Americans With Disabilities Act

Americans With Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in 1990, 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. Barriers to employment, transportation, public accommodations, public services, and telecommunications have imposed staggering economic and social costs on American society.  The ADA guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications.

Cry Wolf Quotes

What is being created is a regulatory maze through which small business owners are expected to navigate, with no false steps or detours allowed.

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Sally Douglas, Assistant Director of Governmental Relations for Research Policy for the National Federation of Independent Business. The Congressional Digest. December, 1989.

Small firms who have hired persons with disabilities have found in most cases that the extra effort makes good economic sense. I have no doubt that, faced with the demands of the marketplace, many other small firms will soon learn the same lesson.

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Sally Douglas, Assistant Director of Governmental Relations for Research Policy for the National Federation of Independent Business. The Congressional Digest. December, 1989.

If our bureaucrats in Washington, our regulators—maybe that’s a better word—write the regulations too stringently and too tough, there are aspects of this bill that could make it very difficult for the free enterprise system.

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Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT), The New York Times.

The costs of this action would be enormous and obviously could have a disastrous impact upon many small businesses struggling to survive.

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Zachary Fasman, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, The Congressional Digest.

Evidence

Backgrounders & Briefs

Good Rules: Ten Stories Of Successful Regulation

Demos looks at ten laws and rules that we take for granted.

Resources

The American Association of People with Disabilities organizes and advocates for the disability community across the nation.