The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a groundbreaking law in the United States that provides comprehensive civil rights protection to people with disabilities. The ADA has sweeping, ground-breaking impacts, including: making it illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities in employment, providing equal access to public transportation, and public accommodations.
Kennedy Hunt P.C. represents a wide range of people whose ADA rights have been violated—from employees who have been wrongly discriminated against to students denied accommodations in school and renters blocked from their housing rights.
Understanding the ADA and the protections it provides millions of people in this country is crucial for people with disabilities and their loved ones. Any person with a physical or mental disability substantially limiting one or more major life activities is protected by the ADA.
Title I: Employment
The ADA was originally passed to prevent workplace and hiring discrimination against people with disabilities. The landmark law applies to all private businesses with 15 or more employees and all government-run jobs as well. Title I of the law bans discrimination in the job application process, hiring, firing, and compensation.
Title II: State and Local Government and Public Transportation
The ADA also protects people with disabilities at the state and local levels. Title II requires all state and local governments to provide people with disabilities equal opportunity and access to programs and services, such as education, social services, voting, health care, etc. Title II also requires accessibility on public transportation services, like buses and subway systems.
Title III: Public Accommodations
Title III of the ADA requires private companies, such as restaurants, stores, hotels, theaters, private schools, and daycares, to provide public accommodations to people with disabilities. These public accommodations include the inclusive construction of new buildings, modifications to existing buildings, and effective communication for people with visual or auditory disabilities.
Title IV: Telecommunications
Title IV of the ADA requires telecommunications carriers, such as AT&T and Verizon, to provide people with hearing and speech disabilities access to telecommunications relay services 24/7. TRS is a free service for people with hearing disabilities to communicate on the phone via text telephones or similar devices that transcribe audio calls. Title IV also requires closed captioning on federal public service announcements, like emergency preparedness alerts or disease prevention.
The attorneys at Kennedy Hunt P.C. are experts in the ADA and champions for people with disabilities. If you or someone you know has been a victim of discrimination, the skilled attorneys at Kennedy Hunt, P.C. can help. Fill out a questionnaire so we can understand your claim.