Access Board

The Access Board is an independent federal agency that was charged with developing the guidelines that were eventually adopted by the Department of Justice and Department of Transportation as the enforceable Standards.

Visit the U.S. Access Board website and their ADA Standards page

ADA, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as Amended

The U.S. Department of Justice writes, "...The Americans with Disabilities Act gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications. (From  ADA Questions and Answers)

The text of the ADA as amended

ADA Amendments Act of 2008

The ADA was amended in 2008. The EEOC on the website provides a brief overview: "The Act emphasizes that the definition of disability should be construed in favor of broad coverage of individuals to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of the ADA and generally shall not require extensive analysis." The EEOC has posted the text of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 and an information page about their  final rules and regulations implementing the Amendments Act.

In an article, "ADA or ADAAA, You Say 'Potato,' I Say 'Patato'" from their Enews (Volume 10, Issue 3, Third Quarter, 2012), JAN provides an explanation of why the ADA is now the "ADA, as amended."

ADA National Network

"The ADA National Network consists of ten Regional ADA National Network Centers located throughout the United States that provide local assistance to ensure that the ADA is implemented wherever possible. We are not an enforcement or regulatory agency, but a helpful resource supporting the ADA's mission to "make it possible for everyone with a disability to live a life of freedom and equality." Find out more about the ADA National Network (or find your Regional ADA Center)

Indiana's Regional ADA Center is the Great Lakes ADA Center. You can call 1-800-949-4232 to receive technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act. (It's a free service.)

ADA Questions and Answers

The ADA National Network released an updated version of the “The Americans with Disabilities Act: Questions and Answers.”  Their adapted resource is based on the original publication produced by the EEOC and the DOJ.

View the ADA FAQ Booklet:  https://adata.org/FAQbooklet.  (The booklet is available as a PDF document and online.)

ADA Standards for Accessible Design

The "ADA Standards for Accessible  Design"  are the enforceable accessibility standards from the U.S. Department of Justice. The ADA Standards are also know as the "2010 Standards" to differentiate them from the 1991 ADA Standards for Accessible Design which could be used until March 14, 2012.

• DOJ's ADA Standards for Accessible Design ("2010 Standards")
• DOJ's Guidance on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design
• Access Board's  online Guide to the ADA Standards

ADA Web Search Portal (hosted by the ADA National Network)

The ADA National Network hosts the "ADA Web Search Portal."

ADA Web Search Portal

Books (on the Americans with Disabilities Act)

Each year, ADA-Indiana adds several books and resources related to the ADA to the library maintained at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community. The books and other resources are available for free check-out to Indiana residents.

• Search IUCAT for ADA-related materials (Use "Guest Access" and specify "Bloomington - Indiana Institute on Disability" in Library)
• View The Library at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community ADA Resource Page
• Or call The Library at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community to ask for help in finding the right resources for you:  (800) 825-4733

Conduct Standards and Performance

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has an online resource the address the issue of performance and conduct standards and ADA issues. It is called, "The Americans With Disabilities Act: Applying Performance And Conduct Standards To Employees With Disabilities."

Here are some additional resources:

• Performance/Conduct Issues and an Overview of the ADA Amendments Act - an archive of an ADA Audio Conference program (October 28, 2008) featuring Sharon Rennert of the EEOC and Barry Taylor of the Illinois Protection and Advocacy Agency
• Drugs, Alcohol, and Conduct Rules Under the ADA - an archive of an ADA Legal Webinar program (July 20, 2011) featuring attorneys from Equip for Equality, the Illinois Protection and Advocacy Agency.
• Drugs, Alcohol, and Conduct Rules Under the ADA (PDF Document) - a legal brief prepared by attorneys from Equip for Equality, the Illinois Protection and Advocacy Agency.

Coros ADA Community Grants

ADA-Indiana, in collaboration with the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities

• Visit the Coros ADA Community Grants page

Definition of Disability under the ADA

We would encourage you to review the following resources from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Job Accommodation Network (JAN).

• EEOC's Questions and Answers on the Final Rule Implementing the ADA Amendments Act of 2008
• Fact Sheet on the EEOC's Final Regulations Implementing the ADAAA
• JAN's How to Determine Whether a Person Has a Disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA)

Disability Etiquette

For a few years now, ADA-Indiana has provided print copies of the United Spinal Association's "Disability Etiquette: Tips on Interacting with People with Disabilities. Feel free to contact us for a print copy, or view their online version below.

• United Spinal Association's Disability Etiquette: Tips On Interacting With People With Disabilities
  
• Easter Seals Project Action's Including People with Disabilities: Communication and Meeting Etiquette

Disclosure

Here are some resources about the topic of Disclosure. You might also refer the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) "Employees' Practical Guide to Negotiating and Requesting Reasonable Accommodations Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)" for more information about disclosure and reasonable accommodations.

• JAN's Disability Disclosure and Interviewing Techniques for Persons with Disabilities

Education

If you have questions about how the ADA applies to public and private educational entities, please call the Great Lakes ADA Center for technical assistance: (800) 949-4232. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) handles enforcement for private schools, while the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights handles ADA issues for public schools.

• U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights (for Public Schools): Disability Discrimination (includes brief overview of the enforcement obligations under Title II) and Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities
• Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund - A Comparison of ADA, IDEA, and Section 504
  
• Pacer Center - ADA Q & A: Section 504 and Postsecondary Education

Effective Communication

The ADA National Network presented the topic of Effective Communication in one of their ADA Audio Conferences. If you would like a good overview of Effective Communication, we would encourage you to visit the archive of the session, "Did you hear me? Ensuring effective communication with your customers" (November 15, 2011).

• ADA National Network's Fact Sheet on Effective Communication (PDF Document) - this presents a brief overview of the revised Title II and III regulations on Effective Communication. 
• General Effective Communication Requirements Under Title II of the ADA - Excerpt from the DOJ's "ADA Best Practices Toolkit for State and Local Governments"  (You might want to look at the Checklist: General Effective Communication as well.)

Emergency Preparedness

The ADA National Network has several resources on the topic of Emergency Preparedness.

• ADA National Network's Emergency Management and Preparedness - Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities Webinar Series - An archive of the 2012 webinar series that looked at disability issues in coordinating emergency preparedness at the three levels: Federal, State, and Local.
• Being Prepared: Inclusion of people with disabilities in emergency planning (May 15, 2012) - archive of ADA Audio Conference hosted by the ADA National Network and featuring Jessica Mitchell, a Disability Integration Specialist from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
• You might also be interested in the DOJ's ADA Checklist for Emergency Shelters.

Events and Accessibility

The ADA National Network has a couple of resources on the topic of event planning and the ADA.

• ADA National Network's A Planning Guide for Making Temporary Events Accessible to People With Disabilities - A revised online edition of the Temporary Events guide. The guide covers several areas related to hosting events for the public - site selection, accessible parking and signage, getting around the events, and more.
• Archive of ADA National Network's Audio Conference: Planning Accessible Temporary Events
• The Mid-Atlantic ADA Center released an updated online version of “A Guide to Planning Accessible Meetings” written by June Isaacson Kailes and Darrel Jones in 1993. The updated version includes both regulatory updates (from the 2010 update to the Act itself) along with practical guidance from a host of meeting planning professionals, subject matter experts, and even June Kailes herself.

Family & Medical Leave Act

If you would like more information about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), please visit the U.S. Department of Labor, Wages and Hour Division (WHD) and their web resources on the FMLA. We have provided some resources below that may answer some of the questions of the interaction between FMLA and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

• Interplay between the ADA and the Family Medical Leave Act  - An archive of an ADA Audio Conference program (January 13, 2009)  featuring Alan Goldstein and Barry Taylor, attorneys from the Illinois Protection and Advocacy Agency.
• Job Accommodation Network - FMLA Links

Fair Housing Act

Have a question about the Fair Housing Act?

• Indiana Civil Rights Commission: Fair Housing in Indiana
• If you live in Central Indiana, contact the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana at (317) 644-0673.
• Want to understand Service Animals and Assistance Animals under the Fair Housing Act, and how it relates to the ADA? See HUD's recent Memoranda:  "Service Animals and Assistance Animals for People with Disabilities in Housing and HUD-Funded Programs" (opens as PDF Document)
• Joint Statement of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Justice: "Accessibility (design and construction) Requirements for Covered Multifamily Dwellings Under the Fair Housing Act" (opens as PDF Document)

Frequently Asked Questions

Ever wonder what kind of questions people have about the Americans with Disabilities Act? The ADA National Network has a page of frequently asked questions on the website: https://adata.org/top-ada-frequently-asked-questions

Funding

One of the common questions that ADA-Indiana receives is what are some additional funding sources for making accessibility improvements in our community. While our Coros ADA Grants program is a source of funding for training and other educational activities on the Americans with Disabilities Act, the grant funds can not be used to fund capital improvements or equipment purchases. Here is a very short list that may give your organization some ideas:

• Community Foundations
• Community Development Block Grants (you may want to check with your municipality to find the local department administering this program for your community
• Civic Organizations

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, or GINA, is a federal law that addresses

• EEOC's Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)
• Archive of "ADA and GINA: Understanding the Rules When Employers Request Medical or Genetic Information"

Grants

ADA-Indiana has an annual grants program that is funded the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities. Visit the Coros ADA Community Grants page

Guardianship and the ADA

The Southeast ADA Center covered the topic of Guardianship and the application of the ADA in an episode on their ADA Live Radio show.  The archive of show, The Interplay between Guardianship and the ADA, is available online.

HIV/AIDS Discrimination

The U.S. Department of Justice has a section on their website for the technical assistance and information about HIV and AIDS discrimination.

• DOJ's  HIV/AID Discrimination website
• New Publication:  Protecting the Rights of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS
• The EEOC has a technical assistance document,  Questions and Answers: The Americans with Disabilities Act and Persons with HIV/AIDS

Hotels

The ADA National Network maintains a website called "Hospitality and Disability" that provides information on for hotels and other places of lodging.

• Visit the ADA National Network's Hospitality and Disability website: http://www.adahospitality.org
• Visit ADA-Indiana's web resources for Hotels

Independent Living

The Independent Living movement has been closely aligned with the development and implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

• Find a Center for Independent Living in Indiana: http://www.in.gov/fssa/ddrs/2762.htm
• Visit the  website of ILRU program (Independent Living Research Utilization) to find out more about Independent Living movement. (They also host the Southwest ADA Center.)

Insurance

An online resource from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission … "explains the types of provisions in employer-provided health insurance plans that may violate the ADA. The guidance describes how to identify "disability-based" distinctions in health insurance plans and gives examples of several specific types of provisions that may violate the ADA. "

• Interim Enforcement Guidance on the Application of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to Disability-based Distinctions in Employer Provided Health Insurance (6/8/93)

Interactive Process

The "Interactive Process" is the language used to describe the EEOC recommendation on how an employer might approach recognizing and handling a request for a "reasonable accommodation" under the employment provisions of the ADA.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has an online resource the provide more information on how employer might approach the "interactive process" in handling accommodation requests. Visit:  http://askjan.org/topics/interactive.htm

Job Accommodation

Within the context of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the term "job accommodation" (or workplace accommodation) generally refers to the concept of Reasonable Accommodation under the employment provisions of the ADA. The EEOC document, "Enforcement Guidance: Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship Under the Americans with Disabilities Act," provides an overview of Reasonable Accommodation.

• Job Accommodation Network (JAN) : JAN provides numerous resources on workplace accommodations, as well as free technical assistance to employers and employees on accommodation solutions.

Job Applicants

The EEOC's Fact Sheet, Job Applicants and the Americans with Disabilities Act,  that addresses many of the questions that a Job Applicant may have on how the ADA may apply to their situation.

• Again the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) (JAN) has resources in this area as well. Check out their "Job Seekers" section on their "Individuals" page.

Nonprofits

The Americans with Disabilities Act covers nonprofit organizations. One of the most comprehensive resources is "Renewing the Commitment: An ADA Compliance Guide for Nonprofits." The publication was written by Irene Bowen, an attorney.  (Before becoming a consultant, she worked  as the Deputy Chief of the Disability Rights Section for the U.S. Department of Justice.) The publication provides a very in-depth coverage of how the ADA might apply to a nonprofit: services, facilities, communication, and other areas. There are several "tip sheets" that cover topics like service animals and planning accessible meetings.

• Renewing the Commitment: An ADA Compliance Guide for Nonprofits (HTML verson)
• Renewing the Commitment: An ADA Compliance Guide for Nonprofits (PDF verson)
• You might take a look at our Nonprofits "tag" on the ADA-Indiana delicious.com account for additional web resources.
• If you still have questions about how the Americans with Disabilities Act might apply to your situation, call the Great Lakes ADA Center at 1-800-949-4232. (It's a free service.)

Olmstead

In June 2014, many disability organizations celebrated the 15th Anniversary of the Supreme Court 1999 decision on Olmstead v. L.C.

• Read an overview of the Olmstead decision on the Department of Justice's ADA.gov website.

Parenting and the ADA

In 2015, The U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Health And Human Services released a technical assistance for state and local child welfare agencies regarding the rights of parents with disabilities. The publication, Protecting the Rights of Parents and Prospective Parents with Disabilities:  Technical Assistance for State and Local Child Welfare Agencies and Courts under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is available online.

Parking

A common question that ADA-Indiana receives is where does the ADA require "blue lines"? That is actually required by our Indiana Code (see link below and search for "blue" on the page).

• Indiana Code (IC 5-16-9) Chapter 9. Parking Facilities for Persons With Physical Disabilities
• Accessible Parking Fact Sheet (opens as PDF) : This fact sheet developed by the ADA National Network, and available on the Great Lakes ADA Center's website, "presents information on the 2010 Standards [and reviews the] new provisions for accessible parking that apply to state and local governments, as well as public accommodations and commercial facilities."
• Are you looking for information on Parking as a Reasonable Accommodation under Title I of the ADA? The Job Accommodation Network, or JAN, has an article that covers the topic:   "Parking and the ADA, Act I."
• Are you looking for information on how to deal with accessible parking issues at your apartment complex? This is most likely a Fair Housing issue. You might try to call your local Human Rights office for more information if you have one in your community, or call the Indiana Civil Rights Commission. Or go ahead and contact us and we can help you find the information and possibility the right people to contact.

Performance Standards and the ADA

see C >> "Conduct Standards and Performance" in the A-Z list

People First

"People First" refers to being aware that people with disabilities are "people first." Most commonly used in the context of language, instead of "disabled," use "person with a disability."

A good resource is "The Power of Words: A Guide to Interacting with People with Disabilities" - A resource from the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities that provides an excellent overview of "People First" language.

Pools

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, "On or after January 31, 2013…all existing pools of public entities and public accommodations must comply with the 2010 Standards to the extent required under title II program accessibility or title III readily achievable barrier removal requirements." (See DOJ's  Accessible Pools: Means of Entry and Exit)

• Everyone Into the Pool: Refresher on the requirements for swimming pool lifts  - an archive of an ADA Audio Conference program (February 19, 2013) featuring  Troy Balthazor, an ADA Specialist from the Great Plains ADA Center.
• Accessible Pools: Means of Entry and Exit from the U.S. Department of Justice (Updated May 2012)
• U.S. Department of Justice Webinars on Accessible Pools: Means of Entry and Exit (recorded May 2012)

Postsecondary Institutions and Students With Disabilities

In early 2016, the ADA National Network released a new resource: Postsecondary Institutions and Students With Disabilities. The fact sheet covers how the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Fair Housing Act apply to postsecondary institutions.

The publication can be view online and downloaded as a PDF: https://adata.org/factsheet/postsecondary.

Questions and Answers on the ADA

Remember the "yellow book" from the U.S. Department of Justice and the EEOC, you can still view it online: Americans with Disabilities Act: Questions and Answers.

ADA Questions and Answers

The ADA National Network released an updated version of the “The Americans with Disabilities Act: Questions and Answers.” Their adapted resource is based on the original publication produced by the EEOC and the DOJ.

View the ADA FAQ Booklet: https://adata.org/FAQbooklet. (The booklet is available as a PDF document and online.)

Reasonable Accommodation

If you are looking for information on "Reasonable Accommodations" under the ADA, a good starting point is the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). Not only do they have a very useful website (www.askjan.org) but they will also work with individuals and employers on specific accommodation issues.

• JAN's "Employees' Practical Guide to Negotiating and Requesting Reasonable Accommodations Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)"
• JAN's "Accommodation Information by Limitation: A to Z"

Service Animals

See ADA-Indiana's Resource Page on "Service Animals and the ADA" for more information

Tax Incentives

The ADA National Network has a fact sheet on the available tax incentives for barrier removal and making accommodations: ADA Quick Tip - Tax Incentives.

Temporary Events

Are you looking for information about the ADA and how it might apply to temporary events such as Street Fairs, Festivals, and other similar activities?

• The ADA National Network's "A Planning Guide for Making Temporary Events Accessible to People with Disabilities"
• Archive of August 25th, 2015 ADA Audio Conference: "Planning Accessible Temporary Events" with Jennifer Perry and Rob Gilkerson

Testing Accommodations and the ADA

In 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice released technical assistance for both private (Title III) and public (Title II) organizations. As the DOJ announced, "… the document discusses who is entitled to testing accommodations, what types of testing accommodations must be provided, and what documentation may be required of the person requesting testing accommodations. The document also discusses prohibited flagging policies and how test scores for test-takers receiving disability-related accommodations should be reported.

DOJ's "Testing Accommodations" for Individuals with Disabilities Who Take Standardized Exams And High-Stakes Tests.

The ADA National Network has a fact sheet on Exams and Courses which summarizes how the Title II and Title III regulations "apply to applications, licensing, certification, or credentialing for education or for professions and trades."

Transportation

Easter Seal's Project ACTION was the go-to resource for information about the ADA and transportation. Even though Project ACTION has stop operating, their website (and the learning resources) is still available as an archive.

• Project ACTION's publication "ADA Essentials for Transit Board Members: Fundamentals of the Americans with Disabilities Act" while intended as an overview for Transit Board members, is a very concise overview of how the ADA is applied to transportation entities and the transportation requirements.
• If you are interested in transportation issues (ADA and beyond), you might consider visiting the archive website of Easter Seals Project ACTION.

Veterans

There are several resources available on the Americans with Disabilities Act for Veterans and those serving them.

• ADA: Know Your Rights, Returning Service Members with Disabilities : A publication from the U.S. Department of Justice  that covers all Titles of the ADA, and well as providing links to other relevant disability laws.
• The Job Accommodation Network has a  "Veterans and Service Members" page with information on workplace accommodations, and links to other resources.
• You might take a look at our Veterans "tag" on the ADA-Indiana delicious.com account for additional web resources.
• If you still have questions about how the Americans with Disabilities Act might apply to your situation, call the Great Lakes ADA Center at 1-800-949-4232. (It's a free service.)

Volunteers

Are you looking for information on how (and if) Volunteers are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act?

• The Job Accommodation Network, or JAN, has an article that covers the topic: "Volunteers and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)."
• If you still have questions about how the Americans with Disabilities Act might apply to your situation, call the Great Lakes ADA Center at 1-800-949-4232. (It's a free service.)

Voting

To find out more about how the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to voting (the ADA covers local and state governments), you might want to listen to the archive of "Don't forget to cast your vote! Accessibility of Polling Places" . This ADA Audio Conference from the ADA National Network "aired" on September 18th, 2012. The presenter, Faith Gross, covers not only the ADA but other disability and voting laws as well.

• Voting in Indiana: A Guide for Hoosiers with Disabilities - A resource from the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities that provides information on voting rights, and specifically about voting in Indiana.
• ADA Checklist for Polling Places - The U.S. Department of Justice developed a checklist for local election officials to use in making polling places accessible.
• If you have a question about your Voting Rights, contact the Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services at (800) 622-4845, and ask to speak to someone from their "Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access."