Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) has a rich history involving the disability rights movement, which built on the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The disability rights movement included significant participation by the Deaf community, such as in the Deaf President Now protest at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., in 1988. The ADA was preceded by a series of legislative initiatives that dealt with the rights of people with disabilities, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These initiatives were significant, but none were as comprehensive as the landmark ADA.

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American Disability Act Signature 1990 With President George H. Bush

Source: Gallaudet University Archives

The ADA aims to ensure equal access to employment, public ...