New ADA Regulations Explained
On July 26, 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice released new regulations under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on accessibility for places of public accommodation. “Places of public accommodation” are facilities operated by private entities whose operations affect commerce and fall within at least one of several categories that include a wide variety of businesses and service providers, such as: retail stores, theaters, sports venues, laundromats, drycleaners, banks, barber shops, beauty shops, travel services, shoe repair services, funeral parlors, gas stations, offices of accountants and lawyers, and many others.
The new regulations are based on guidelines developed by the U.S. Accessibility Board and include requirements for existing facilities, but existing facilities that meet the 1991 standards do not have to comply with the 2010 standards until the facilities are altered.
The new regulations also provide guidance on accessible seating, ticketing and ticket pricing; service animals; wheelchairs and other power-driven mobility devices (such as Segways®); video remote interpreting services; and reservations for accessible guest rooms in inns, motels, hotels, timeshares, and condos.
The Department of Justice has published a Fact Sheet summarizing the Highlights of the Final Rule to Amend the Department of Justice’s Regulation Implementing Title III of the ADA, and a Fact Sheet summarizing the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design that covers everything from amusement rides and swimming pools to parking structures. The text of the Revised Final Title III Regulation is also available online.
The U.S. Access Board and the Department of Justice are holding a free webinar on the new Title III regulations and standards on September 2, 2010 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time. For more information, or to sign up, go to www.accessibilityonline.org.
There are also new amendments to the Department of Justice’s regulations under Title II of the ADA, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in State and Local Governmental Services. The Department of Justice has published a Fact Sheet on Highlights of the Final Rule to Amend the Department of Justice’s Regulation Implementing Title II of the ADA. The text of the Revised Title II Regulation is also available online.
This posting is a brief and incomplete summary of a very complex law, and should not be relied upon for any purpose. Additionally, the law may have changed or may have been clarified after this posting was written on August 6, 2010.
Tags: ADA, ADA amendments, ADA Title II, ADA Title III, ADAAA, Reasonable Accommodation
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
