Americans With Disabilities Act and Disability Services

156 - Disability Services and the ADA

Signed into law on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (known as "A-D-A") was written to protect rights of people with disabilities and to prohibit discrimination in employment, transportation, government services, public facilities and education.

Are you covered under the ADA ? Ask yourself the following: Do you have a medical, physical or mental impairment that is serious enough to affect one or more of your major life activities such as walking, talking, thinking or speaking? Do you have a medical, developmental, or "hidden" disability such as cancer, heart disease or epilepsy? Do you have a record of having a disability in the past, even though you have recovered? Do you feel you are discriminated against because you have a visible disfiguration even though it does not limit your activities? Are you a family member of someone with a disability?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, your rights are protected under the ADA. You may request advocacy services from the Westside Center for Independent Living, a city-funded agency that offers counseling, advocacy, consumer services, referrals, support services and disability awareness training. Call the center at 390-3611 for assistance (TTY 398-9204). For more general information about ADA, please go to the Department of Justice website or call the Department of Justice at 1-800-514-0301 (TTY 1-800-514-0383).