Newly constructed or altered places of public accommodation, commercial facilities and state and local government facilities are required to comply with the ADA Standards.  Places of public accommodation in existing facilities are required to remove accessibility barriers to the extent it is readily achievable – meaning easy to accomplish without much difficulty or expense.  State and local governments using existing facilities are required to ensure their programs, services and activities, when viewed in their entirety, are accessible.

The new regulations represent the indisputable and fundamental principle that all individuals with disabilities should have equal access and equal rights to participate fully in society.

The Justice Department announced the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design went into effect on March 15, 2012. President Obama announced the ADA revisions on the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act( ADA)  July 26, 2010.

The standards are part of the revised regulations of Title I and Title II of the ADA of 1990 and will make buildings and facilities accessible to the 54 million Americans with disabilities.  The standards are here www.ada.gov/2010ADAstandards_index.htm.

“People with disabilities should have the opportunity to participate in American society as fully and equally as those without disabilities,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.  “The department encourages businesses and governments around the country to help break down barriers for people with disabilities so that we give every individual access to equal opportunity and equal justice.”

Title II of the ADA protects people with disabilities from discrimination on the basis of disability in services, programs and activities provided by state and local government entities.

Title III prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by places of public accommodation (businesses that are generally open to the public and that fall into one of 12 categories listed in the ADA, such as restaurants, movie theaters, schools, day care facilities, recreational facilities and doctors’ offices).

Newly constructed or altered places of public accommodation, commercial facilities and state and local government facilities are required to comply with the ADA Standards.  Places of public accommodation in existing facilities are required to remove accessibility barriers to the extent it is readily achievable – meaning easy to accomplish without much difficulty or expense.  State and local governments using existing facilities are required to ensure their programs, services and activities, when viewed in their entirety, are accessible.

 

Requirements for existing swimming pools will be extended for 60 days.  The department will also publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking with a 15-day comment period on a possible six-month extension in order to allow additional time to address misunderstandings regarding compliance with these ADA requirements.  More information on pool requirements can be found athttp://www.ada.gov/pools_2010.htm.

 

People interested in finding out more about the ADA or the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design can call the toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (Voice) or 800-514-0383 (TTY), or access the ADA website at www.ada.gov.