Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is landmark civil rights legislation that was passed in 1990. The goal of the ADA is to shape American society to include people with disabilities in several key areas, such as employment, state and local government programs and activities, and businesses and nonprofit organizations that are open to the public. The ADA has five titles:

  • Title I covers employment.
  • Title II addresses the programs, services, and activities of state and local government (public entities).
  • Title III applies to businesses and nonprofits that are open to the public (public accommodations).
  • Title IV established the relay system for telephone access for people who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing.
  • Title V has requirements that apply to both the ADA as a whole and how the ADA impacts other laws.

In 2008, Congress strengthened and clarified the ADA with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA).

[ Read: ADA Overview ]

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Small Employer Survey Results #5
'Small Employer Survey Results #5' Graphic shows example comic titled 'What is a Disability?' featuring two coworkers speaking and a caption: 95% of small employers in our survey found this comic format a helpful way to access information on disability. Comic panel 1: “Small Companies and the ADA.” Coworker 2: 'I just read that the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to small companies. But no one here uses a wheelchair or is blind.' Subtitle: The employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act apply to all businesses with fifteen or more employees. Panel 2: “Disability Under the ADA.” Coworker 1: “Actually, 20% of the American population has a disability. Many disabilities you can’t even see. Conditions like hearing impairments, depression, and cancer may be disabilities under the ADA.” Subtitle: “Under the ADA, if an employee has an ongoing or serious medical/health condition that affects how the body works or the way they do their job, they might have a disability.” Panel 3: “Covered Employees”. Coworker 2 thinking, “Huh. Tom has a slipped disc. Silvia has low vision, and Mateo deals with anxiety. These could all be disabilities under the ADA.” Subtitle: “In order to benefit from the protections of the ADA, an employee must disclose they have a disability to their employer.” Source: Chang, H.-Y., von Schrader, S., & Strobel Gower, W. (2019). Small organizations and Title I of the ADA: A survey study in Region 2. Ithaca, NY: Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability. If you have questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, contact us at 1-800-949-4232.
Accessible Ballots
'Accessible Ballots' The voting process must be accessible to all. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, state and local governments must provide auxiliary aids and services to voters with disabilities. Under the Help America Vote Act, every polling site must have at least one accessible voting machine that offers non-visual access while providing privacy and independence. If you have questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, contact us at 1-800-949-4232.
2016 United States Disability Statistics - Employment Rate Gap
Infographic titled '2016 Puerto Rico Disability Statistics - Employment Rate Gap' featuring a bar graph showing employment rates for people with disabilities and people without disabilities within the U.S. population. In 2016, the employment rate of people with disabilities in the U.S. was 42.7% less than people without disabilities. People with disabilities had an employment rate of 36.2% and people without disabilities had an employment rate of 78.9%. If you have any questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, contact us at 1-800-949-4232
2016 Puerto Rico Disability Statistics - Employment Rate Gap
Infographic titled '2016 Puerto Rico Disability Statistics - Employment Rate Gap' featuring a bar graph showing employment rates for people with disabilities and people without disabilities within the U.S. population. In 2016, the employment rate of people with disabilities in Puerto Rico was 35.5% less than people without disabilities. People with disabilities had an employment rate of 23.1% and people without disabilities had an employment rate of 58.6%. If you have any questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, contact us at 1-800-949-4232
2016 New York Disability Statistics - Employment Rate Gap
Infographic titled '2016 New York Disability Statistics - Employment Rate Gap' featuring a bar graph showing employment rates for people with disabilities and people without disabilities within the New York state population. In 2016, the employment rate of people with disabilities in New York was 44.9% less than people without disabilities. People with disabilities had an employment rate of 33.0% and people without disabilities had an employment rate of 77.9%. If you have any questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, contact us at 1-800-949-4232