Page 52 - Microsoft Word - NEW 2017 Standard Program.docx
P. 52

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)

                  Commentary
                  The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990.  The
                  ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities
                  in all areas of public life, including jobs.  The purpose of the law is to make sure that
                  people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.  The ADA
                  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.  The ADA is
                  enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
                  The ADA is divided into five titles:

                  Note:  Although portions of the ADA may not apply to private businesses such as
                  recovery agencies we have included all five titles to assist you in formulating your
                  company operational policies.  We have also highlighted those portions of the ADA
                  that may apply to you as a Recovery Agency owner.

                  1.  Employment (Title I):  Title 1 requires covered employees to provide reasonable
                       accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities and prohibits
                       discrimination on the basis of disability in all aspects of employment.  Reasonable
                       accommodations include, for example, restructuring jobs, making work-sites and
                       workstations accessible, modifying schedules, providing services such as interpreters,
                       and modifying equipment and policies.

                  2.  Public Services (Title II):  Under Title II, public services cannot be denied to people
                       with disabilities or deny participation in programs or activities that are available to
                       people without disabilities.

                  3.  Public Accommodations (Title III):  Public accommodations include facilities such as
                       restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, retail stores, etc., as well as privately owned
                       transportation facilities.  Title III also requires that all new construction and
                       modifications must be accessible to individuals with disabilities.  For existing facilities,
                       barriers to services must be removed if readily achievable.  We recommend that your
                       office facilities be ADA accessible to consumers redeeming personal property and
                       collateral and for vendors offering services, etc.

                  4.  Telecommunications (Title IV):  Telecommunications companies offering telephone
                       service to the general public must have telephone relay service to individuals who use
                       telecommunications devices for the deaf (TTYs) or similar devices.  In order to comply
                       with the ADA, recovery agencies should address Telecommunications Relay
                       Service (TRS), also known as Operator Relay Calls.  TRS enables persons with
                       hearing or speech disabilities to place and receive telephone calls.

                  5.  Miscellaneous (Title V):  This Title includes a provision prohibiting either (a)
                       coercing or threatening or (b) retaliating against individuals with disabilities or
                       those attempting to aid people with disabilities in asserting their rights under the
                       ADA.




                  	                                             38
   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57