Monday: October 20, 2025

Promoting Inclusion

Reports on the struggle for equal rights for Americans with Disabilities.

Education is the key to understanding

important milestones

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a major federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Here are some key facts about the ADA:

– Signed into law in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush.

– Provides comprehensive protections against discrimination based on disability in employment, public accommodations, government services, public transportation, and telecommunications.

– Applies to employers with 15 or more employees, as well as state and local government entities.

– Requires covered employers and businesses to provide reasonable accommodations to employees and customers with disabilities.

– Led to nationwide changes to make facilities and services more accessible to people with disabilities through ramps, braille signage, assistive technology and more.

– Administered and enforced by different federal agencies including the EEOC, DOJ, DOT, and FCC.

– Amended in 2008 (ADA Amendments Act) to expand the definition of disability.

– Overall, the ADA has been transformational in securing civil rights for Americans with all types of disabilities and enabling greater participation in mainstream society. It continues to shape policy and practices around inclusion and accessibility.