The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted by Congress in 1990 to protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination in access to employment, governmental services and programs, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. As stated in the law, the ADA is "an Act to establish a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability."

The ADA has five titles, each of which defines and prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability within a specific arena:

You can view the Americans with Disabilities Act Guidelines for the State Courts System online by clicking on the links below. These Guidelines were developed by the Office of the State Courts Administrator to assist judges and staff in implementing the ADA in the court system.

The Title I Guidelines were prepared to assist elected officials, nonjudicial officers, and supervisors in ensuring compliance with the employment provisions of the ADA. Included are a practical summary of Title I, an overview of the legal obligations in recruiting practices and the interview process, and available references and resources.

The Title II Guidelines were prepared to assist judicial officers and courthouse personnel in understanding the state and local government provisions of the ADA and to assist them in ensuring that architectural or communication barriers do not obstruct any person's access to the courts. Included are a practical summary of Title II, an overview of accessibility requirements, and guidance on determining appropriate accommodations.

For additional information on the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, you may want to contact the appropriate federal agencies. These agencies can provide informal guidance in understanding and complying with different provisions of the ADA.

Department of Justice offers technical assistance on the ADA Standards for Accessible Design and other ADA provisions applying to businesses, non-profit service agencies, and state and local government programs; also provides information on how to file ADA complaints.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission offers technical assistance on the ADA provisions applying to employment; also provides information on how to file ADA complaints.

Access Board, or Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, offers technical assistance on the ADA Accessibility Guidelines.

President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities answers employment questions and funds the Job Accommodations Network (JAN), which provides advice on accommodating employees with disabilities.

Substantive Contact:

Debbie Howells, (850) 922-4370, s/c 292-4370, howellsd@flcourts.org

Technical Contact:

Greg Cowan, (850) 487-4273, s/c 277-4273, cowang@flcourts.org

 

---