Celebrating the Americans with Disability Act (ADA)

Posted in RESOURCES

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP
Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare        

July 26, 2022 marks the 32nd anniversary of the ADA. The ADA is a historic 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.

On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. Considered one of the most sweeping and comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation ever passed, it “prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life. Modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, the ADA is an ‘equal opportunity’ law for people with disabilities.”

Take a moment to review the Timeline of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The ADA is divided into five titles (or sections) that relate to different areas of public life.

  • Title I – Employment
  • Title II – Public Services: State and Local Government
  • Title III – Public Accommodations and Services Operated by Private Entities
  • Title IV – Telecommunications
  • Title V – Miscellaneous Provisions

Read more about each of the titles here. You’ll also find links to additional ADA information on that landing page, including training on the ADA and its provisions.

I also encourage you to read the Justice Department Commemorates the 32nd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act Press Release. “Recently, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid epidemic have exacted a steep toll on many people with disabilities and shed light on the continued urgency of ADA enforcement.”  The Press Release highlights these areas:

  • Promoting Web Accessibility
  • Warning About the Risks of Artificial Intelligence in Hiring
  • Ensuring Fair Treatment of People with Opioid Use Disorder
  • Promoting Access to Transportation including Ridesharing Services
  • Fighting Segregation and Criminalization of People with Disabilities

How much do you know about the ADA?