On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law. This significant legislation extends civil rights protections to Americans with disabilities in much the same way that individuals are protected on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, and religion. The ADA makes it illegal to discriminate on the basis of disability in the areas of employment, public service, public accommodation, transportation, and telecommunication.
- ADA: a summary (PDF)
- Statute and Regulations (PDF)
- Sources of Regulatory Compliance (PDF)
- Definition of Disability (PDF)
- Disability Etiquette (PDF)
- A Brief History (Anti-Defamation League)
- People First Language (PDF)
- Civil Rights: Q & A About ADA/Section 504 FHWA
Washington State Law Against Discrimination – 49.60 RCW
The Washington Law Against Discrimination protects people from discrimination based on “race, creed, color, national origin, families with children, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.”
The Washington State Human Rights Commission enforces the Law Against Discrimination and focuses on the “elimination and prevention of discrimination in employment, in credit and insurance transactions, in places of public resort, accommodation, or amusement, and in real property transactions.”
The Washington State Human Rights Commission Complaint Process
