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Frequently Asked Questions

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 General ADA

Does the ADA consider an impairment (such as epilepsy or manic-depressive disorder) that is episodic or in remission to be a disability?
Does the ADA cover air transportation?
Does the ADA cover private apartments and private homes?
How are major bodily functions defined under the new ADA Amendments Act?
Is the Federal government covered by the ADA?
Should the ameliorative effects of mitigating measures such as medication and prosthetic devices be considered when determining if an impairment substantially limits a major life activity?
The definition of disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. What are examples of “major life activities”?

 Title I: Employment

Can an employer be required to modify, adjust, or make other reasonable accommodations in the way a test is given to a qualified applicant or employee with a disability?
Is testing for the illegal use of drugs permissible under the ADA?
Are applicants or employees who are currently illegally using drugs covered by the ADA?
Can an employer be required to reallocate an essential function of a job to another employee as a reasonable accommodation?
How does the ADA Amendments Act differ from the original ADA?
If an employee’s disability causes violation of a conduct rule, may the employer discipline the individual?
If an employer gives a lower performance rating to an employee and the employee responds by revealing she has a disability that is causing the performance problem, may the employer still give the lower rating?
May an employer require an employee to receive or change treatment for a disability to comply with a conduct standard?
Should an employer mention an employee’s disability during a discussion about a performance or conduct problem if the employee does not do so?
What employers are covered by title I of the ADA, and when is the coverage effective?
What is "reasonable accommodation?"
What practices and activities are covered by the employment nondiscrimination requirements?

 Title II: Public Entities

Does the ADA apply to State and local governments?
Does title II cover a public entity's employment policies and practices?
What changes must a public entity make to its existing facilities to make them accessible?
What does title II require for new construction and alterations?
What happened to the Department of Justice’s proposed changes to the ADA title II and title III regulations?
What is a self-evaluation?
When do the requirements for State and local governments become effective?
When must structural changes be made to attain program accessibility?
Where can a college student go for assistance with course accommodations?

 Title III: Places of Public Accommodation

Are there any limitations on the ADA's barrier removal requirements for existing facilities?
What are examples of the types of modifications that would be readily achievable in most cases?
What are public accommodations?
What does the term "readily achievable" mean?
What happened to the Department of Justice’s proposed changes to the ADA title II and title III regulations?
What kinds of auxiliary aids and services are required by the ADA to ensure effective communication with individuals with hearing or vision impairments?
Where can a college student go for assistance with course accommodations?
Will a bookstore be required to maintain a sign language interpreter on its staff in order to communicate with deaf customers?
Will a clothing store be required to have brailled price tags?
Will businesses need to rearrange furniture and display racks?
Will restaurants be required to have brailled menus?

 Facilities

In transient lodging, do all the doors to all the rooms have to be accessible?
Must accessible parking spaces be provided in each parking lot in a facility or can they be grouped?
ADAAG figure 25 (a) appears to permit latch-side clearance on an outswinging door with a front approach to be zero dimension. Is this correct?
ADAAG ramp requirements specify "level" landings. Does "level" mean zero slope? (ADAAG 4.6.3 and 4.6.6)
ADAAG specifies that carpet must be firmly attached. Does this mean that each individual carpet tile must be glued down? (ADAAG 4.5.3)
Are all my doors required to have maneuvering clearances? (ADAAG 4.13.6)
Are all stairs required to be accessible in accordance with section 4.9? (ADAAG 4.9)
Are the mats placed on the floor of my office lobby during wet weather considered carpet that must be firmly attached? (ADAAG 4.3 Accessible route)
Can I use standard pipe for handrails? (ADAAG 4.9.2)
Can the door of a toilet room swing into the required maneuvering space? (ADAAG 4.17.5)
In hotels, are the required rooms with roll-in showers to be provided in addition to those rooms that are required to be otherwise accessible?
In new construction, are basements considered stories for the purpose of applying the elevator exception in ADAAG 4.1.3(5) Exception 1?
Is it acceptable for portable toilets to be designed according to the requirements of ADAAG 4.17 Stalls?
Is there a specific coefficient of friction required for a surface to be "slip resistant"? (ADAAG 4.5.1)
When are areas of rescue assistance required? (ADAAG 4.3.11)
When will the Department of Justice adopt the 2004 ADA Accessibility Guidelines as a new ADA Standard for Accessible Design?
Why are built-up curb ramps in access aisles problematic? Wouldn't a parking space be more accessible if the curb ramp is close by?

 Transportation

I cannot lift my foot high enough to reach the low step on the bus. The driver tells me that the lift is only for people using wheelchairs. What are the rules for my using the lift?
May a transit operator require common wheelchairs be secured to the vehicle?
What are the three categories of eligibility for ADA complementary paratransit?
What is a "common wheelchair?"

 Service Animals

Am I responsible for the animal while the person with a disability is in my business?
Can I exclude an animal that doesn't really seem dangerous but is disruptive to my business?
I have always had a clearly posted "no pets" policy at my establishment. Do I still have to allow service animals in?
I operate a private taxicab and I don't want animals in my taxi; they smell, shed hair and sometimes have "accidents." Am I violating the ADA if I refuse to pick up someone with a service animal?
My county health department has told me that only a seeing eye or guide dog has to be admitted. If I follow those regulations, am I violating the ADA?
What is a service animal?
What must I do when an individual with a service animal comes to my business?