Level 7 - "Fair Housing Laws" - Chapter 6 - "Americans with Disabilities Act"

businesses and establishments affected by the ADA:

- Businesses with 15 or more employees - Any facilities or offices affiliated with state or local government - Public and private schools - Hospitals and dental offices - Restaurants - Hotels and motels - Grocery and retail stores - Shopping malls - Libraries and museums - Banks - Theaters - Amusement and recreation parks

Disability

A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of an individual's major life activities

The protected class of disability is defined as anyone who has:

a physical or mental impairment that affects the performance of one or more major life activities

ADA's Four Areas of Discrimination

1. Employment: - Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities, and they may not discriminate against an individual with a disability when they are making decisions about hiring or promotions. Employers may ask about a potential hire's ability to perform a job but cannot ask whether they have a disability or about the extent of that person's disability. 2. Public Transportation: - Buses and trains, as well as their stations, must be accessible to persons with disabilities. 3. Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities: - Reasonable modifications must be made to policies, practices, and procedures to avoid discrimination against people with disabilities in public areas. This means that physical barriers that interfere with the activities of people with disabilities must be removed. All new construction and alterations of facilities must be compatible with making those facilities accessible to people with disabilities. 4. Telecommunications: - Companies offering telephone service must offer telephone relay services to allow communications access for people with speech and hearing impairments.

Why do most brokerages fall within the scope of the ADA, and therefore must be extra careful about accessibility?

because of their location or because they have 15 or more employees

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

federal law that serves to protect the civil rights of individuals with disabilities.