Accessible Communities

Accessibility

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that state and local governments make their programs, services and transportation services accessible to and usable by people with disabilities.

People with disabilities have a right to accessible public facilities and polling places, to move about freely, to vote, to serve on juries, to enter into contracts, to own and dispose of property, and to become naturalized citizens.

Title III of the ADA establishes requirements for categories of public accommodations (private entities that serve the public) to make their goods and services accessible, including:

Accessible Categories

• Hotels, places that provide lodging
• Restaurants and bars
• Places of entertainment, such as theaters
• Places of public gathering, such as convention centers
• Retail, wholesale sales or rentals
• Service establishments (banks, stores, etc.)
• Terminals for public transportation
• Places of public display or collection (libraries, museums, etc.)
• Places of recreation (parks, zoo, etc.)
• Places of education
• Social service establishments (day care, blood bank, etc.)
• Places of exercise, recreation (golf courses, gyms, sports stadiums, etc.)
• Emergency shelters

Protection and Advocacy for Voter Access

People with disabilities are able to vote, have access to polling site within your precinct, (including entrances, exits, voting areas), can vote on request, provided information on the use of new voting technology or accessibility at polling place, and have an attendant (except an employer, agent or union representative) to assist in casting a vote.