IndexOverview of the adopted policyDemonstration that the policy has achieved its intended objectivesResources committed and cost-benefit analysisUnintended consequences of the policyCurrent state of the policy and social issueState of NPO's efforts to raise awareness of this policy In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act, also known as the ADA, was signed into law. This act is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in public, in the workplace, in educational institutions, in transportation, and in any public or private place open to the public. The ADA protects the rights of more than 50 million Americans living with a disability. The purpose of this law was to ensure that those with disabilities have the same opportunities and rights as those without disabilities. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayOverview of Enacted Policy“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. Provides equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications” (“What is the Americans with Disabilities Act,” 2017). There are five sections depending on different areas of life. The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act was signed into law in 2008 and soon after went into effect in early 2009. There have been changes in the definition of disability. The new definition of the word applies to all titles of the law. The first section of the law, employment, was designed to facilitate access to the same opportunities and benefits afforded to those without disabilities. Employers who hire people with disabilities are required to provide reasonable accommodations to those who qualify. This section is enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The law applies only to employers who have 15 or more employees. “Title I regulations define disability, establish guidelines for the reasonable accommodation process, address medical examinations and investigations, and define “direct threat” when there is a significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of the individual employee with a disability or others” (“What is the Americans with Disabilities Act,” 2017). The second section, state and local government, prohibits discrimination against qualified persons with disabilities in any public program, service, or activity. This applies to all state and local governments. “Clarifies the requirements of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, for public transportation systems receiving federal financial assistance and extends coverage to all public entities providing public transportation, whether or not they receive financial assistance federal. Establishes detailed standards for the operation of public transportation systems, including commuter and intercity rail (e.g., AMTRAK)” (“What is the Americans with Disabilities Act,” 2017). In order to prevent discrimination, administrative processes require self-assessments and planning, reasonable changes to certain policies, practices and procedures. This section is regulated by the United States Department of Justice. The third section, public accommodations, prohibits private places of public accommodations for discriminating against people with disabilities. This includes privately owned or rented vehicles, hotels, restaurants,medical practices, cinemas, private schools and so on. This section also establishes standards for accessibility to these facilities. Businesses must make adjustments for when serving people with disabilities. These changes include accommodating a customer who may have a visual, hearing, or speech impairment. This is also enforced by the US Department of Justice. The fourth section, telecommunications, requires Internet and telephone service providers to provide a system of interstate and intrastate telecommunications service that enables persons with disabilities who may have a hearing or speech impairment to communicate effectively over the telephone. Codified securities of federally funded pension schemes are also required. This section is enforced and regulated by the Federal Communication Commission. The last and fifth sections, miscellaneous provisions, are a list of provisions. “The final title contains a number of provisions related to the ADA, including its relationship to other laws, state immunity, its impact on insurers and benefits, the prohibition on retaliation and coercion, the illegal use of drugs, and legal costs. This title also provides a list of some conditions that should not be considered disabilities” (“What is the Americans with Disabilities Act,” 2017). Evidence that the policy has achieved its objectives This implemented policy has brought about important changes in society. The ADA has made changes to allow service animals in most public areas, requiring public and private businesses to provide communication aids and services, requiring facilities to undergo construction to meet accessibility standards, and requiring that public and private medical institutions be accessible so that patients can receive equal medical care. In public, you may notice that numerous changes have been made to facilities such as public restrooms and parking lots, as well as household activities such as watching TV. You can see that these changes are more prevalent in public places. When you go to a public establishment, you often see disabled parking for those who may be physically disabled and these parking spaces are usually located near the entrance of the establishment. If you enter an establishment and you use the bathroom, there is usually also a disabled bathroom. The stand is usually larger than the others and is reserved for people with physical disabilities. When watching TV, there is an option to display subtitles while the TV program is playing. Subtitles are a modification for people with any type of hearing disability. These changes to facilities have helped people with disabilities move around in public and allowed them to be a part of society just like anyone else. Regarding job opportunities, I believe there is room for improvement. Employers who are part of a large company should have the means to modify and adapt any job so that those with a disability can work. As mentioned in my previous article, many people with disabilities are not included in the workforce and a low percentage of them participate, therefore they earn less than a person without disabilities. This makes it difficult for them to escape poverty due to limited opportunities within the workforce. Often you may never meet someone with a disability who may work at your local grocery store or anywhere else that may have the means to accommodate and modify their job so you can work. Committed resources and cost-benefit analysis After After the adoption of the 1991 standards, changes in accessibility haveallowed people with disabilities to participate in activities in these facilities on a daily basis. These provisions have demonstrated improvements in accessibility and inclusion. A cost estimate for the buildings and requirements was performed. Elements of this cost estimate included initial and recurring costs. Upfront costs refer to capital costs incurred while recurring costs refer to operations and maintenance, as well as manufacturing space. The three types of construction considered as estimated cost were any modifications, new construction, and barrier removal. What was considered was the number of structures, the number of elements per structure and also the unit costs. Barrier removal costs were expected to be significant compared to new construction and modifications due to barrier removal not included in building modifications and improved design, which may be offset by the loss of manufacturing space. Facility operating costs were expected to be minimal following implementation of the Final Rules. “For the limited number of additional requirements (related to courts and gaming and recreation requirements) facilities will simply need to determine whether they contain one of the dozen or so additional requirements and determine how to contact an equipment manufacturer or contractor to make the change ( the cost of bringing the item into compliance is assumed in the unit costs.) As the Department will provide small business compliance guidance and other technical assistance documents, it is assumed that such costs are likely to be minimal” (“Cost-Benefit Analysis Approach” , n.d.) As for the evaluation of benefits, it is measured by justifying the policy in economic terms “The benefits resulting from improved accessibility can be classified as “use” benefits – incurred due to the use of a structure or requirement – or as benefits of non-use. The latter category may include, among others, the value of knowing that greater accessibility exists should it be needed in the future and the value of believing that civil society has improved. ” (“Cost-Benefit Analysis Approach,” n.d.). The Final Rules directly impact three sources that result in changes in access times, quality of access to facilities, and quality of use of facilities. It has been found in economic analysis and market research that people with disabilities are willing to pay a premium for using public transport systems if only they are made accessible. As a result, costs outweigh benefits after policy implementation. . Although businesses must spend additional money to accommodate these changes, the costs tend to be minimal, as is the willingness of disabled people to pay more for services that will aid public participation. As more structures are rebuilt, modified and barriers removed, people with disabilities may be more likely to take part in everyday social activities. The implementation of the Final Rules assumes that costs will be the same for both disabled and able-bodied individuals. Unintended Consequences of the Policy The ADA has also impacted the education system. This implemented policy has influenced the provision of services as well as the budgets of public schools. The ADA applies to all entities except churches and private clubs. The ADA played an important role in how schools would serve students with disabilities. Because the ADA's definition of disability is broad, many of the students who qualified under the law, so their parents had begun to.
tags