Americans with Disabilities Act — The ADA

The Americans with Disabilities Act makes it possible for everyone with a disability to live a life of freedom and equality. Passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President on July 26, 1990, the ADA is the first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities. The ADA protects the civil rights of people with disabilities in all aspects of employment, in accessing public services such as transportation, and guaranteeing access to public accommodations such as restaurants, stores, hotels and other types of buildings to which the public has access.

ADA—Reauthorized!
On Friday, July 23, 2010, Attorney General Eric Holder signed final regulations revising the Department of Justice’s ADA regulations, including its ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The official text was published in the Federal Register on September 15, 2010. These final rules will take effect March 15, 2011. Compliance with the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design is permitted as of September 15, 2010, but not required until March 15, 2012. The Department has prepared fact sheets identifying the major changes in the rules. Read all about this reauthorized ADA at:

http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/ADAregs2010.htm

The Best Place to Begin Your ADA Info Search

Visit the ADA National Network. It is specifically funded by the United States Government to provide information, guidance, and training on the ADA, tailoring that help to meet the needs of business, government and individuals at local, regional, and national levels. The ADA National Network consists of 10 Regional ADA National Network Centers located across the country for effective delivery of services to facilitate voluntary implementation of the ADA.

ADA National Network
1.800.949.4232 (Voice/TTY)
http://adata.org/Static/Home.html

A Treasure Trove of ADA Info at the U.S. Department of Justice
The U.S. Department of Justice provides information about the ADA through an information-rich ADA website and a toll-free ADA Information Line. The information service permits businesses, state and local governments, or others to call and ask questions about general or specific ADA requirements including questions about the ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Spanish language service is also available.

For general ADA information, answers to specific technical questions, free ADA materials, or information about filing a complaint:

ADA Information Line: 1.800.514.0301 (Voice) | 1.800.514.0383 (TTY)

ADA Homepage: http://www.ada.gov/

The ADA and Public Schools
What obligations do public schools have with respect to complying with the ADA? Here are several resources that can answer that question.

Section 504 and ADA Obligations of Public Schools.
From the National Association of the Deaf.
http://www.nad.org/issues/education/k-12/section-504-and-ada-obligations

ADA Q & A: Back to School.
From the PACER Center.
http://www.pacer.org/publications/adaqa/school.asp

Section 504, the ADA, and Public Schools.
From LDonline.
http://www.ldonline.org/article/6108

The ADA and Child Care Centers
What obligations do child care centers have with respect to complying with the ADA? The resources below all address this question.

The Child Care Law Center.
http://www.childcarelaw.org/

ADA Q&A: Child Care Providers.
From the PACER Center.
http://www.pacer.org/publications/adaqa/childcare.asp