a United States federal law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The ADA was enacted by the 101st United States Congress and signed into law by President George H. W. Bush on July 26, 1990.

Provisions[edit | edit source]

The ADA is divided into five titles (or sections) that relate to different areas of public life.

Title I: Employment[edit | edit source]

Title I of the ADA is designed to help people with disabilities access the same employment opportunities and benefits available to people without disabilities. Employers with 15 or more employees must provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants or employees. This section is enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Title II: Public Services[edit | edit source]

Title II prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in all programs, activities, and services of public entities. It applies to all state and local governments, their departments and agencies, and any other instrumentalities or special purpose districts of state or local governments. This title is enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Title III: Public Accommodations[edit | edit source]

Title III requires that public accommodations and commercial facilities be accessible to individuals with disabilities. This includes privately owned, leased, or operated facilities like hotels, restaurants, retail merchants, doctor's offices, golf courses, private schools, day care centers, health clubs, sports stadiums, movie theaters, etc. This title is also enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Title IV: Telecommunications[edit | edit source]

Title IV requires telephone and Internet companies to provide a nationwide system of interstate and intrastate telecommunications relay services that allows individuals with hearing and speech disabilities to communicate over the telephone. This title also requires closed captioning of federally funded public service announcements. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) enforces this title.

Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions[edit | edit source]

Title V contains various provisions relating to the ADA as a whole, including its relationship to other laws, state immunity, its impact on insurance providers and benefits, prohibition against retaliation and coercion, illegal use of drugs, and attorney's fees. It also provides a list of certain conditions that are not considered disabilities.

Amendments[edit | edit source]

The ADA was amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), which became effective on January 1, 2009. The ADAAA made a number of significant changes to the definition of "disability" to ensure that the term would be broadly construed and applied without extensive analysis.

Impact[edit | edit source]

The ADA has had a significant impact on the lives of people with disabilities in the United States. It has increased access to public spaces, improved employment opportunities, and raised awareness about the rights and needs of individuals with disabilities.