ADA30: Increasing Access and Opportunity
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—landmark legislation that works to increase access and opportunity for people with disabilities in all aspects of community life, including employment.
At the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), we have launched a yearlong celebration of the ADA. Centered around the theme of "Increasing Access and Opportunity," ADA30 commemoration activities will include events, speeches, and new compliance assistance resources. The ADA's anniversary will serve as a key component of the National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) observance in October 2020.
ODEP is committed to delivering on the promise of the ADA, for not only today's workers with disabilities but also future generations. This includes helping employers of all sizes to ensure their workforce policies and practices are inclusive and welcome the talents of people with disabilities. ODEP resources are available to provide this assistance. These include:
- The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations—a critical component of the ADA's employment provisions.
- The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN), which offers a range of resources to help employers recruit, hire, retain, and advance qualified people with disabilities, and also includes information about the ADA.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) also offers guidance on the employment provisions of the ADA, with specific resources available for small businesses. Its publication titled The Americans with Disabilities Act: A Primer for Small Businesses is an easy-to-read overview of the ADA's basic employment provisions as they relate to employees and job applicants. In addition, small businesses can contact one of EEOC's Small Business Liaisons for one-on-one compliance assistance on the laws the agency enforces.
Whether your business is large or small, well-established or just starting up, we hope you will join us in celebrating ADA30—and help advance its promise to increase access and opportunity for people with disabilities in our nation's workplaces.
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