Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Americans with disabilities act (ADA), signed into law in 1990, makes life more accessible to people with disabilities. In 2008, the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) broadened the definition of disability, which had been narrowed by U.S. Supreme Court decisions. ADA protection applies to individuals who meet its definition of disability if an individual has a physical or mental impairment substantially limiting major life activities. The law consists of:

• Title 1 — Employment:Employers must make reasonable accommodations—restructured jobs, accessible workplaces, modified schedules and policies, interpreters—for applicants and employees with disabilities. Prohibits discrimination and regulates medical exams. 
• Title 2 — Public Services: State/local government agencies and public transportation systems cannot deny services, and must be accessible, to individuals with disabilities. 
• Title 3 — Public Accommodations: Facilities—restaurants, hotels, grocery and retail stores, and private transportation systems—cannot deny services to individuals with disabilities. New construction must be accessible and existing facilities must be modified. 
• Title 4 — Telecommunications: Telephone service must have relay service to individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TTYs) or similar devices.
• Title 5 — Miscellaneous: Prohibits coercing, threatening, or retaliating against individuals with disabilities or those attempting to aid them in asserting their ADA rights.