ADA-OHIO is a state wide non-profit organization that provides information, technical assistance and training about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to individuals, businesses, state and local government agencies or municipalities. 

ADA-OHIO information, materials and technical assistance are intended solely as informal guidance, and are neither a determination of your legal rights or responsibilities under the Act, nor binding on any agency with enforcement responsibility under the ADA.

As a way to help people learn about their responsibilities and rights under the ADA, ADA-OHIO provides training and speakers to groups, professional and business organizations, consumer organizations, conferences, workshops, seminars and support groups. If you would like more information about ADA-OHIO`s training services, please call.

Easter Seals Project ACTION promotes cooperation between the transportation industry and the disabled community to increase mobility for people with disabilities under the ADA and beyond. They offer free resources such as a national accessible traveler`s database, as well as training and technical assistance, in an effort to make the ADA work for everyone, everyday.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person`s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. It is also illegal to discriminate against a person because the person complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit.

Most employers with at least 15 employees are covered by EEOC laws (20 employees in age discrimination cases). Most labor unions and employment agencies are also covered.

The laws apply to all types of work situations, including hiring, firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, and benefits.

Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST is a new initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designed to promote compliance with the Fair Housing Act design and construction requirements. Call the number or use the Web site for fair housing instruction, resources, support, and technical guidance

The Fair Housing Act, as amended in 1988, prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin. Its coverage includes private housing, housing that receives federal financial assistance, and state and local government housing. It is unlawful to discriminate in any aspect of selling or renting housing or to deny a dwelling to a buyer or renter because of the disability of that individual, an individual associated with the buyer or renter, or an individual who intends to live in the residence.

The Fair Housing Act requires owners of housing facilities to make reasonable exceptions in their policies and operations to afford people with disabilities equal housing opportunities. Complaints of Fair Housing Act violation may be filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Title IV of Americans with Disabilities Act addresses telephone and television access for people with hearing and speech disabilities. It requires common carriers (telephone companies) to establish interstate and intrastate telecommunications relay services (TRS) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TRS enables callers with hearing and speech disabilities who use text telephones (TTY or TDD), and callers who use voice telephones, to communicate with each other through a third party communications assistant. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set minimum standards for TRS services.

LRS provides legal advocacy and rights protection to a wide range of people with disabilities. This includes assisting individuals with problems such as abuse, neglect, discrimination, access to assistive technology, special education, housing, employment, community integration, voting and rights protection issues with the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

HUDs mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business.

Air Carrier Access Act
The Air Carrier Access Act prohibits discrimination in air transportation by air carriers against qualified individuals with physical or mental impairments. For questions pertaining to air transportation contact U.S Department of Transportation Aviation Consumer Protection Division

The Access Board is an independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities.  Created in 1973 to ensure access to federally funded facilities, the Board is now a leading source of information on accessible design.  The Board develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and for electronic and information technology.  It also provides technical assistance and training on these requirements and on accessible design and continues to enforce accessibility standards that cover federally funded facilities.

The Board is structured to function as a coordinating body among Federal agencies and to directly represent the public, particularly people with disabilities.  Half of its members are representatives from most of the Federal departments.  The other half is comprised of members of the public appointed by the President, a majority of whom must have a disability.

The transportation provisions of Title II within the Ameicans with Disabilities Act, cover public transportation services, such as city buses and public rail transit. Questions and complaints about public transportation should be directed to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration.