U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Coordination and Review Section P.O. Box 66118 Washington, D.C. 20035-6118 JAN 17 1992 Mr. Evan Roth Associate Editor Museum News American Association of Museums 1225 Eye Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005 Dear Mr. Roth: Please find enclosed the article on the effect of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on museums that you requested. Sincerely, John L. Wodatch Director Office on the Americans with Disabilities Act Coordination & Review Section Civil Rights Division Enclosure AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT On July 26, 1990, in a ceremony on the White House lawn attended by more than 3,000 people, President Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) -- landmark legislation that extends civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities in the areas of employment, State and local government services, and access to public accommodations and commercial facilities. The ADA adopts a comprehensive approach that will enable individuals with disabilities to move into the mainstream of society. Title I's prohibition of discrimination in employment will ensure that they have an equal opportunity to work; title II, which prohibits discrimination in State and local government services, including transportation, will ensure that they can get to work; and title III's prohibition of discrimination in places of public accommodation will ensure that they have an equal opportunity to spend their earnings. (The Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988 already prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in housing.) And the ADA's application to theaters, concert halls, museums, libraries, and galleries will ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to the arts and to the rich cultural heritage our nation has to offer. Museums that receive Federal financial assistance are already familiar with the requirements of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with handicaps in federally assisted programs. The ADA extends those requirements to all activities of State and local governments, under title II, and, under title III, to "places of public accommodation" operated by private entities, including places of "public display or collection," such as museums. Museums operated by State or local governments, therefore, are covered by title II of the ADA, while those operated by private entities are covered by title III. Both title II and title III are effective on January 26, 1992. Museums operated by Federal Executive agencies are not affected by the ADA, but are covered by the requirements of section 504 for federally conducted programs and activities. The requirements of the ADA for places of public accommodation and State and local governments are based on the requirements of section 504 and are essentially the same as those requirements. Entities covered by the Act are prohibited from discrimination in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, and accommodations that they offer to the public. They cannot exclude individuals with disabilities, and must make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, and procedures that would deny equal access to individuals with disabilities. For example, a rule prohibiting animals in a museum would have to be modified to permit the use of guide dogs and other service animals by individuals with disabilities visiting the museum. - 3 - Covered entities are also required to provide effective communication with customers or clients with hearing or vision impairments. In some cases, this requirement may necessitate the provision of auxiliary aids or services such as sign language interpreters. The ADA's requirement for removal of physical barriers is the area that has received the most public attention. In existing facilities, public accommodations must remove barriers when removal is "readily achievable" -- that is, easily accomplishable and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense. What is "readily achievable" will be determined on an individual, case by case, basis in light of the resources available. The case-by-case approach takes into account the diversity of enterprises covered by title III and the wide variation in the economic health of particular entities at any given moment. State and local government entities are covered by a different standard with respect to existing facilities. They must ensure that the services, programs, and activities that they offer are accessible to individuals with disabilities, but may use alternative methods for providing access, such as providing services in an alternative accessible location, rather than making an existing facility accessible. The most rigorous physical accessibility requirements apply to new construction and alterations. The regulations adopt specific architectural standards for new construction and alterations. Places of public accommodation and commercial facilities must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG). State and local governments may use either ADAAG or the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS), which is the standard used under section 504. Both UFAS and ADAAG contain special provisions for alterations to historic properties to ensure that alterations to provide accessibility are not required if they would threaten or destroy significant historic features of an historic property. Where providing physical access is not required, alternative methods may be used to provide services to individuals with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act has been called a radical piece of legislation. But there is nothing at all radical about this law. Rather, it is the logical extension of the nation's deep commitment to eradicating unjustifiable obstacles that deny anyone the right to enjoy full participation in the American way of life -- a commitment that has President Bush's full support. The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that the law is implemented effectively, and has established a program for providing technical assistance to - 4 - entities with responsibilities under the law as well as individuals protected by it. Our goal is to promote voluntary compliance, and we hope and expect that those businesses covered by the law will comply voluntarily so that we will rarely be forced to resort to enforcement procedures. The Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Access Board have established information lines to answer questions about the ADA. The numbers are: Department of Justice: (202) 514-0301 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: 1-800-669-3302 Access Board: 1-800-872-2253