General Information

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law which was enacted in 1990. The law prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in areas such as employment, education, transportation, and communication.

Following is text from the Americans with Disabilities Act which describes the purpose of the law:

Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act-- (1) to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities; (2) to provide clear, strong, consistent, enforceable standards addressing discrimination against individuals with disabilities; (3) to ensure that the Federal Government plays a central role in enforcing the standards established in this Act on behalf of individuals with disabilities; and (4) to invoke the sweep of congressional authority, including the power to enforce the fourteenth amendment and to regulate commerce, in order to address the major areas of discrimination faced day-to-day by people with disabilities.

Assistance with the ADA and Disability Rights

Following are links to government agencies which provide information and assistance on the ADA and disability rights.

Federal government:

• Department of Justice - Information and Technical Assistance with the ADA
• Department of Education - Office for Civil Rights
• Department of Labor - ADA Resources
• Equal Opportunity Commission
• Department of Transportation - Accessibility Information
• Federal Transit Administration - ADA Information
• Federal Communications Commission - Disability Rights Office
• The Access Board
• Department of Health and Human Services - Office for Civil Rights
• Department of Housing and Urban Development - Fair Housing Laws and Executive Orders

Delaware government:

• Department of Human Resources, Division of Diverstiy and Inclusion
• State Council on Persons with Disabilities

Additional Resources

• The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) has funded ten regional centers to provide information, training, and technical assistance related to the ADA to employers, people with disabilities, and others. These centers are part of the ADA National Network.  Follow these links for more information about the centers:
  • ADA National Network
  • ADA National Network Regional Centers
  • Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
  • ADA Basic Building Blocks - Online training (project of the Regional Centers)
• ADA Fact Sheet - University of Kansas Research and Training Center on Independent Living

More Information

For more information about the Americans with Disabilities Act or services for persons with disabilities in Delaware, please contact the Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC).