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ADA - Section 504 Program

Overview

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA provides 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. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.

As part of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) regulatory requirements under Title II of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (504), Caltrans ensures that subrecipients of Federal aid and State and local entities that are responsible for roadways and pedestrian facilities do not discriminate on the basis of disability in any highway transportation program, activity, service or benefit they provide to the general public; and to ensure that people with disabilities have equitable opportunities to use the public rights-of-way system.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that any entity receiving federal financial assistance must ensure that persons with disabilities are not discriminated against in any and all aspects of employment, or denied access to the goods or services that these federal fund recipients provide.
The intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is to assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for persons with disabilities.  This law extends the protections offered for persons with disabilities.

28 CFR 35 requires that facilities constructed on behalf of, or for the use of, a public entity shall be designed and constructed so that the facility is accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities.

49 CFR 27 requires nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in programs and activities receiving or benefiting from federal financial assistance. The State of California has also adopted regulations in Section 54 of the California Civil Code that specifies all buildings, structures, sidewalks, curbs, and related facilities constructed in California by the use of state, county or municipal funds, or the funds of any political subdivision of the state, shall be accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities.

Authorities 


ADA