FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AG THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1991 202-514-2007 TDD 202-514-1888 ATTORNEY GENERAL PUBLISHES FINAL REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT Attorney General Dick Thornburgh today announced that final regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) will be published in the Federal Register tomorrow, exactly one year after President Bush signed the ADA into law. The two sets of regulations, which become effective on January 26, 1992, are designed to provide over 43 million individuals with disabilities access to public accommodations and State and local governments. "Establishing and protecting the civil rights of individuals with disabilities is one of our top priorities at the Department of Justice," said Thornburgh. "By publishing these new regulations on time, the Bush Administration has once again demonstrated its commitment to the civil rights of persons with disabilities. Our prompt publication preserves the full six-month adjustment period provided by the ADA to allow business and government to familiarize themselves with the new requirements and to bring their operations into compliance." The Department's ADA title III regulation covers over five million places of public accommodation including restaurants, theaters, hotels, retail stores, convention centers, and recreational facilities. It establishes requirements for accessible new construction and alterations, removal of barriers in existing facilities, the provision of auxiliary aids for individuals with vision, speech, or hearing impairments, and the use of nondiscriminatory requirements, policies, and procedures. "The goal of the ADA and of our regulations is to open the mainstream of American life to individuals with disabilities. The rules carefully maintain the crucial balance sought by this Administration between ensuring the rights of individuals with disabilities and protecting the legitimate needs of business," said Thornburgh. The Department's title II public sector regulation covers the programs, activities, and services of state and local government. It would require, for example, that government functions, such as town meetings and court sessions, be conducted in accessible facilities and that interpreters be provided to ensure that individuals with hearing impairments have an equal opportunity to participate. "Individuals with disabilities have made great strides in public sector participation and employment thanks to earlier laws. The ADA closes the gaps in those laws to ensure that the full range of state and local government activity is made accessible," continued Thornburgh. The regulations issued today are the product of a public rulemaking effort that began with the publication of draft regulations in February. A series of four public hearings was held around the country, and more than 2500 written comments were received and analyzed. "The level and diversity of public involvement in developing these regulations have been extraordinary," said Thornburgh. "We hope to tap this interest and energy in the Department's technical assistance program. We will move to bring individuals with disabilities together with business and government to promote widespread compliance with the ADA while keeping costly litigation at a minimum." Earlier this summer, the Attorney General announced the creation of a $2.5 million technical assistance grant program to fund projects that will inform the private sector, state and local governments, and individuals with disabilities about their rights and responsibilities under the ADA. Two other Federal agencies -- the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - - are issuing regulations on the anniversary of the bill's signing that implement the ADA. The EEOC is issuing rules prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability in employment under title I of the ADA, and the FCC is establishing standards under title IV of the ADA for telephone relay services for use by individuals with hearing or speech impairments. In addition, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board is issuing its ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities. These guidelines are incorporated into the Department of Justice's Title III rule and provide standards for accessible design. The Attorney General will mark the anniversary of the President's signing of the ADA with a ceremony in the Great Hall of the Department of Justice. Over 400 persons who participated in the development of Federal rules implementing the ADA, including representatives from disability rights groups, the business community, Congress, and Federal agencies, have been invited to attend the commemoration. In addition, they will witness the dedication of alterations to the Great Hall, making that facility more accessible to persons with mobility impairments. # # # # 91-289