In July 2010, President Barack Obama announced the most significant changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) since it became law in 1991. One of the new requirements, the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design, took effect on March 15, 2011.
The 2010 Standards for Accessible Design sets minimum requirements – both scoping and technical – for newly designed and constructed or altered state and local government facilities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities to be readily accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities.
The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.
For more information on the ADA or the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design please visit the ADA website.