Title I - Employment
Title II - Public Services
Title III - Public Accommodations and Services (including transportation) Operated by Private Entities
Title IV - Telecommunications
Title V - Miscellaneous Provisions
In July 1991, the Department of Justice issued regulations to implement Title III of the ADA. These regulations prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability and require places of public accommodation and commercial facilities to be designed, constructed and altered in compliance with new ADA accessibility standards, which were developed by the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (A&TBCB).
The ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) were developed to guide new construction and alterations undertaken by covered entities. The guidelines establish the minimum requirements for accessibility in buildings and facilities and in transportation vehicles.
The broad definition of both commercial facilities and places of public accommodation contained in the ADA insures that virtually all elements of the private sector are covered by this law.
The U.S. Access Board, also known as the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, created in 1973, has served the nation as the only independent federal agency whose primary mission is accessibility for people with disabilities. The Board is a federal agency which develops minimum guidelines and requirements for standards issued under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA.
ADA requirements for existing facilities:
ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) was developed for new construction and alterations. The highest degree of accessibility is expected in new work, when the cost of providing accessible features is nominal compared to the overall cost of construction. Alterations and additions, constrained by work already in place, may default to an intermediate standard when structural and site conditions prohibit full accessibility. Existing facilities must do the best they can with what they have, a flexibility that permits needs to be balanced against available resources.
Who enforces the ADA?
The ADA has four major titles that are enforced by one or more Federal agencies.
Title I prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment. Complaints may be filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Title II prohibits discrimination by state and local governments in their services, programs, or activities. It is enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice and its designated agencies. It also requires public transportation vehicles and facilities to be accessible. Transportation complaints may be filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Title III prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in places of public accommodation. It also requires that private transportation systems serving the public be accessible. The U.S. Department of Justice enforces these provisions.
Title IV requires telephone companies to provide telecommunications relay services to allow persons with hearing and speech impairments to communicate over the phone. Complaints may be filed with the Federal Communications Commission.
The following figures illustrate some of the guidelines applied to buildings and facilities.
