The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush, is one of America's most comprehensive civil rights laws. It prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and public and private spaces open to the general public.
The ADA is divided into five titles (or sections) that relate to different areas of public life. Title I covers employment, Title II addresses public entities and transportation, Title III governs public accommodations and commercial facilities, Title IV deals with telecommunications, and Title V contains miscellaneous provisions.
The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in both the private and state and local government sectors.
ADA Today
Today, the ADA continues to evolve. Recent developments include the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, which broadened the definition of disability, and a landmark 2025 Supreme Court decision that made it easier for individuals with disabilities to assert their rights in court. In 2026, new Title II digital accessibility requirements are coming into effect, requiring state and local governments to make their websites and apps comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.
Understanding the ADA is essential for individuals with disabilities, employers, government agencies, businesses, and anyone working to build a more inclusive society. ADA Today is your trusted resource for staying informed about the latest developments, compliance requirements, and advocacy news related to this landmark law.
Key ADA Protections
The ADA provides protections across multiple sectors of public life. In employment, it requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants or employees with disabilities, unless doing so would cause undue hardship. In public accommodations, it requires businesses to remove barriers to access and provide auxiliary aids and services where necessary.
Under Title II, state and local governments must ensure their programs, services, and activities are accessible to people with disabilities. This now explicitly includes digital services following the 2025 Department of Justice rulemaking that established WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the standard for web and mobile accessibility.