Legal Definitions - ADA

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark civil rights law in the United States. Its primary purpose is to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities and ensure they have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else in various aspects of public life. The ADA mandates equal access in areas such as employment, state and local government services, public accommodations (like businesses and non-profits), and commercial facilities. It requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and prohibits discrimination in hiring, promotion, and other employment practices. It also ensures that public spaces and services are accessible to people with disabilities.

• Example 1: Public Accommodation

  A newly constructed shopping mall opens, but its main entrance only has stairs, and there are no ramps or automatic doors for wheelchair users, making it impossible for many individuals with mobility impairments to enter.

  This situation would likely violate the ADA's provisions regarding public accommodations. The law requires new construction and alterations to existing facilities to be readily accessible to individuals with disabilities, ensuring they can enter and use the premises just like anyone else. The absence of accessible entry points constitutes discrimination by denying equal access to public commercial facilities.

• Example 2: Employment

  An experienced graphic designer who is deaf applies for a position at a marketing firm. During the interview, the firm's hiring manager expresses concern about how the designer would communicate with clients and colleagues, despite the designer offering to use sign language interpreters or other assistive technologies. The firm then decides not to hire the designer, citing "communication challenges" rather than their qualifications.

  This scenario illustrates potential employment discrimination under the ADA. The law prohibits employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in hiring. If the designer is otherwise qualified for the job, the employer must consider providing reasonable accommodations (like an interpreter or video relay services) to facilitate communication, unless doing so would cause undue hardship. Refusing to hire based on a disability, without exploring reasonable accommodations, violates the ADA.

• Example 3: State and Local Government Services

  A city's public library system decides to upgrade its online catalog and digital resources. However, the new website is designed without features that make it compatible with screen readers used by individuals with visual impairments, effectively making the library's digital services inaccessible to them.

  This situation would fall under the ADA's requirements for state and local government services. The ADA mandates that public entities ensure their programs, services, and activities are accessible to individuals with disabilities. By creating a website that is not accessible to screen readers, the library is discriminating against visually impaired patrons by denying them equal access to public information and resources, which is a violation of the ADA.