Articles
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The ADA and Public Places
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has a lot to say about businesses that are open to the public. -
The Spirit of the ADA and Your Business
If you are merely complying with the ADA to meet a legal requirement, you’re missing the true purpose—or spirit—of the ADA. -
The ADA and Title II Public Entities
The ADA ensures access by people with disabilities to buildings, facilities, programs, services, and activities offered by state and local governments. -
What Is the Americans with Disabilities Act?
The ADA defines disability and has five titles (sections) that forbid a wide range of discrimination. -
Olmstead Decision
What’s the Olmstead decision? How does it relate to Title II of the ADA? This article introduces the Olmstead decision and looks at a few related court cases in New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico.
Ask About the ADA
- Tax Incentives for Business Owners to Improve Accessibility
Q: I own a small business that needs some physical modifications for people who are wheelchair users or have other mobility impairments. Does the federal government have any tax incentives to help me... - Personal Assistants as a Reasonable Accommodation
Q: Is asking for a personal assistance service a reasonable accommodation in the workplace under the ADA? A: Under the ADA, private employers are not obligated to provide or pay for personal services... - What about COVID-19?
Q: What COVID-19 resources do you recommend? A: First, let’s acknowledge that coping with COVID-19 can be very difficult, and we hope you’re doing okay with whatever challenges brought yo... - Contacting My Bank
Q: My bank just eliminated its call center and now does everything through an app or on a chat box on their website. Does this violate the ADA? A: Many emerging businesses strictly use technology to... - My business has requests from time to time to provide for interpreters and other services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Are there any tax benefits I can claim to assist me with these costs?
Good news! Assuming that your business counts as a “small business” under Section 44 of the Internal Revenue Code, you can get a tax credit of up to $15,000 for a variety of accessibility-...
Infographics
Infographics
![Infographic featuring a smiling woman dressed in a business-casual manner in front of a blank background.
Four out of five small businesses do not see the cost of accommodations as a barrier to employing people with disabilities.
Note: For the purposes of this study, we define small business as employer’s having 15- 500 employees.
Source: William Erickson (Yang-Tan Institute, Cornell University) analysis of Cornell/SHRM Survey 2011, Private employers only. N=525
“We really wanted to make sure that the employee joined us. So, we did what we had to [to accommodate].” -- Talent Acquisition & Human Resources Manager of a small information and technology company
Quote is from set of interviews with small business representatives conducted by the Northeast ADA research team to investigate small business needs around ADA implementation.
If you have any questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, contact us at 1-800-949-4232](https://s3.amazonaws.com/production-northeastada-org/local/en/IG-2018-04-30-Biz5.jpg)
Blog Posts
- Historical Concerns with H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017
April 27, 2017
My friend and colleague Jim DeJong was part of an email chain in which we were discussing the ADA Education and Reform Act. He told a story of the “making of” Title III of the ADA. I asked... - What the ADA Tells Us about Accessibility When Implementing COVID-19 Regulations
July 08, 2020
During these times of uncertainty about what about what the “new normal” will look like as the country begins to re-open, we wanted to remind everyone about an oldie-but-a-goodie law that... - The ADA and Small Business Owners: What You (Really) Need to Know
February 16, 2017
Jennifer Perry, Access Specialist, Northeast ADA Center “I own a small business that is grandfathered from the ADA because our building is old. Sure, I would like to be more accessible, but legally I’... - Employers and the ADA: Myths and Facts
February 18, 2016
This material was published by the US Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark federal law that protects the rights of peopl... - E-Access to Health Care?
July 15, 2017
We live in an increasingly digital world. So much of the day-to-day tasks we do are done on the internet on our computers and mobile phones. This is true in all aspects of life, including our health....
Webinars
- Introduction to the Service Animal Toolkit
July 27, 2022
Do customers bring dogs into your business claiming they are service animals, emotional support animals, comfort dogs, or therapy dogs? Join Chris Sweet, technical assistant for the Northeast ADA Cent... - Small Employer Webinar
July 25, 2018
How much do small businesses know about disability, the ADA, and their responsibilities related to reasonable accommodation? In the Northeast ADA Center, we are conducting a study to better unde... - Access for All: The ADA and Older People
March 21, 2018
The ADA has done much to improve the quality of life for millions of people—including older people—with disabilities. This webinar will educate participants about how the ADA applies... - Is That a Service Animal: What Rights Apply Where
January 24, 2018
The Northeast ADA Center is often asked about service animals. It can be confusing for individuals with disabilities, businesses, transit providers, and landlords to know what rights a person with a d... - Reasonable Accommodation: A Focus on Small Employers
August 11, 2017
Reasonable accommodation is a cornerstone of Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation allows people to approach the same work, in a way that works for them;...
News
- More Businesses are Opening up to People with Disabilities
September 20, 2017
More than a decade ago, when Jenny Lay-Flurrie was looking for a job, she told an interviewer at Microsoft that she had some trouble hearing. "I didn't tell them I was profoundly deaf," Lay-Flurrie te... - How Employers Can Make Businesses More Inclusive for People with Disabilities
Michael Ray, who has hearing loss, uses technology that allows him to hold a job that requires talking on the phone at VA Western New York Healthcare. He says other people have used simple accommodati... - Survey Opportunity
August 15, 2018
Did you know that small businesses (with fewer than 500 employees) constitute more than 98% of New York and New Jersey businesses, and account for over 50% of the private workforce within region 2: Ne... - Free Webinar for Small Employers
July 18, 2018
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm EST. How much do small businesses know about disability, the ADA, and their responsibilities related to reasonable accommodation? Here at the Northeast... - Free Webinar for Small Employers
June 22, 2018
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 from 1:00pm to 2:00pm EST. How much do small businesses know about disability, the ADA, and their responsibilities related to reasonable accommodation? In the Northeast ADA C...