Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA

• most comprehensive legislation protecting the civil rights of individuals with disabilities in the U.S.

• consists of 5 titles

• inherent principles are inclusion and integration

when was the ADA passed?

July 26, 1990

Title I

prohibits employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities

Title II

prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in public services, programs, and activities

Title III

mandates nondiscrimination in public accommodations and commercial facilities

Title IV

requires telecommunications relay services for individuals with hearing or speech disabilities

Title V

includes miscellaneous provisions such as assistance in understanding ADA responsibilities and a study on effects on wilderness designations

Inclusion and Integration

fundamental principles of the ADA ensuring equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities

undue hardship

a defense for employers and facility owners to not accommodate persons with disabilities if it would impose significant difficulty or expense

readily achievable

the level of difficulty in making public accommodations accessible, considering factors such as cost and feasibility

qualified individual with a disability

a person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities

essential job function

tasks that are fundamental and not marginal to a job

undue burden

an action requiring significant difficulty or expense for a business

reasonable accommodation

modifications or adjustments made to provide equal employment opportunities and accessibility to goods, services, and facilities

covered entity

an employer, employment agency, labor organization, joint labor-management committee subject to ADA regulations

discriminatory eligibility criteria

the unlawful imposition of criteria that screen out individuals with disabilities from enjoying goods, services, facilities, etc.

reasonable modifications

changes to policies, practices, or procedures made to provide accessibility to individuals with disabilities

standards designed to protect the interests of small businesses while ensuring ADA compliance

undue burden and readily achievable standards

alternative methods

other means to make goods, services, facilities, etc. accessible when the removal of a barrier is exempted

incentives

funding and tax benefits available to facilitate ADA compliance

basic accessibility guidelines

specifications for slope, curb cuts, parking spaces, door openings, door force, lights, seating, signage, bathrooms and telephones