Understanding the ADA

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark federal civil rights law signed in 1990. It prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life — including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public.

The ADA is divided into five sections, called "Titles," each addressing a different area of public life:

• Title I — Employment: Requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide equal opportunity to qualified individuals with disabilities.
• Title II — State & Local Government: Prohibits disability discrimination by all state and local governments, including public transit and government buildings.
• Title III — Public Accommodations: Requires businesses open to the public — restaurants, hotels, retail stores, and more — to be accessible to people with disabilities.
• Title IV — Telecommunications: Requires telephone and internet companies to provide services for people with hearing or speech disabilities.
• Title V — Miscellaneous Provisions: Covers additional protections and how the ADA interacts with other disability-related laws.

For most property owners and businesses, Title III is the most relevant — it sets the accessibility standards for physical spaces and has specific architectural requirements enforced by the Department of Justice.

Over 61 million adults in the United States live with a disability — that's roughly 1 in 4 Americans. The ADA exists to ensure that people with physical, sensory, cognitive, or other disabilities have the same rights, opportunities, and access as everyone else.

Beyond legal compliance, embracing accessibility is simply the right thing to do. Businesses and homeowners who invest in accessibility signal that everyone is welcome — and that message resonates deeply with customers, employees, and communities alike.