Americans with Disabilities Act

Federal government organizations, receivers of federal financial assistance, and state and local entities are mandated under federal law to supply persons with disabilities equal access to all information that is available/accessible to non-disabled persons. The reason that this is mandatory is because it makes “effective communication” achievable for persons with sensory disabilities. 

In 1973, congress enacted the Rehabilitation Act. “This was made to foster the provision of vocational services to persons with disabilities.” This program provided training to people with a wide range of disabilities- this was to equip them for re/entry into the workforce. Congress also recognized that persons with disabilities also had a lack of educational opportunities and work experience, thus persons with disabilities face discrimination from employers and public agencies. In 1990, the requirements concerning information access were expanded further with the enactment of the American with Disabilities Act. Under the ADA, it says that a public university or community college is required to provide timely access to information in a medium preferred by the individual and reasonable accommodations for that person.