"For the first time, America is saying that the biggest problem faced by the disabled may not be their own blindness, deafness or mental condition -- but discrimination". - Rodman D. Griffin, disabilities historian
Understanding the ADA
- The Americans with Disabilities Act, U.S Department of Justice
"Title I requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide qualified individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from the full range of employment-related opportunities available to others"
"Title II requires that State and local governments give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all of their programs, services and activities (e.g. public education, employment, transportation, recreation, health care, social services, courts, voting and town meetings)...Public transportation authorities may not discriminate against people with disabilities in the provision of their service"
"Title III covers businesses and nonprofit service providers that are public accommodations,... private entities who own, lease, lease to, or operate facilities...Public accommodations must comply with basic nondiscrimination requirements that prohibit exclusion, segregation and unequal treatment. They also must comply with specific requirements related to architectural standards for new and... existing buildings"
"Title IV...requires common carriers (telephone companies) to establish interstate and intrastate telecommunications relay services (TRS) 24 hours a day, 7 hours a week"
- A Guide to Disability Rights Laws, U.S Department of Justice, 2009