The Americans with Disabilities Act Summary
The Americans with Disabilities Act Summary
On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law intended to make the American society more accessible to people with disabilities. The general purpose of this legislation is to extend the prohibition against discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, and national origin to persons with disabilities. This further protects individuals with disabilities in recruitment, preemployment screening, hiring, promotions, layoffs and termination's, and any other term, condition, or privilege of employment. Private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions are covered in the act. In addition, the ADA applies to all aspects of participation in society, including employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. The ADA prepares employees by providing appropriate information and personnel training on the provisions of the ADA, its relevance to the functioning of the organization as a whole, and the responsibilities of specific personnel.
Five Titles of the ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act is divided into five titles. Employment being the first, states that businesses must provide reasonable accommodations to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of employment. Possible changes may include restructuring jobs, altering the layout of workstations, or modifying equipment, Employment aspects may include the application process, hiring, wages, benefits, and all other aspects of employment. Medical exams are also highly regulated.
Title two, public services, which includes state and local government instrumentality's, cannot deny services to people with disabilities participation in programs or activities which are available to people without disabilities. In addition, public transportation systems, such as public transit buses, must be accessible to individuals with disabilities.
In title three, public accommodations are addressed. All new construction and modifications must be removed if readily achievable. Public accommodations include facilities such as restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, retail stores, etc., as well as privately owned transportation systems.
Title four, telecommunications, states that telecommunication companies offering telephone service to the general public must have telephone relay service to individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf or similar devices.
Finally, title five, miscellaneous, prohibits coercing or threatening or retaliating against the disabled or those attempting to aid people with disabilities asserting their rights under the ADA.
Who Meets Disabled Requirements?
A person may be considered disabled if he or she meets at least any one of the following requirements:
1. He or she has a physical or mental...