ICC ADAAG MANUAL

Abstract

<strong>Introduction</strong> <br>The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 recognizes and protects the civil rights of people with disabilities and is modeled after earlier landmark laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race and gender. The ADA covers a wide range of disability, from physical conditions affecting mobility, stamina, sight, hearing, and speech to conditions such as emotional illness and learning disorders. The ADA addresses access to the workplace (title I), state and local government services (title II), and places of public accommodation and commercial facilities (title III). It also requires phone companies to provide telecommunications relay services for people who have hearing or speech impairments (title IV) and miscellaneous instructions to Federal agencies that enforce the law (title V). <br>Regulations that set requirements and establish enforcement procedures are necessary to implement laws such as the ADA. To understand and comply with the ADA, it is important to follow the regulations issued under the different titles. Comprehensive regulations for titles II and III issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) include enforceable standards for the construction and alteration of buildings and facilities. These standards, which are based on the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), are enforced by DOJ, DOT and the courts and apply nationwide. The regulations provide important information on which buildings and facilities are subject to the standards. It is important that the regulations be used along with the design standards they contain or reference.