On July 26th, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act were signed into law. The act intended to make American society more accessible to people with disabilities. This is one of the most comprehensive civil rights laws enacted in the United States and prohibits discrimination on the basis of physical or mental disability. By passing the ADA the government recognized the fact that a large number of Americans were still being excluded from many areas of life, including employment, access to public and governmental accommodations, transportation and telecommunications. The ADA provides a much-needed standard for the protection of civil rights of people with disabilities. The ADA is divided into to 5 parts called "Titles." Title I covers employment, Title II covers Public Services, Title III covers Public Accommodations, Title IV covers Telecommunications, and Title V covers Miscellaneous. .
Title I Employment.
Title I states that businesses must provide reasonable accommodations to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of employment. Some of the changes that may have to be made are as follows: making existing facilities "Readily accessible to and usable to individuals with disabilities;" restructuring a job, modifying work schedules, reassigning persons to vacant positions, acquiring or modifying equipment/devices as well as providing readers or interpreters. Applying for the job, hiring, wages, benefits, and all other aspects of employment may be included as well in Title I. .
Title II Public Services.
Title II states that public services, which includes state and local government instrumentalities, cannot deny a person with a disability from participating in a program or activity which is available to those without a disability. Public transportation systems must be accommodating for those with disabilities as well. .
Title III Public Accommodations.