The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990. The ADA gives civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. The ADA is a wide-ranging legislation intended to make society accessible to people with disabilities.
To be protected by the ADA, one must have a disability or have a relationship or association with an individual with a disability. An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such impairment. The ADA does not specifically name all of the impairments that are covered.
ADA Specialists are available to provide ADA information and answers to technical questions on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ADA regulations, technical assistance materials, and publications in standard print, as well as in large print, audiotape, Braille, or computer disk are available. Call the ADA Information Line 24 hours a day to order.
For more information: 800-514-0301 or www.ada.gov.