The Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) was signed into law on
July 26, 1990. The ADA is a farreaching
law that prohibits discrimination
against disabled persons in
employment, public accommodations,
government services, and
telecommunications. On January 26,
1992, the law went into effect for
existing buildings. Building owners
are now required to remove barriers
that inhibit accessibility where "readily
achievable" — that is, where "it is
able to be accomplished easily and
without much difficulty and
expense."
The ADA affects five million public
buildings — shops, stores, hotels,
restaurants, theaters, doctors' offices,
libraries, museums, day care centers,
private schools, parks, bowling alleys,
etc., as well as office buildings, warehouses,
factories, and state and local
government buildings.
The ADA places a high priority
on enabling people