What is the Americans with Disabilities Act? Why is it crucial to understand what it is and the purpose it serves? According to the U.S, Department of labor, the ADA “prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental activities. The ADA also establishes requirements for telecommunications relay services.”
When an individual is in need of assistance when it comes to understanding their rights as a person with a disability, the ADA is able to break down the ins and outs of what and who they protect. Those with disabilities have the right to:
- Public services and activities in a setting or place that works best for the individual
- Have reasonable accommodations made in public settings unless the setting in question shows that doing so will cause undue hardship for them
- Have public and/or private settings accessible to them; such as a restaurant or hotel making their establishment wheelchair accessible
- Have aides at their disposal in a public setting which is provided at no cost to the individual, allowing them effective communication. Some of these aids include, but are not limited to, interpreters, assisted listening devices, closed captioning and/or decoding, braille material, video texts)
It is vital that an individual with a disability, or someone representing them, learn all they can about the Americans with Disabilities Act, what it is and what a person’s rights and privileges are. By doing this, it makes the web of “disabilities” easier to navigate.
Contact us if you have any questions or concerns. We would be more than happy to help.