Disabilities Act of 1990

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is an act of United States which was signed on 26 July, 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. This Act provides various rights and appropriate laws for the disabled people and prevents discrimination which is done on the basis of disability. Various specific conditions are precluded in this Act and protection is done against discrimination which is based on national origin, race, sex and religion.

Structure

Disabilities Act of 1990 includes five titles and three sections such as:-

Introductory Sections

• Findings and Purposes
• Table of Contents
• Definitions

Purpose of Disabilities Act of 1990

• This Act provides consistent, clear, strong and enforceable standards for discrimination against the disabled people.
• This Act ensures the role of Federal government in enforcing the standards on behalf of disabled people.
• This Act invokes the congressional authority and regulates commerce and addresses the fields of discrimination faced by disabled people.

Definitions used in Disabilities Act of 1990

Disability – Disability is defined in relation to an individual

• A record of impairment
• A physical or mental impairment
• Being considered as having such an impairment

Auxiliary aids and services – This term includes

• Taped texts, qualified readers and various methods by which materials can be delivered to people with visual impairments.
• Qualified interpreters and methods by which materials can be made available to people with hearing impairments.
• Modification or acquisition of devices or equipment

State

State refers to many states such as Guam, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Main Section

It includes five titles with respect to employment, telecommunications, public services, public accommodations and miscellaneous provisions.

Employment

This Act provides no discrimination against any disabled employee with respect to worker’s compensation, job application procedures, job training, hiring and terms and conditions of employment. All employees can use the medical entrance examinations only after getting the job. Such individuals are not included in the Act who are involved in the illegal use of drugs.

Telecommunications

Telecommunication companies provide various services to the people with disabilities such as people who are hard of hearing or deaf and those with speech impairments. In 1990, public Teletypewriter machines were developed for the deaf. Communication assistants made easy for the disabled people to translate the spoken words and convey to others.

Public Services

This section includes public agencies and public transportation. This section provides the disabled people that they should not be discriminated against any programs, services and activities.

Public Accommodations

According to this section, no disabled person should be discriminated with regard to equal and full enjoyment of the facilities, goods and accommodations of any place by any person.

Miscellaneous Provisions

This section consists of technical provisions. It cancels or overrides those provisions which are mentioned in the section 504.

Groups who worked to pass Disabilities Act of 1990

Various groups such as American Civil Liberties Union, AIDS Action Council, Association for Retarded Citizens and American Foundation for the Blind came and work together for the development of this Act.