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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Office
What is the ADA? The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) gives federal civil rights protections 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.
I have a small business. How does the ADA affect me? The Americans with Disabilities Act
prohibits the exclusion of people with disabilities from everyday activities,
such as buying an item at the store, watching a movie in a theater, enjoying a
meal at a local restaurant, exercising at the local health club or having the
car serviced at a local garage. To meet the goals of the ADA, the law
established requirements for private businesses of all sizes. These requirements
first went into effect on January 26, 1992, and continue for both for-profit and
non-profit organizations. For more information, visit the Small Business Administration's ADA web site: http://www.sba.gov/ada Of particular interest is the SBA's 15-page guide to the ADA. This is a very informative booklet which you can get from their web site, or you can click on this link to view the document directly: http://www.sba.gov/ada/smbusgd.pdf
I am involved in ADA planning for a large company or a government organization. Where can I get more information on the ADA? The primary source of information is the Department of Justice's ADA home page: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm A rather interesting site is the US Dept of Labor Job Accommodation Network ADA links page: http://www.jan.wvu.edu/links/adalinks.htm. This site has links to a ton of valuable information about the ADA.
I am building a new building. What should I do? Your most important step is to make sure that your architect and builder fully understand the requirements of the ADA. Be sure to ask questions about their experience in meeting ADA requirements. Look at existing buildings in the area. Notice entranceways, ramps and restrooms. Imagine yourself in a wheelchair. Could you easily get through a door or up a ramp? If you think there is a problem, discuss it with your architect/builder.
On a personal level, I sometimes feel uncomfortable around people with disabilities. Are there any sources of information on what things I should do? Easter Seals has an informative article on disability etiquette: http://www.easter-seals.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntl_etiquette
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