Overview

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark piece of legislation overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and other federal agencies to ensure full accessibility in any public facility in the United States, including small business, restaurants, public hospitals and other service providers. 

The ADA is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities. It specifically targets architectural barriers such as ramps, stairs, accessible bathrooms and toilet facilities, as well as accessible workplaces for both the physically disabled and the communication impaired (deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind, and deaf-blind) in use of both computers and video relay services.

To meet the goals of the ADA, the law established requirements for businesses of all sizes. These requirements went into effect on January 26, 1992. Businesses that serve the public must:

• Modify policies and practices that discriminate against people with disabilities
• Comply with accessible design standards when constructing or altering facilities
• Remove barriers in existing facilities where readily achievable, and provide auxiliary aids and services when needed to ensure effective communication with people who have hearing, vision, or speech impairments

All businesses, even those that do not serve the public, must comply with accessible design standards when constructing or altering facilities.

The DOJ provides information about the ADA through a toll-free ADA information line. This service permits businesses, state and local governments, or others to call and ask questions about general or specific ADA requirements, including questions about the ADA Standards for Accessible Design. For general ADA information, call 800-514-0301 (voice) or 800-514-0383 (TTY).  A list of articles and cross-references is available at http://www.ada.gov/index.htm.

ADA Guide for Small Businesses

The ADA has published an illustrated guide, which presents an overview of some basic ADA requirements for small businesses that provide goods and services to the public. The purpose of these guides is to provide information on small business conformance and opportunities for becoming service providers in the federal arena in areas governed by this act.

ADA Guide for Small Businesses (HTML)
ADA Guide for Small Businesses (PDF)

Related Resources

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services supports a comprehensive array of programs and projects that support individuals with disabilities:

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDDR)

The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDDR) conducts comprehensive and coordinated programs of research and related activities to assist in the achievement of the full inclusion, social integration, employment and independent living of people with disabilities. The total proposed NIDRR fiscal 2010 budget is $141 million ($100 million for research; $41 million for technology requirements). From this budget, the NIDRR supports 344 projects. 

Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) 

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) provides leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) authorizes formula grants to states and discretionary grants to institutions of higher education and other non-profit organizations to support research, demonstrations, technical assistance and dissemination, technology and personnel development, and parent-training and information centers.

Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)

The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) oversees grant programs that help individuals with physical or mental disabilities to obtain employment and live more independently through the provision of such supports as counseling, medical and psychological services, job training and other individualized services.

Unsolicited Proposal Submittal

The Institute for Education Sciences (IES) finds opportunities and provides information on research funding, including funding for unsolicited grants in the area of assistive devices and services.

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