The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, was passed by Congress to ensure that people with many types of disabilities are guaranteed equal access to the workplace, to government services, to telecommunications services, and to all of the publicly accessible services typically available to others.

Most Americans will come face-to-face with the ADA in either the workplace or in “public accommodations” (publicly used places or services such as stores, schools, social service organizations, businesses, restaurants, etc.).

Individuals who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or late-deafened are protected under the ADA. Education programs, employers, business owners, conference sponsors, and other entities serving the general public have both rights and responsibilities under federal ADA laws.

Learn more about the ADA by downloading our Interpreting Solutions, Inc.'s free handout: Americans with Disabilities Act: Ensuring Effective Communication