Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (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.

President George H. Bush signed the ADA into law on July 26, 1990. The legal structure of the ADA is based on the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The ADA uses concepts of disability, accessibility, and employment which were introduced in the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These two federal laws were the predecessors of the ADA that mandated a level of accessibility in federally funded buildings and programs. The ADA expanded the requirements of accessibility to the new and existing facilities of privately funded companies for the first time.

The ADA consists of five separate parts or titles: Title I relates to employment; Title II concerns public services; Title III pertains to public accommodations and commercial facilities; Title IV refers to telecommunications; and Title V covers miscellaneous other items.

1. Answers to ADA FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) re:
   • Public Accommodation
   • Employment
   • Transportation
   • Telecommunication
   • State and Local Government
2. LINKS to ADA Information Services
3. Addresses and Telephone Numbers for ADA Information
4. Voting Rights
5. Olmstead Information
6. ADA requires self-serve gas stations to provide equal access to their customers with disabilities.
7. Spirit of the ADA Month, 2000 – July 1, 2000 By the President of the United States of America – A Proclamation
8. ADA Archive – A comprehensive online archive of documents and history related to ADA of 1990 and the 2008 Amendments