Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination law which guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.

Interpreting services may be a reasonable accommodation for a deaf or hard of hearing person to obtain access to communication. Writing notes back and forth will not be a reasonable accommodation if the consumer does not understand written English. Reasonable accommodations for other disability conditions include providing elevators, ramps, special parking spaces, and wheelchair accessible restrooms.

Organizations that supply interpreters and other reasonable accommodations in compliance with the ADA may be eligible for tax benefits.

ADA resources:

The ADA Home Page provides access to Americans with Disabilities Act regulations for businesses and state and local governments, technical assistance materials, ADA Standards for Accessible Design, links to Federal agencies with ADA responsibilities and information, updates on new ADA requirements, information about Department of Justice ADA settlement agreements and enforcement activities and access to Freedom of Information Act ADA materials.

What does the ADA mean by "effective communication" accommodations for deaf and hard of hearing individuals? How does someone know if they must hire an interpreter? Read this section of the Technical Assistance Paper for ADA Title III to find out.

What does the Americans with Disabilities Act mean by "places of public accommodation"? Read this section of the Technical Assistance Paper for ADA Title III to find out.

With the protection of the ADA, a worker who, despite a disability, is able to perform the essential functions of his job, is entitled to reasonable accommodation from the employer, if needed. If you feel that you have been a victim of disability discrimination, it is important that you know your legal rights, and the actions you must take to prevent loss of your right to a remedy

The ADA authorizes the Department of Justice to provide technical assistance to individuals and entities that have rights or responsibilities under the Act. This document provides informal guidance to assist you in understanding the ADA and the Department's regulation. However, this technical assistance does not constitute a legal interpretation of the statute.

Monheit, Silverman & Fodera is a law firm dedicated to the protection of individual rights. This site consists of over 50 web pages. You have the ability to submit legal questions to any of the attorneys at the office. Or, if you are looking for a referral to an attorney in your state, feel free to ask. In order to contact us, we have provided a number of ways that will fit your schedule.

Online ADA course for businesses

Supreme Court Cases involving the ADA
This database contains syllabi of the opinions of the Supreme Court from 1990 to the present. Syllabi are summaries of each case prepared by the Court's reporter of decisions.

ADA Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about ADA compliance

ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities
Specific guidelines about ADA accomodations

Job Accommodation Network ADA Hot Links and Document Center
The Job Accomodation Network, a free service of the U.S. DOL Office of Disability Employment Policy, provides information about job accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the employability of people with disabilities.

Access-by-Design ADA Enforcement Consulting
Access by Design embraces the ideal that all people should enjoy equal opportunities, including access to commercial facilities.

Evan Terry Architects
Achitecture & Access Compliance Firm

Supreme Court Cases involving the ADA
This database contains syllabi of the opinions of the Supreme Court from 1990 to the present. Syllabi are summaries of each case prepared by the Court's reporter of decisions.

ADA Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about ADA compliance

ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities
Specific guidelines about ADA accomodations

Job Accommodation Network ADA Hot Links and Document Center
The Job Accomodation Network, a free service of the U.S. DOL Office of Disability Employment Policy, provides information about job accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the employability of people with disabilities.