Accessibility and Accommodation

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What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

On July 26th, 1990 President George H. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.  The ADA gives 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.  The ADA is divided into five titles (or sections) that relate to different areas of public life.

Note: This content is from the ADA National Network.

Public Accommodations Survey

Title 1 of the ADA – Employment

  • Helps people with disabilities access the same employment opportunities and benefits available to people without disabilities.
  • Applies to employers with 15 or more employees.
  • Requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants or employees. A “reasonable accommodation” is a change that accommodates employees with disabilities so they can do the job without causing the employer “undue hardship” (too much difficulty or expense).
  • Defines disability, establishes guidelines for the reasonable accommodation process, and addresses medical examinations and inquiries.
  • Regulated and enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

More information and events related to ADA Title I (Employment).

Fact Sheets

This section provides information about Accessibility and Accommodations for people with disabilities.

Title 2 of the ADA – Public Services: State and Local Government

  • Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by “public entities” such as state and local government agencies.
  • Requires public entities to make their programs, services and activities accessible to individuals with disabilities.
  • Outlines requirements for self-evaluation and planning; making reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures where necessary to avoid discrimination; identifying architectural barriers; and communicating effectively with people with hearing, vision and speech disabilities.
  • Regulated and enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice.

More information and events related to ADA Title II (State and Local Government).

Fact Sheets

This section provides information about Accessibility and Accommodations for people with disabilities.

Title 3 of the ADA – Public Accommodations and Services Operated by Private Entities

  • Prohibits places of public accommodation from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. Public accommodations include privately-owned, leased or operated facilities like hotels, restaurants, retail merchants, doctor’s offices, golf courses, private schools, daycare centers, health clubs, sports stadiums, movie theaters, and so on.
  • Sets the minimum standards for accessibility for alterations and new construction of commercial facilities and privately owned public accommodations. It also requires public accommodations to remove barriers in existing buildings where it is easy to do so without much difficulty or expense.
  • Directs businesses to make “reasonable modifications” to their usual ways of doing things when serving people with disabilities.
  • Requires that businesses take steps necessary to communicate effectively with customers with vision, hearing, and speech disabilities.
  • Regulated and enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice.

More information and events related to ADA Title III (Public Accommodations).

Fact Sheets

This section provides information about Accessibility and Accommodations for people with disabilities.

Links and associated content are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily constitute an endorsement or an approval by dLCV of the information, services, opinions, or products of the individuals or organizations.

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Information

  • 2-1-1  Virginia’s community services helpline.  2-1-1 VIRGINIA provides access to services in your community and statewide. All referrals are confidential and you can search for these same services on this 2-1-1 VIRGINIA Web site.  You may reach them by dialing 211 from any phone.

Links and associated content are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily constitute an endorsement or an approval by dLCV of the information, services, opinions, or products of the individuals or organizations.

Videos

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) // Basic Training You Need To Know

It may surprise you that only 30 years ago, many of the buildings where you visit or work were completely inaccessible to people with disabilities. With a great deal of effort and commitment, people with disabilities organized and forced America to pay attention to building access.

Since first signed into law in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has made sweeping changes to American buildings, structures, parking and access ways.

This video is intended to serve as a training tool about the basic parts of the ADA that you may see in your own day-to-day life.  We will cover accessibility to buildings, transportation access for people with disabilities, and your right to vote.

Watch and learn!  Share this information with friends, family, colleagues, and everyone!