Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
This fact sheet discusses the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a cornerstone legislation that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life. Since its enactment on July 26, 1990, the ADA has been a pillar in the civil rights struggle for people with disabilities, ensuring their right to equal opportunities, access to public services, employment, education, and full participation in society.
Did you know?
The ADA defines a disability as any physical or mental condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities, including everyday functions such as eating, walking, or thinking.
The ADA is a federal law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public.
The ADA establishes protections in areas such as employment, public services, and telecommunications.
Latino immigrants have the right to request information in Spanish and receive assistance in their language.
What you need to know
Title I Employment: Prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the workforce and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations.
Title II State and Local Government Services: Requires that public services and transportation are accessible.
Title III Public Accommodations: Ensures that places such as hotels, restaurants, and stores are accessible.
Title IV Telecommunications: Requires telephone and internet companies to provide services that enable individuals with hearing and speech disabilities to communicate.
The rights guaranteed by the ADA apply to everyone in the United States, regardless of immigration status.
More Resources
MID-ATLANTIC ADA CENTER: www.adainfo.org
www.adata.org/guide/la-ley-para-personas-con-discapacidades-preguntas-y-respuestasThe Endependence Center of Northen Virginia: www.ecnv.org
The Arc Northen of Virginia: www.thearcofnova.org
Virginia Department of Education: www.doe.virginia.gov
The main goal of ECNV's BIENVENIDOS project is to disseminate culturally and linguistically competent information to Latino residents of Virginia with disabilities, their families, and caregivers so they can gain equitable access to disability-related rigths, services, and opportunities. For more information, visit www.ecnv.org or contact us at info@ecnv.org or call (703) 525-3268.
Disclaimer: Funding for the Bienvenidos Todos project/product was supported, in part, by the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, under grant number 2401VASCDD, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.