Introduction
Signed into law on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act is a wide-ranging federal legislation intended to make American Society more accessible to people with disabilities.

The ADA is divided into five titles:


Title I: Employment
(Enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Business must provide reasonable accommodations to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of employment. Possible changes may include restructuring jobs, altering the layout of workstations, or modifying equipment. Employment aspects may include the application process, hiring, wages, benefits, and all other aspects of employment. Medical examinations are highly regulated.

Title II: Public Services
Part A: State & Local Governments (Enforced by the Department of Justice & designated federal agencies)
Part B: Public Transportation (Enforced by the Department of Transportation)
Public services, which include state and local government entities, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, and other commuter authorities, cannot deny services to people with disabilities participation in programs or activities which are available to people without disabilities. In addition, public transportation systems, such as public transit buses, must be accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Title III: Public Accommodations
Enforced by the Department of Justice
All new construction and modifications must be accessible to individuals with disabilities. For existing facilities, barriers to services must be removed if readily achievable. Public accommodations include facilities such as restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, retail stores, etc., as well as privately owned transportation systems.

Title IV – Telecommunications
Enforced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Establishes a national telecommunications relay service and mandates that public service announcements provided or funded in whole or in part by any federal agency be closed captioned.

Title V - Miscellaneous Provisions
Title V contains provisions applying to all titles of the ADA. Among other requirements it:

• requires several federal agencies to develop technical assistance plans for covered entities,
• requires a report on wilderness areas and individuals with disabilities,
• covers Congress and the agencies of the legislative branch,
• encourages the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR)
• prohibits coercion or retaliation against the disabled or those attempting to aid people with disabilities in asserting their rights under the ADA.