Discrimination

Discrimination

The Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in 1990, 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. Barriers to employment, transportation, public accommodations, public services, and telecommunications have imposed staggering economic and social costs on American society.  The ADA guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications.

Cry Wolf Quotes

We don’t want a lot of innocent small-business people who are trying to do the right thing to be hauled into court.

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David Rahr, chief House lobbyist for the National Federation of Independent Business. The New York Times.

[ADA will cost] millions of dollars annually.

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Cecelia Fepp, research analyst for the United States Chamber of Commerce, The New York Times.

Rather than merely prohibiting discrimination against the disabled, the bill compels employers to make significant expenditures and extensive physical alterations to their facilities to accommodate an unlimited variety job applicants.

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Gordon J. Humphrey (R-NH), The New York Times.

What is being created is a regulatory maze through which small business owners are expected to navigate, with no false steps or detours allowed.

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Sally Douglas, Assistant Director of Governmental Relations for Research Policy for the National Federation of Independent Business. The Congressional Digest. December, 1989.

Evidence

Resources

Campus Progress is the youth wing of the Center for American Progress. They do work in both advocacy and journalism.

Institute for Women’s Policy Research is a prominent think tank that is largely focused on American women's issues. This covers everything from pay equity to welfare reform to domestic violence.

The National Council on Disability is a small, Senate-appointed, federal agency that advises the president and Congress on matters concerning the disabled community.

The American Association of People with Disabilities organizes and advocates for the disability community across the nation.