DISABILITY SERVICES PROGRAM

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

The ADA has been called the most far-reaching piece of civil rights legislation since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and is one of the most important federal statutes protecting the rights of people with disabilities. The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the areas of private employment, public services (state and local government), public accommodations and telecommunications.

The ADA is composed of five sections or titles. Title I. covers nondiscrimination in employment activities. Title II. requires that state and local government entities/programs and public transportation systems be made fully accessible to people with disabilities. Title III. covers the accessibility and availability of programs, goods and services provided to the public by private entities. Title IV. requires that telecommunication services be made accessible and specifically references relay systems and closed captioning technology. Title V. contains miscellaneous provisions that apply to all the other titles as well.

Thus, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (and its accompanying regulations) states that, if you receive federal funds, you may not discriminate on the basis of disability. The ADA states that you may not discriminate on the basis of disability regardless of whether you receive federal funding. For postsecondary institutions, the ADA adds few additional regulatory requirements. The vast majority of postsecondary educational institutions have been (for more than 15 years) and continue to be subject to the Rehabilitation Act in addition to their coverage under the ADA.

Source: Jarrow, J. E. (1992) The ADA's Impact on Postsecondary Education. Association on Higher Education And Disability. Omnipress, Madison, Wisconsin.

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Ron Vick, MA, LPC
Counselor / Academic Advisor
Int'l Student Advisor