                       ADA WATCH--YEAR ONE:

           A REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONGRESS ON

   PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT








                           Submitted to
                  National Council on Disability






                                By
               Robert G. Kramer and Associates, Inc.
                         705 Melvin Avenue
                             Suite 201
                       Annapolis, MD  21401




                         November 16, 1992

















ADA Watch--Year One:  A Report to the President and the Congress 
on Progress in Implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act








Publication date:  April 5, 1993

National Council on Disability
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Suite 814
Washington, DC 20591

(202) 267-3846 Voice
(202) 267-3232 TDD
(202) 453-4240 Fax


The views contained in the report do not necessarily represent 
those of the Administration, as this document has not been 
subjected to the A-19 Executive Branch review process.




                       Letter of Transmittal


                                   April 5, 1993

The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

    The National Council on Disability is pleased to submit to 
you this report entitled ADA Watch--Year One:  A Report to the 
President and the Congress on Progress in Implementing the 
Americans with Disabilities Act.

    The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is now a 
reality for an estimated 43 million Americans with disabilities.  
As the federal agency that initially proposed the ADA, the 
National Council feels a particular obligation to ensure that the 
law is implemented fully and effectively.   The Council, 
therefore, established the ADA Watch in 1991 to monitor 
implementation of this landmark civil rights legislation.

    Like the ADA itself, ADA Watch is comprehensive in nature:  
it covers all titles of the law, all regions of the country, and 
all sectors of the economy.  The overarching conclusion and 
recommendation of this report is that there has been substantial 
progress in implementing the ADA during its early stages, and no 
amendments to the law should be made at this time.

    The National Council remains fully committed to ensuring that 
the promises of the ADA are fully realized for people with 
disabilities and their families.  We look forward to working with 
you toward this essential goal.

Sincerely,




John A. Gannon                     Sandra Swift Parrino
Acting Chairperson                 Chairperson
February 1993-present              October 1983-January 1993

(This same letter of transmittal was sent to the President Pro 
Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives.)






                                   April 5, 1993

The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

    The National Council on Disability is pleased to submit to 
you this report entitled ADA Watch--Year One:  A Report to the 
President and the Congress on Progress in Implementing the 
Americans with Disabilities Act.

    The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is now a 
reality for an estimated 43 million Americans with disabilities.  
As the federal agency that initially proposed the ADA, the 
National Council feels a particular obligation to ensure that the 
law is implemented fully and effectively.   The Council, 
therefore, established the ADA Watch in 1991 to monitor 
implementation of this landmark civil rights legislation.

    Like the ADA itself, ADA Watch is comprehensive in nature:  
it covers all titles of the law, all regions of the country, and 
all sectors of the economy.  The overarching conclusion and 
recommendation of this report is that there has been substantial 
progress in implementing the ADA during its early stages, and no 
amendments to the law should be made at this time.

    The National Council remains fully committed to ensuring that 
the promises of the ADA are fully realized for people with 
disabilities and their families.  We look forward to working with 
you toward this essential goal.

Sincerely,




John A. Gannon                     Sandra Swift Parrino
Acting Chairperson                 Chairperson
February 1993-present              October 1983-January 1993






                                   April 5, 1993

The Honorable Thomas S. Foley
Speaker of the House
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Foley:

    The National Council on Disability is pleased to submit to 
you this report entitled ADA Watch--Year One:  A Report to the 
President and the Congress on Progress in Implementing the 
Americans with Disabilities Act.

    The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is now a 
reality for an estimated 43 million Americans with disabilities.  
As the federal agency that initially proposed the ADA, the 
National Council feels a particular obligation to ensure that the 
law is implemented fully and effectively.   The Council, 
therefore, established the ADA Watch in 1991 to monitor 
implementation of this landmark civil rights legislation.

    Like the ADA itself, ADA Watch is comprehensive in nature:  
it covers all titles of the law, all regions of the country, and 
all sectors of the economy.  The overarching conclusion and 
recommendation of this report is that there has been substantial 
progress in implementing the ADA during its early stages, and no 
amendments to the law should be made at this time.

    The National Council remains fully committed to ensuring that 
the promises of the ADA are fully realized for people with 
disabilities and their families.  We look forward to working with 
you toward this essential goal.

Sincerely,




John A. Gannon                     Sandra Swift Parrino
Acting Chairperson                 Chairperson
February 1993-present              October 1983-January 1993





                                   April 5, 1993

The Honorable Robert C. Byrd
President Pro Tempore
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Byrd:

    The National Council on Disability is pleased to submit to 
you this report entitled ADA Watch--Year One:  A Report to the 
President and the Congress on Progress in Implementing the 
Americans with Disabilities Act.

    The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is now a 
reality for an estimated 43 million Americans with disabilities.  
As the federal agency that initially proposed the ADA, the 
National Council feels a particular obligation to ensure that the 
law is implemented fully and effectively.   The Council, 
therefore, established the ADA Watch in 1991 to monitor 
implementation of this landmark civil rights legislation.

    Like the ADA itself, ADA Watch is comprehensive in nature:  
it covers all titles of the law, all regions of the country, and 
all sectors of the economy.  The overarching conclusion and 
recommendation of this report is that there has been substantial 
progress in implementing the ADA during its early stages, and no 
amendments to the law should be made at this time.

    The National Council remains fully committed to ensuring that 
the promises of the ADA are fully realized for people with 
disabilities and their families.  We look forward to working with 
you toward this essential goal.

Sincerely,




John A. Gannon                     Sandra Swift Parrino
Acting Chairperson                 Chairperson
February 1993-present              October 1983-January 1993

                         TABLE OF CONTENTS


MISSION OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY.................vii

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY, MEMBERS AND STAFF..............ix

PROJECT STAFF...................................................x

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...............................................1

I.   INTRODUCTION:  THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.........9

II.  EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT THE ADA..............................15

          Federal Government...................................15
          People with Disabilities.............................26
          Covered Entities.....................................28
          Nonprofit Organizations..............................31
          Entrepreneurs........................................32

III. FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMPLAINTS:  EVIDENCE
     OF CONTINUED NEED FOR THE ADA.............................36

          Formal Complaints/Lawsuits...........................36
          Accounts of Discrimination...........................42

IV.  EXEMPLARY EFFORTS TO COMPLY WITH THE ADA..................46

          Partnerships.........................................46
          Exemplary Programs/Actions...........................47

V.   NEEDED ADA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/INFORMATION...............51

          Lack of Awareness....................................52
          Need for Targeted Assistance.........................55

VI.  ADA ISSUES REQUIRING FEDERAL ACTION.......................58

          The ADA and Other Disability Laws....................58
          Key Implementation Issues............................59


VII. RESEARCH AGENDA...........................................65

          Current Research.....................................65
          Needed Research......................................66

APPENDICES

     A.   ADA Watch Brochure...................................69

     B.   ADA Watch Public Hearing Agenda, Washington, DC,
          June 15-16, 1992.....................................73

     C.   ADA Watch Public Hearing Agenda, San Francisco,
          California, October 20, 1992.........................79

     D.   U.S. Department of Justice ADA Technical Assistance
          Grantees.............................................83

     E.   Project ACTION, Demonstration Projects (Phases I and 
          II)..................................................87

     F.   National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
          Research (NIDRR), Regional Disability and
          Business Technical Assistance Centers................95

     G.   Funding Partnership for People with Disabilities:
          Project Summaries...................................101

     H.   Selected ADA-Related Videocassettes.................107

     I.   Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance
          Board (Access Board), Proposed ADA Research Agenda..111


NATIONAL COUNCIL MEMBER AND STAFF BIOGRAPHIES.................115
                          LIST OF TABLES

Table

1.   Release Dates of Federal Regulations......................17

2.   Materials Distributed by NIDRR Regional Centers...........20

3.   Some ADA Publications Prepared by Federal Agencies........22

4.   Title II Complaints Concerning State and Local Government
     Entities Filed With the Department of Justice as of
     September 10, 1992........................................38

5.   Title III Complaints Filed With the Department of Justice
     as of September 10, 1992..................................40

6.   CAREERS & the disABLED--1992 Reader Survey................44


                          LIST OF FIGURES

Figure

1.   Access Board Requests for Information/Guidelines..........21

2.   Inquiries Addressed by the Job Accommodation Network......25
           MISSION OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY


     The National Council on Disability is an independent federal 
agency composed of 15 members appointed by the President of the 
United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.  It was 
established in 1978 as an advisory board within the Department of 
Education.  The Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1984 transformed 
the Council into an independent agency.  The mission of the 
National Council on Disability is to provide leadership in the 
identification of emerging issues affecting people with 
disabilities and in the development and recommendation of 
disability policy to the President and the Congress.  The 
statutory mandate of the National Council during the first year 
of ADA Watch included the following:

     ù Reviewing and evaluating on an ongoing basis the 
       effectiveness of all policies, programs, and activities 
       concerning individuals with disabilities conducted or 
       assisted by federal departments or agencies;

     ù Assessing the extent to which federal policies, programs, 
       and activities provide incentives for community-based 
       services, promote full integration of individuals with 
       disabilities, and contribute to the independence and 
       dignity of individuals with disabilities;

     ù Providing to the Congress, on an ongoing basis, advice, 
       recommendations, and any additional information that the 
       National Council or the Congress considers appropriate;

     ù Providing ongoing advice to the President, the Congress, 
       the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services 
       Administration (RSA), the Assistant Secretary of the 
       Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services 
       (OSERS), and the Director of the National Institute on 
       Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) on programs 
       authorized in the Rehabilitation Act;

     ù Establishing general policies for reviewing the operation 
       of NIDRR;

     ù Submitting an annual report with appropriate 
       recommendations to the President and the Congress 
       regarding the status of research affecting persons with 
       disabilities and the activities of RSA and NIDRR;

     ù Providing advice to the RSA Commissioner on policies;

     ù Making recommendations on ways to improve research; the 
       collection, dissemination, and implementation of research 
       findings; and the administration of services affecting 
       persons with disabilities;

     ù Reviewing and approving standards for independent living 
       programs;

     ù Reviewing and approving standards for Project With 
       Industry programs;

     ù Providing guidance to the President's Committee on 
       Employment of People with Disabilities; and

     ù Issuing an annual report to the President and the Congress 
       on the progress that has been made in implementing the 
       recommendations contained in the National Council's 
       January 30, 1986, report, Toward Independence.

     While many government agencies address issues and programs 
affecting people with disabilities, the National Council is the 
only federal agency charged with addressing, analyzing, and 
making recommendations on issues of public policy that affect 
people with disabilities regardless of age, disability type, 
perceived employment potential, economic need, specific 
functional ability, status as a veteran, or other individual 
circumstance.  The National Council recognizes its unique 
opportunity to facilitate independent living, community 
integration, and employment opportunities for people with 
disabilities by ensuring an informed and coordinated approach to 
addressing their concerns and eliminating barriers to their 
active participation in community and family life.
         NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY, MEMBERS AND STAFF


Members

John A. Gannon, Acting Chairperson
Cleveland, Ohio, and Washington, D.C.

A. Kent Waldrep, Jr., Vice Chairperson
Plano, Texas

Linda Wickett Allison
Dallas, Texas

Ellis B. Bodron
Vicksburg, Mississippi

Larry Brown, Jr.
Potomac, Maryland

Mary Ann Mobley Collins
Beverly Hills, California

Anthony H. Flack
Norwalk, Connecticut

Robert S. Muller
Grandville, Michigan

George H. Oberle, PED
Stillwater, Oklahoma

Sandra Swift Parrino
Briarcliff Manor, New York

Mary Matthews Raether
McLean, Virginia

Shirley W. Ryan
Chicago, Illinois

Anne Crellin Seggerman
Fairfield, Connecticut

Michael B. Unhjem
Fargo, North Dakota

Helen Wilshire Walsh
Greenwich, Connecticut

Staff

Andrew I. Batavia, JD, MS
Executive Director

Edward P. Burke
Exec. Ass't. to the Chairperson

Billie Jean Hill
Program Specialist

Mark S. Quigley
Public Affairs Specialist

Brenda Bratton
Executive Secretary

Stacey S. Brown
Staff Assistant

Janice Mack
Administrative Officer

Lorraine Williams
Office Automation Clerk



                           PROJECT STAFF


National Council on Disability
Committee on Public Policy
John A. Gannon, Chairperson
Larry Brown, Jr.
Robert S. Muller
Sandra Swift Parrino
Mary Matthews Raether
Michael B. Unhjem
A. Kent Waldrep, Jr.
Helen Wilshire Walsh


Project Officer
Billie Jean Hill
National Council on Disability


Project Directors
Timothy L. Jones
Robert G. Kramer
Robert G. Kramer & Associates, Inc.


Consultants
Catherine Downes Bower, CAE
Robert L. Burgdorf, Jr., JD
Midge Saint
Jane West, PhD


Report Editors
Andrew I. Batavia, JD, MS
Edward P. Burke
Mark S. Quigley
Judy Cleary/EEI
                         EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

     My highest priorities as your next President are to restore 
     economic opportunity and rebuild a sense of community in our 
     great nation.  That is why I believe the ADA is so 
     important.  In a competitive global economy, our country 
     doesn't have a single person to waste-- opportunity must be 
     open to everyone.  I am strongly committed to full 
     implementation and enforcement of the ADA, because I believe 
     our entire nation will share in the economic and social 
     benefits that will result from full participation of 
     Americans with disabilities in our society.

                              President-elect Bill Clinton
                              Letter to the ADA Employment Summit
                              December 1, 1992

     The National Council on Disability is an independent federal 
agency charged by the U.S. Congress to address, analyze, and 
provide recommendations on issues of public policy that affect 
people with disabilities.  The Americans with Disabilities Act of 
1990 (ADA), P.L. 101-336, was first proposed by the National 
Council in a 1986 report to the President and the Congress, 
Toward Independence.  In 1988, the National Council outlined the 
blueprint for the ADA in another special report, On the Threshold 
of Independence.

     Having initiated the ADA, the National Council is committed 
to ensuring that the law is fully implemented and that 
opportunities for full participation in American life for people 
with disabilities are realized.  With this objective, the 
National Council established ADA Watch in 1991 to evaluate 
implementation of the ADA.  ADA Watch is comprehensive in its 
scope, including all titles of the ADA in all sectors of the 
economy and all parts of the country.  The primary purposes of 
ADA Watch are to monitor and report on ADA implementation and to 
provide an opportunity for the concerns and experiences of all 
parties affected by the ADA to be given full consideration.

     The ADA was enacted with strong bipartisan support in both 
the House of Representatives (with a vote of 377 to 28) and the 
Senate (91 to 6) and signed into law by then-President George 
Bush on July 26, 1990.  President Bill Clinton gave the Act 
strong support in his presidential campaign and in a letter to 
the ADA Employment Summit, sponsored by the President's Committee 
on Employment of People with Disabilities on December 1, 1992.  
The ADA is a comprehensive civil rights statute that prohibits 
discrimination against people with disabilities--similar to the 
protections obtained by women, minorities and others since the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted.

     The ADA has five titles:

        ù Title I -- Employment

        ù Title II-- Public Services (including Public 
                     Transportation)

        ù Title III--Public Accommodations and Services Operated 
                     by Private Entities

        ù Title IV-- Telecommunications

        ù Title V -- Miscellaneous Provisions

     The provisions of the ADA will take effect in stages, with 
the first set of regulations having gone into effect as of 
January 26, 1992.  An estimated 43 million Americans with 
physical or mental impairments that substantially limit daily 
activities are protected under the ADA.  These activities 
include: working, walking, talking, seeing, hearing, or caring 
for oneself.  People who have a record of such an impairment and 
those regarded as having an impairment are also protected.

     The ADA bars discrimination in employment and generally 
requires employers with 25 or more employees to make reasonable 
accommodations for qualified people with disabilities beginning 
in July 26, 1992, and employers with 15 or more employees to make 
such accommodations by July 26, 1994.  It also bars 
discrimination in any activity or service of a state or local 
government, similar to a requirement under section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for services operated or funded by the 
federal government.

     The ADA prohibits discrimination in commercial facilities 
and public accommodations--hotels, restaurants, stores, theaters, 
and museums, among others.  New buses, trains, subway cars, and 
rail stations will have to be made accessible according to 
specific schedules in the coming years.  Accessible paratransit 
services must be provided that are comparable to fixed-route 
transportation services.  Phone companies must provide relay 
services so that people with speech or hearing impairments can 
communicate with those who use conventional voice phones.

     While many states have laws banning discrimination against 
people with disabilities, the National Council on Disability 
concluded that the lack of a consistent standard across the 
nation left people with disabilities living as second-class 
citizens with few options to live independently and viewed as 
dependents unable to contribute productively.  This is evidenced 
by unemployment rates among people with disabilities that are 
higher than any other group--estimated as high as 67 percent by 
one Louis Harris poll commissioned by the National Council and 
the International Center for the Disabled.

     This report summarizes major findings and recommendations 
from the first year of ADA Watch.  The study was conducted from 
October 8, 1991, to November 16, 1992, and therefore reflects 
developments during that period.  (Some information obtained 
after the study is also provided.)  It is important to note that 
1992 was also the first full year of ADA implementation, and much 
of what is reported here is based on the very early experience in 
implementing and enforcing the law.  The most remarkable 
observation about these beginnings is that so much has been 
achieved in so little time.

                            Methodology

     The ADA Watch team gathered information from the following 
sources:

     ù Organizations and associations representing the disability 
       community and the ADA's "covered entities" (e.g., 
       businesses, and state and local governments)--general 
       informational materials, training and technical assistance 
       manuals, guidebooks, and videotapes.

     ù Federal agencies having ADA responsibility--data on 
       complaints filed, technical assistance and training 
       efforts, grant programs funded through the agencies, and 
       research activities conducted or proposed.

     ù Nonprofit organizations--for example, the Funding 
       Partnership for People with Disabilities, a coordinating 
       entity for more than 20 foundations and corporate giving 
       programs.

     ù Media sources--newspapers, magazines, journals, trade and 
       industry publications, television, and radio.

     ù Public hearings in Washington, DC (two days) and San 
       Francisco, California (one day for general ADA issues 
       followed by one day of hearings on issues related to 
       minorities with disabilities).

     ù A toll-free telephone line, which received calls from 
       people with disabilities, businesses, government agencies, 
       and other concerned citizens across the United States.

     ù Letters and other correspondence, which provided 
       information about many efforts to implement the ADA and 
       described issues faced by people with disabilities related 
       to the ADA.

     The resulting volumes of data were then analyzed to identify 
patterns, recurring themes or issues, and significant needs.

                          Major Findings

     The following are the major findings for the first year of 
ADA Watch:

1.  The federal government has, overall, performed well in its 
    ADA implementation responsibilities.

2.  The disability community has generally, in these early days 
    of the ADA, taken an ADA implementation strategy of "educate 
    and negotiate, and litigate as a last resort."

3.  Many organizations serving covered entities, such as trade 
    associations, have initiated significant efforts to assist 
    their members with ADA implementation.

4.  The projections that ADA implementation would not be unduly 
    burdensome to businesses appear to have been well founded.

5.  The ADA has opened up new opportunities for 
    disability-related activities in the nonprofit community.

6.  Entrepreneurial activities stimulated by the ADA have had 
    very mixed results: some have been helpful, others highly 
    counterproductive.

7.  Complaints filed under the ADA thus far indicate that certain 
    key areas need greater attention, including, for example, 
    accommodating current employees with disabilities under Title 
    I.

8.  Early efforts by covered entities to implement the ADA's 
    employment provisions have helped to remove formal barriers 
    to employment of people with disabilities, but many barriers 
    still exist.

9.  Some of the most productive ADA implementation activities 
    have involved cooperative efforts between and among 
    government agencies, businesses and business organizations, 
    and the disability community.

10. The need for information and technical assistance continues 
    to grow, outstripping federal and state resources.

11. While efforts to inform people with disabilities and covered 
    entities about the ADA have been substantial, many large gaps 
    still exist.

12. Minorities with disabilities, overrepresented in the 
    disability community, are significantly underreached by 
    current ADA information and technical assistance efforts.

13. As organizations and individuals advance in their knowledge 
    of the ADA, their questions are becoming increasingly 
    sophisticated and technical, often requiring complex 
    responses.

14. Covered entities are looking for the greatest degree of 
    certainty of being in compliance with the ADA that the 
    federal government can offer.

15. As ADA regulations become more refined, the ADA's 
    relationship to other federal disability nondiscrimination 
    laws is becoming clearer in certain areas and more confused 
    in others.

16. People with certain kinds of disabilities, such as vision and 
    hearing impairments, short stature, and environmental 
    illness, are becoming frustrated with the way ADA 
    implementation efforts are being conducted.

17. Despite the broad scope of the ADA, there still appear to be 
    some gaps in coverage, such as full protection for people 
    with environmental illness.

18. Numerous technical issues involving the interpretation and 
    application of the ADA and its regulations have been raised, 
    including the use of edge warning devices on transit 
    platforms and accessibility standards for recreation areas.

19. Major elements of employee benefit plans are being called 
    into question by the ADA, such as whether an employer's 
    health care plan may discontinue coverage of certain benefits 
    specifically needed by people with disabilities.

20. The role of traditional government activities in support of 
    people with disabilities and the application of previously 
    existing disability laws are being affected by the ADA.

21. There is a growing body of information about such issues as 
    perceptions of the ADA, costs of implementation, and 
    attitudes toward ADA responsibilities that will enable 
    policymakers to prioritize implementation efforts more 
    effectively.

22. The progress and impact of the ADA cannot be fully determined 
    with existing data sources, and substantial additional 
    research is needed.

                          Recommendations

     The National Council on Disability, based on first year 
findings, recommends the following:

1.  To sustain the substantial progress achieved in implementing 
    the ADA during its early stages, no amendments to the law 
    should be made at this time.

2.  The federal government should plan, coordinate, and fund a 
    media campaign to disseminate accurate information about the 
    ADA through public service announcements on radio and 
    television.

3.  New materials and dissemination strategies should be 
    developed that are targeted to, and sensitive to the needs 
    of, African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic and Latino 
    populations, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other 
    minority populations.

4.  Systematic outreach and technical assistance efforts should 
    be initiated that focus on small businesses and communities 
    outside major metropolitan areas.

5.  The dissemination of ADA information and technical assistance 
    materials should be increasingly decentralized and moved out 
    of the federal sector.

6.  Federal technical assistance projects should be established 
    in Alaska, Hawaii, and the Trust Territories.

7.  The next generation of technical assistance materials should 
    be more industry- and profession-specific.

8.  More technical assistance should be provided to state and 
    local government entities.

9.  The federal government should formally endorse technical 
    assistance materials to increase public confidence in their 
    validity as standards for ADA compliance.

10. The federal government should cultivate and coordinate ADA 
    leadership in the private sector and the disability community 
    and thereby become more the catalyst than the provider of 
    technical assistance.

11. The Interagency Disability Coordinating Council should 
    identify and address gaps in coverage, conflicting 
    definitions of terms, and problems of overlapping 
    jurisdiction of federal disability nondiscrimination laws.

12. The Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity 
    Commission, the Department of Transportation, the Federal 
    Communications Commission, and the Access Board should 
    prepare and disseminate regular technical guidance memoranda 
    regarding ADA policy decisions.

13. Congress and the Administration should consider legislation 
    to address the needs of people with "emerging disabilities," 
    such as those with head injuries resulting from violence or 
    other trauma and those with environmental illnesses who are 
    severely adversely affected by secondary smoke or other 
    pollutants in public places.

14. A comprehensive research agenda should be developed to 
    measure the nation's progress in meeting the ADA's four goals 
    of equality of opportunity, full participation, independent 
    living, and economic self-sufficiency.

15. Congress should authorize and fund a large-scale longitudinal 
    study to determine how the needs of people with disabilities 
    are being met over time as the ADA is implemented.

16. Funding for federal government ADA information dissemination, 
    technical assistance activities, and research should be 
    adequate to ensure the successful ongoing implementation of 
    the law.

                            Conclusions

     The early record on voluntary compliance with the ADA is 
mixed:  some covered entities have offered exemplary models for 
accommodating the needs of people with disabilities; many have 
done what is necessary to meet the ADA's requirements; and some 
others have largely ignored the ADA or have been ignorant of it.  
Although all of the entities that have complied have incurred 
some costs, it does not appear that any of the dire economic 
predictions made by some have materialized.

     As an independent federal agency, the National Council has 
the autonomy to assess the efforts of other agencies responsible 
for implementing the ADA.  While it concludes that these agencies 
have performed well considering their resource constraints, 
additional ADA technical assistance, education, and research 
efforts are needed to further improve implementation and to 
inform the public about their rights and obligations under the 
law.  It is particularly important to target such efforts to 
minorities, small businesses, and small cities and rural 
communities.  Funding for such efforts should be provided.

     Overall, the ADA continues to be a major success of American 
public policy.  Countries throughout the world are looking at the 
ADA and our efforts at implementing it as a model to improve the 
quality of life of their citizens with disabilities.  Based on 
the first year of ADA Watch, the overarching conclusion and 
recommendation of the National Council on Disability is that no 
amendments to the ADA should be made at this time.  Changing the 
law now, just as it is starting to have a positive effect, would 
confuse the public and compromise the substantial progress that 
has been made to date.
                         I.  INTRODUCTION:
                THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

     The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) was first 
proposed by the National Council on Disability under the 
leadership of Chairperson Sandra Swift Parrino and Executive 
Director Lex Frieden.  In February 1986, the Council issued a 
report to the President and the Congress entitled Toward 
Independence, which recommended enactment of a comprehensive law 
requiring equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities.

     In 1988, the Council published another report entitled On 
the Threshold of Independence, which outlined the initial 
blueprint for the ADA.  The bill, which was sponsored jointly by 
Senator Lowell Weicker and Representative Tony Coelho, was 
introduced in the 100th Congress.  As Chairperson of the Task 
Force on the Rights and Empowerment of Americans with 
Disabilities, Justin Dart, Jr., held 63 hearings on the need for 
the ADA in every state in the country.

     During the 1988 Presidential campaign, then-Vice President 
George Bush endorsed the ADA and became a strong advocate for its 
passage.  The bill was reintroduced, in modified form, in May 
1989 by Senators Tom Harkin, Edward Kennedy, and Dave Durenberger 
and Representatives Tony Coelho, Hamilton Fish, and Steny Hoyer.  
In June 1989, Attorney General Dick Thornburgh, in testimony 
before the U.S. Senate, reiterated the support of the Bush 
Administration for the ADA.

     After extensive negotiations between the Senate and the 
Administration, the Senate passed an amended version of the ADA 
on September 7, 1989, by a vote of 76 to 8.  The House then began 
consideration of the bill.  Five separate House committees held 
hearings on the ADA, and an amended version of the bill was 
passed on May 22, 1990, by a vote of 403 to 20.  To reconcile the 
two different versions of the ADA, the Senate and the House held 
two different conference committees.

     The House ultimately passed the ADA on July 12, 1990, by a 
strong bipartisan vote of 377 to 28.  The next day, with similar 
bipartisan support, the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 91 to 
6.  The ADA became law on July 26, 1990, when it was signed by 
then-President Bush on the South Lawn of the White House in front 
of over 3,000 persons, many of whom had worked on the passage of 
the law.[1]  On December 1, 1992, an ADA Employment Summit was 
held in which then-President-elect Bill Clinton conveyed his 
strong support for the ADA.

     Modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title V of 
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the ADA is a landmark piece of 
civil rights legislation that provides broad protections for 
persons with disabilities analogous to those available to 
minorities and women.  Throughout the world, countries are 
looking at the ADA as a model to enhance the quality of life of 
their citizens with disabilities.  On February 17, 1993, in 
Vienna, Austria, with the leadership of National Council
Acting Chairperson John A. Gannon, the United Nations Commission 
for Social Development passed a resolution embodying the spirit 
of the ADA.

ADA Requirements

     An estimated 43 million Americans with physical or mental 
impairments that substantially limit daily activities are 
protected under the ADA.  These activities include working, 
walking, talking, seeing, hearing, or caring for oneself.  People 
who have a record of such an impairment and those regarded as 
having an impairment are also protected.  The ADA has the 
following five titles:

        ù Title I -- Employment

        ù Title II-- Public Services (including Public 
                     Transportation)

        ù Title III--Public Accommodations and Services Operated 
                     by Private Entities

        ù Title IV-- Telecommunications

        ù Title V -- Miscellaneous Provisions

     The following is a brief summary of some of the major 
requirements contained in the ADA statute.  To determine all of 
the requirements that a covered entity must satisfy, it is 
necessary to refer to the regulations, guidelines, and/or 
technical assistance materials that have been developed by the 
Department of Justice (DOJ), the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission (EEOC), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the Architectural 
and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (the Access Board).  
In addition, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has developed 
regulations on the tax relief available for certain costs of 
complying with the ADA, such as small business tax credits.

     Title I--Employment

     Title I of the ADA prohibits discrimination in employment 
against people with disabilities.  It requires employers to make 
reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental 
limitations of a qualified applicant or employee, unless such 
accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the employer.  
Reasonable accommodations include such actions as making 
worksites accessible, modifying existing equipment, providing new 
devices, modifying work schedules, restructuring jobs, and 
providing readers or interpreters.

     Title I also prohibits the use of employment tests and other 
selection criteria that screen out, or tend to screen out, 
individuals with disabilities, unless such tests or criteria are 
shown to be job-related and consistent with business necessity.  
It also bans the use of pre-employment medical examinations or 
inquiries to determine if an applicant has a disability.  It 
does, however, permit the use of medical examinations after a job 
offer has been made if the results are kept confidential, all 
persons offered employment in the same job category are required 
to take them, and the results are not used to discriminate.

     Employers are permitted, at any time, to inquire about the 
ability of a job applicant or employee to perform job-related 
functions.  Under the ADA, the employment provisions took effect 
on July 26, 1992, for employers with 25 or more employees, and 
will take effect on July 26, 1994, for employers with 15 or more 
employees.  As required, the EEOC issued its regulations by July 
26, 1991.

     Title II--Public Services

     Title II of the ADA requires that the services and programs 
of local and state governments, as well as other nonfederal 
government agencies, are accessible to people with disabilities.  
Regulations from the Attorney General's office at DOJ were issued 
on July 26, 1991, in compliance with the ADA.

     In addition, Title II seeks to ensure that people with 
disabilities have access to transportation.  All new buses must 
now be accessible.  Transit authorities must provide 
supplementary paratransit services or other special 
transportation services for individuals with disabilities who 
cannot use fixed-route bus services, unless this would present an 
undue burden.

     In the area of rail transportation, the ADA requires that 
all new rail vehicles and all new rail stations must be 
accessible.  In addition, existing rail systems must have one 
accessible car per train within five years of enactment.  Amtrak 
must make all of its existing stations accessible within 20 
years.  Key stations of subway systems and other commuter rail 
systems must generally be accessible within three years.  
Regulations from the Secretary of DOT were due on July 26, 1991, 
but were somewhat delayed.

     Title III--Public Accommodations

     Public accommodations include the broad range of entities 
that affect commerce, including sales, rental, and service 
establishments; educational institutions; recreational 
facilities; and social service centers.  The ADA prohibits the 
use of eligibility criteria that screen out or tend to screen out 
individuals with disabilities, unless necessary for the delivery 
of goods and services.  It also requires public accommodations to 
make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and 
procedures, unless those modifications would fundamentally alter 
the nature of the services provided by the public accommodation.

     Title III also requires that public accommodations provide 
auxiliary aids necessary to enable persons who have visual, 
hearing, or sensory impairments to participate in the program, 
but only if their provision will not result in an undue burden on 
the business.  Thus, for example, a restaurant would not be 
required to provide menus in braille for blind patrons if it 
requires its waiters to read the menu.  The auxiliary aid 
requirement is flexible.  A public accommodation may choose among 
various alternatives as long as the result is effective 
communication.

     With respect to existing facilities of public 
accommodations, physical barriers must be removed when it is 
"readily achievable" to do so (i.e., when it can be accomplished 
easily and without much expense).  Modifications that would be 
readily achievable in most cases include ramping of a few steps.  
However, all construction of new facilities and alterations of 
existing facilities in public accommodations, as well as in 
commercial facilities such as office buildings,
must be accessible to people with disabilities (except that 
elevators generally are not required for facilities that are less 
than three stories high or have less than 3,000 square feet per 
story).

     Regulations on public accommodations and commercial 
facilities from the Attorney General's office were issued on July 
26, 1991.  Title III also addresses transportation provided by 
private entities, and regulations on this component were issued 
by the Secretary of DOT on September 6, 1991.

     Title IV--Telecommunications

     Title IV of the ADA amends the Communications Act of 1934 to 
require that telephone companies provide telecommunication relay 
services.  The relay services must permit speech- or 
hearing-impaired individuals who use TTDs or other nonvoice 
terminal devices opportunities for communication that are 
equivalent to those provided to other customers.  Regulations 
were issued by the FCC on August 1, 1991.

     Title V--Miscellaneous Provisions

     This title addresses such issues as the ADA's relationship 
to other laws including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 
requirements relating to the provision of insurance, regulations 
by the Access Board, prohibition of state immunity, inclusion of 
Congress as a covered entity, implementation of each title, 
promotion of alternative means of dispute resolution, and 
provision of technical assistance.

ADA Watch

     Having initiated the ADA, the National Council has an 
interest in ensuring that the law is fully implemented and that 
opportunities for full participation in American life presented 
by the ADA are realized by people with disabilities.  The 
National Council established ADA Watch in 1991 in order to 
monitor implementation of the ADA.  ADA Watch is comprehensive, 
covering all titles of the ADA in all sectors of the economy and 
all parts of the country.  (The brochure in Appendix A provides a 
brief description of the project.)

     The primary purpose of ADA Watch is to observe and report on 
implementation, providing an opportunity for the concerns and 
experiences of all interested and affected parties to be given 
full consideration.  The ADA Watch team gathered information from 
the following sources:

     ù Organizations and associations representing the disability 
       community and the ADA's "covered entities" (e.g., 
       businesses, and state and local governments)--general 
       informational materials, training and technical assistance 
       manuals, guidebooks, and videotapes.

     ù Federal agencies having ADA responsibilities--data on 
       complaints filed, technical assistance and training 
       efforts, grant programs funded through the agencies, and 
       research activities conducted or proposed.

     ù Nonprofit organizations--for example, the Funding 
       Partnership for People with Disabilities, a coordinating 
       entity for more than 20 foundations and corporate giving 
       programs.

     ù Media sources--newspapers, magazines, journals, trade and 
       industry publications, television, and radio.

     ù Public hearings in Washington, DC (two days) and San 
       Francisco, California (one day for general ADA issues 
       followed by one day of hearings on issues related to 
       minority members with disabilities).  The hearing agendas 
       are included in this report as Appendices B and C.

     ù A toll-free telephone line that received calls from people 
       with disabilities, businesses, government agencies, and 
       other concerned citizens across the United States.

     ù Letters and other correspondence, which provided 
       information about many efforts to implement the ADA and 
       described issues faced by people with disabilities related 
       to the ADA.

The resulting volumes of data were analyzed to identify patterns, 
recurring themes or issues, and significant needs.

     This report summarizes major findings and recommendations 
from the first year of ADA Watch.  The data presented were 
obtained primarily during the period of the study (October 8, 
1991, to November 16, 1992), although some information obtained 
subsequently has also been incorporated.  As 1992 was also the 
first full year of ADA implementation, much of what is reported 
here is based on the very early stages of implementation.  The 
most remarkable observation about these beginnings is that so 
much has been achieved in so little time.  The results of this 
project indicate substantial, though sometimes uneven, progress 
toward making the promise of the ADA a reality.  Its findings 
support the following overarching conclusion and recommendation:


Recommendation 1

To sustain the substantial progress achieved in implementing the 
ADA during its early stages, no amendments to the law should be 
made at this time.

                 II.  EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT THE ADA

     This section of the report describes efforts by interested 
parties to implement the ADA, beginning with the federal agencies 
having statutory responsibility for ADA implementation.  The 
efforts of the disability community, covered entities, nonprofit 
organizations, and entrepreneurial ventures are also discussed.

                        Federal Government


Finding 1:The federal government has, overall, performed well in 
        its ADA implementation responsibilities.


Interagency Coordination

     As the coordinating agency for federal activities related to 
the ADA, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has major 
responsibilities for implementation.  DOJ's coordination efforts 
as of the end of the first year of ADA Watch included development 
of the draft Technical Assistance Plan to define each agency's 
areas of responsibility and to coordinate federal technical 
assistance activities.  This plan was never officially finalized, 
but has nonetheless served as a reasonably effective guide for 
federal ADA technical assistance efforts.

     In addition, an interagency task force composed of 
representatives from all departments and agencies having ADA 
responsibilities was created to help coordinate federal efforts.  
This task force met monthly and continues to meet on a regular 
basis to discuss what each agency is doing and to identify areas 
in which coordination is required.  Several cooperative efforts 
have been initiated by DOJ through the task force, including the 
following:

     ù Establishment and coordination of a dissemination strategy 
       for basic information about the ADA;

     ù Development of question-and-answer documents by DOJ and 
       the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), with 
       assistance from the National Institute on Disability and 
       Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR);

     ù Creation of a comprehensive ADA handbook by DOJ and EEOC;

     ù Dissemination of technical assistance materials to small 
       businesses through the Small Business Administration;

     ù Design and implementation by DOJ and EEOC of a major 
       contract to train people with disabilities on the 
       provisions of the ADA, with the contractor working under 
       the direct supervision of EEOC; and

     ù Coordination of efforts to provide information and 
       guidance to NIDRR's Technical Assistance Centers by the 
       several federal agencies with ADA technical assistance and 
       enforcement responsibilities.

Regulations and Standards

     The agencies with responsibility to publish ADA regulations 
and standards generally have been successful in meeting 
deadlines.  Most regulations were published on time.  (See Table 
1.)  As of the end of FY 1992, only the Internal Revenue Service 
rule on use of Section 44 Tax Credits was still to be issued.  
According to an official at the IRS, these regulations will be 
published during calendar year 1993.

     Most of the regulations were also published on time in 
accessible formats, including braille and audio tape.  The 
transportation regulation was late in this regard, as were 
Department of Transportation (DOT) technical assistance 
materials.  DOT officials report that the problem in providing 
alternate formats has been substantially corrected.  The DOJ and 
EEOC technical assistance manuals were published on time.

Information Dissemination

     Efforts by the federal government to disseminate ADA 
information have been extraordinary.  As one illustration, the 
sheer number of documents being produced and mailed by the 
component of DOJ responsible for ADA implementation, the Civil 
Rights Division, has turned the agency into something resembling 
a large-scale mail house; approximately two million information 
pieces had been distributed as of the end of FY 1992.  DOJ staff 
report that demand continues to increase, particularly for 
materials in accessible formats.

     Other ADA information dissemination efforts of note are as 
follows:

     ù DOJ staff made more than 150 presentations to covered 
       entities and various groups representing and serving 
       people with disabilities, and have received many other 
       requests.

     ù A DOJ ADA hotline, staffed by its own attorneys and 
       professional staff, has been inundated with calls 
       (approximately 2,500 per week), far exceeding the 
       anticipated demand.
                              Table 1

                RELEASE DATES OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS



REGULATION


                                  SCHEDULED


ACTUAL


Title I
Employment (EEOC)

                                   7/26/91
7/26/91

Title II
Public Services



State and local governments (DOJ)

                                   7/26/91
7/26/91


Transportation (DOT)
                                   7/26/91
9/6/91



Title III
Public Accommodations

Public accommodations (DOJ)

Transportation (DOT)

Title IV



                                   7/26/91

                                   7/26/91





7/26/91

9/6/91

Telecommunications (FCC)

Title V
Miscellaneous Provisions
                                   7/26/91


                                     NA
8/1/91


   NA


     ù EEOC staff have responded to thousands of requests for 
       information.  EEOC headquarters received approximately 
       1,000 calls per week in July 1992; by September 1992 the 
       number was still a substantial 600 to 700 per week.

     ù DOJ distributed a notice about Title III requirements 
       through an IRS mailing to 5.9 million businesses.

     ù In the second quarter of FY 1992 alone, the Office of 
       Communications and Legislative Affairs at EEOC received 
       more than 14,000 ADA-related calls and 5,000 pieces of 
       mail requesting ADA publications and posters.

     ù DOJ distributed the ADA Handbook to more than 10,000 
       libraries.

     ù EEOC field office staff made more than 500 presentations 
       on the ADA in FY 1991 and the first quarter of FY 1992 to 
       nearly 40,000 people.

     ù The Federal Consumer Information Center is distributing 
       copies of the DOJ/EEOC question-and-answer pamphlet.

     ù DOJ prepared a display, primarily for use at conventions, 
       of covered entities, such as the National Association of 
       Convenience Stores, the National Federation of Retailers, 
       and organizations representing persons with disabilities.

     ù The DOJ's electronic bulletin board, designed primarily 
       for use by persons with vision impairments, has been 
       receiving 300 to 400 calls per month; the Department is 
       expanding and computerizing this line in order to improve 
       its efficiency.

Training and Technical Assistance

     Federal agencies have conducted training and technical 
assistance programs through use of their own staff, as well as 
through numerous grants and contracts.  The level of effort for 
agency staff has been substantial, but the demand has far 
exceeded the capacity to meet it.  Examples of these activities 
are as follows:

     ù DOJ awarded 19 grants, funded at a total of $3.4 million 
       in FY 1992.  Additional funds were used to extend six of 
       these grants to continue certain activities, including 
       telephone information lines.  An additional $2.5 million 
       in grants is anticipated in FY 1993.  These grants cover a 
       wide range of content areas and activities.  (See Appendix 
       D for details, as well as "Covered Entities" in this 
       section for their impact.)

     ù NIDRR created 10 Regional Disability and Business 
       Technical Assistance Centers (RDBTACs) to provide 
       technical assistance on all titles of the ADA, 
       particularly Titles I, II, and III.  (See Table 2 for data 
       on the efforts of the centers.)

     ù NIDRR also funded two materials development projects on 
       employment through the International Association of 
       Machinists and Cornell University, as well as two peer 
       training projects; one on local capacity-building in 
       Independent Living Centers with the
       National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) and one on 
       peer and family training related to the ADA with the 
       Parent Information Center.

     ù EEOC and DOJ jointly funded a contract to the Disability 
       Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) and the 
       Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) project to 
       train 400 people with disabilities, 100 of whom would each 
       train 100 others and 300 of whom would each train at least 
       50 others.

     ù DOT, DOJ, and the Access Board have produced or have in 
       process several publications on transportation issues 
       under the ADA.  (See Table 3 for a partial list of these 
       documents.)

     ù DOT's ADA Paratransit Handbook was widely circulated and 
       very well received by transit providers as a guide for 
       development of ADA paratransit plans.

     ù The FCC published the Telecommunications Relay Services 
       Informational Handbook.

     ù DOT's Regional Transit Assistance Program, a $5 million 
       program, has conducted grant programs through the 
       Community Transportation Association and Project ACTION to 
       assist transit providers with ADA implementation.  (See 
       Appendix E for a description of Project ACTION and a list 
       of grantees.)

     ù EEOC has an "Attorney of the Day" answer line that is 
       receiving approximately 15 calls a day, primarily from its 
       regional office staff, on technical issues under Title I.

     ù The Access Board is receiving more than 1,500 calls a 
       month requesting technical assistance.  (See Figure 1 for 
       specific data on requests by month from October 1991 
       through May 1992.)
                              Table 2

         MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED BY NIDRR REGIONAL CENTERS*

     DOCUMENT                                    NUMBER SENT

     General Information
          Public Law                                     222
          Facts About ADA                               1118
          Title II Highlights                            372
          Title III Highlights                           541
          ADA Q&A                                       1642
          ADA-Your Responsibilities as an Employer      4077
          ADA-Your Employment Rights as an Individual
             with a Disability                          2805

     ADA Basics
          EEOC List of Publications                      852
          DOJ List of Publications                       852
          ADA Statutory Deadlines                        956
          ADA Requirements Fact Sheet                   1031
          ADA Public Accommodations Fact Sheet           924
          Disability-Related Tax Provisions              731

     Regulations
          Federal Register Part III                      851
          Federal Register Part IV                       243
          Federal Register Part V                        437

     Technical Assistance Manuals
          Title I T/A Manual                            1978
          Title II T/A Manual                           1033
          Title III T/A Manual                          1102

     Resource Tools
          Checklists for Existing Facilities             826
          ADA Handbook                                   838

     Other Publications and Documents
          TOTAL Other Publications and Documents      16,625

     Total Documents Distributed                      40,056

*August 1992 data
                             Figure 1

                       ACCESS BOARD REQUESTS
                    FOR INFORMATION/GUIDELINES















                              Table 3

        SOME ADA PUBLICATIONS PREPARED BY FEDERAL AGENCIES


                       Department of Justice

The Americans with Disabilities Act (pamphlet)
Title II Highlights
Title III Highlights
The Title II Technical Assistance Manual and Update
The Title III Technical Assistance Manual and Update
Three single-page fact sheets


              Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

The Americans with Disabilities Act--Questions and Answers 
(jointly with DOJ)
The Americans with Disabilities Act Handbook (jointly with DOJ)
The Americans with Disabilities Act:  Your Employment Rights as 
an Individual
     with a Disability
The Americans with Disabilities Act:  Your Responsibilities as an 
Employer
Title I Technical Assistance Manual


                   Department of Transportation

Accessibility Handbook for Transit Facilities
Guidelines for Improvement to Transit Accessibility for Persons 
with Disabilities
Guideline Specifications for Passive Lifts, Active Lifts, 
Wheelchair Ramps &
     Securement Devices
Impact of the ADA on the U.S. Waterborne Passenger Transportation 
Industry
     (expected, July 1993)
Suggestions for Implementing a Standee-On-Lift Program for 
Fixed-Route Bus
     Service (expected, April 1993)


                        Table 3 (continued)


                 Federal Communications Commission

Telecommunications Relay Services:  An Informational Handbook


     Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board

Buses, Vans & Systems
Rapid Rail Vehicles & Systems
Light Rail Vehicles & Systems
Commuter Rail Cars & Systems
Intercity Rail Cars & Systems
Over-the-Road Buses & Systems
Automated Guideway Transit Vehicles & Systems
High-Speed Rail Cars, Monorails & Systems
Trams, Similar Vehicles & Systems
Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines 
Checklist
Periodic technical assistance bulletins
     ù The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a technical 
       assistance arm of the President's Committee for Employment 
       of People with Disabilities (PCEPD), has seen a 
       significant increase in demand for its services, with the 
       number of calls up by more than 20 percent over the 
       previous year.  (See Figure 2.)  This number is expected 
       to rise since the PCEPD has decided to promote JAN much 
       more actively.

     ù The PCEPD has undertaken numerous activities, including 
       conducting a 50-state survey to identify implementation 
       issues and promote compliance, developing informational 
       materials on the ADA, preparing a series of articles and 
       advertisements for use in print media, and holding 
       conferences.

     ù EEOC developed a comprehensive technical assistance manual 
       and made it available to the public on January 26, 1992.  
       The manual describes the employment provisions of the ADA 
       and provides numerous examples.  It includes an extensive 
       directory of technical assistance resources for employers 
       and people with disabilities.  It has been distributed to 
       125,000 employers, organizations, and individuals.

     ù Along with the Department of Justice, EEOC developed a 
       question and answer booklet.  This pamphlet covers Titles 
       I, II, and III of the ADA, and was recently updated.  The 
       first version was distributed to 250,000 employers.  EEOC 
       also developed booklets on employer responsibilities 
       (400,000 distribution) and the rights of an individual 
       with a disability (425,000 distribution) under Title I of 
       the ADA, as well as fact sheets covering the employment 
       requirements of the Act and tax benefits available to 
       employers.  These materials have been widely distributed 
       to the general public.

     ù EEOC revised its "Equal Employment Opportunity Is the Law" 
       poster, which has been distributed to 1.3 million 
       employers.  Employers are required to post notices about 
       the ADA in the workplace.

     ù In addition to the "Attorney of the Day" service, EEOC 
       operated a toll-free ADA helpline to provide technical 
       assistance and publications to the public.

     ù EEOC established a Speakers Bureau of individuals with 
       expertise on the employment provisions of the ADA.

     Several basic documents have had a wide circulation, most 
notably the ADA Handbook, currently being sold through the 
Government Printing Office bookstore, and EEOC's Technical 
Assistance Manual.  DOJ's technical assistance manuals on Titles 
II and III have also been widely disseminated.
                             Figure 2

       INQUIRIES ADDRESSED BY THE JOB ACCOMMODATION NETWORK
                           (1991, 1992)










                     People with Disabilities


Finding 2:The disability community has generally, in these early 
        days of the ADA, taken an ADA implementation strategy of 
        "educate and negotiate, and litigate as a last resort."


     The approach to ADA implementation taken by the disability 
community in the first year has, in general, been very positive 
and constructive:  they have followed the advice of former 
Assistant Attorney General John Dunne to "educate and negotiate, 
and litigate as a last resort."  The relatively low number of 
court cases and complaints to federal agencies reflect this fact.  
Many covered entities feared that advocacy groups would initiate 
a flurry of litigation immediately after each set of ADA 
provisions became effective.  Overall, the disability rights 
organizations have exercised restraint, allowing time for the 
necessary work of informing and educating people on the ADA's 
requirements.

Organizational Activities

     In their educational role, organizations representing and 
serving people with disabilities have produced numerous 
informational booklets and other materials explaining the rights 
and responsibilities of people with disabilities under the ADA.  
Some have initiated contacts with covered entities in communities 
to try to advise these organizations of their ADA obligations and 
to help them understand how compliance can be achieved.  
Illustrative of some of the more constructive efforts are the 
following:

     ù United Cerebral Palsy Associations, Inc., conducted a 
       public accommodations survey through 11 of their 
       affiliates, resulting in positive and productive 
       conversations with business owners and changes to improve 
       accessibility.  A similar effort for the employment 
       provisions has been developed.

     ù Paralyzed Veterans of America published six booklets on 
       ADA issues that have been widely circulated among its 
       members and others.

     ù A Center for Independent Living in northern Ohio, the 
       Ability Center of Greater Toledo, has demonstrated 
       exemplary local activity relating to the ADA.  This 
       organization has worked directly with 60 organizations in 
       nine months to assist them with ADA implementation.

     ù The National Easter Seal Society developed printed 
       informational materials, as well as posters and a video.

     ù The Mental Health Law Project is producing a series of 
       booklets on the various ADA content areas.

     ù The Arc (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens), 
       under a DOJ grant, published materials on issues related 
       to the ADA for people with mental retardation.

     Many more examples could be cited, involving organizations 
on the national, state, and local levels.  It should be noted 
that a number of the initiatives of disability organizations, as 
well as those of several covered entity associations, were funded 
through federal grants.  The impact of some of these grant 
projects appears to have gone beyond the activities for which the 
grant was given, in that the grantees have effectively leveraged 
their funds to further benefit their constituencies.  (See 
Appendices D, E, and F for lists of grant recipients.)

     Almost without exception, where problems of accessibility 
have arisen, people with disabilities have attempted to reach a 
resolution through informal discussion or, in some cases, through 
a more formal alternative dispute resolution strategy.  However, 
some people have found in certain instances that these approaches 
have not resulted in necessary accommodation and have taken 
action through the courts or filed a complaint with the federal 
agency having enforcement responsibility for the relevant title 
of the ADA.  (Section III provides additional information on 
legal actions under the ADA.)

Role in Implementation

     It was expected that the knowledge and experience of people 
with disabilities in making accommodations would create a demand 
for their expertise among covered entities.  To some extent, this 
has been the case.  A number of partnerships and cooperative 
efforts between the disability community and covered entities 
have been developed, with great benefit to all concerned.  (These 
are discussed further in Section IV of this report.)

     However, too often disability groups have not been consulted 
to assist with accommodations.  Centers for Independent Living 
and other community-based organizations have had some success in 
locations where they have had an opportunity over time to build 
strong positive relationships with local businesses.  However, 
due to fears of being accused of having aspects of their 
operations out of compliance, some businesses have seen 
disability groups as "foxes in the chicken coop."

     This problem was confirmed by a survey of 91 companies and 
25 advocacy groups in the mid-Atlantic region by the Philadelphia 
law firm of Blank, Rome, Comisky, and McCauley, and the 
Lyndhurst, New Jersey, firm of Alexander and Alexander Consulting 
Group, Inc.  Only 12 percent of businesses surveyed had "actively 
sought assistance from advocates."  Almost three-quarters (74 
percent) believed that advocates would actively assist with 
enforcement of ADA compliance, and nearly half (45 percent) 
believed that advocacy groups would use "testers" to identify 
noncompliance.

     With these suspicions, it is not surprising that businesses 
would seek the assistance of even high-priced attorneys and 
consultants before that of disability groups and individuals with 
disabilities.  It will be important for disability groups to 
address this issue of perception if they hope to serve a key role 
in assisting covered entities with ADA implementation.

                         Covered Entities


Finding 3:Many organizations serving covered entities, such as 
        trade associations, have initiated significant efforts to 
        assist their members with ADA implementation.


     The overwhelming evidence is that covered entities that know 
about ADA are trying to comply, even if they have questions or 
concerns.  For example, the Association for Computing Machinery 
conducted a member survey regarding their ability to provide 
accommodations under the ADA.  More than half (58 percent) of 
respondents said they would have "no difficulty" accommodating 
employees with disabilities.  In a similar survey of 79 companies 
for the Wall Street Journal, 61 percent of respondents said that 
it would be "easy to comply" with the ADA.

     Studies suggest that covered entities are actively working 
to implement the ADA.  For example, one survey of 385 companies 
conducted by Buck Consultants shortly before the employment 
provisions took effect found that 74 percent had designated a 
person or group within their organization to ensure compliance 
with the ADA.  Sixty-one percent had modified their employment 
applications because of the ADA, and 68 percent had begun or 
planned to conduct training sessions or disseminate information 
to their employees regarding the ADA.


Finding 4:The projections that ADA implementation would not be 
        unduly burdensome to businesses appear to have been well 
        founded.


     In the Blank, Rome, Comisky, and McCauley survey of 91 
companies discussed above, over three-quarters (77 percent) said 
that the estimated cost of ADA implementation for 1992 would be 
less than 1 percent of revenues.  In the same survey, nearly half 
(48 percent) said the ADA would actually be beneficial to their 
companies, while just over a third (37 percent) said it would 
not; the rest were uncertain.  Additional data will need to be 
collected over time to determine more precisely what the impact 
of ADA implementation efforts has been in terms of covered 
entities' financial and other resources.  A research agenda to 
determine costs and other aspects of the ADA's impact is 
discussed in some detail in Section VII of this report.

Association Activities

     As with the disability community, many organizations 
representing and serving covered entities have published 
articles, conducted training, and developed videotapes and other 
technical assistance materials to inform their members about the 
ADA.  Federal grants have served as a catalyst for a number of 
these organizations, which have then built on the grant to expand 
into larger efforts with their members.  Examples include the 
following:

     ù The American Hospital Association (AHA) developed a video 
       teleconference on the ADA for hospitals, as well as a 
       two-day seminar it described as "the most important 
       two-day seminar of the decade."  This seminar was 
       conducted in six cities.

     ù The National Restaurant Association (NRA), under a DOJ 
       grant, developed several publications to assist its 
       members, including a special edition of Washington Weekly 
       devoted to the ADA, articles in its magazine Restaurants 
       USA, and a "Primer on the Americans with Disabilities Act" 
       for NRA members.  In addition, the NRA distributed 70,000 
       copies of an ADA handbook for restaurants.

     ù A DOJ grant to the Building Owners and Managers 
       Association (BOMA) to conduct 15 seminars was so 
       successful that, as of June 1992, BOMA had actually 
       conducted 72 seminars around the country.

     ù The American Hotel and Motel Association, under a DOJ 
       grant, developed a comprehensive ADA manual and conducted 
       seminars in all 50 states.

     The demand for information among covered entities has been 
extremely high, creating both a challenge and an opportunity for 
business associations.  The challenge is to meet the demand 
effectively, with timely, appropriate, and useful materials.  The 
opportunity has been to increase membership, improve quality of 
service to members, and generate revenues from sales of 
materials.

Experiences with Implementation

     Witnesses at ADA Watch hearings from organizations 
representing covered entities portrayed a very favorable picture 
of the efforts of business, state and local governments, and 
other covered entities to implement the ADA.  However, there was 
also an expressed need for more specific technical assistance 
that would increase their confidence that they were actually in 
compliance.  Testimony highlights included the following:

     ù The Society for Human Resource Management reported that 
       the ADA was the number one topic on their member 
       information line in the first six months of 1992.  Members 
       were working actively to comply with the ADA but had 
       specific questions, such as what job description formats 
       EEOC would accept.  (These needs and others cited below 
       are discussed further in Section V of this report.)

     ù The American Institute of Architects and the Building 
       Owners and Managers Association reported similarly high 
       interest levels.  They expressed particular interest in 
       technical assistance materials that address specific 
       questions and help entities know what actions DOJ would 
       consider sufficient for an organization to be in full 
       compliance.

     ù Several witnesses reported trying to address the problem 
       of misinformation and disinformation being distributed by 
       unscrupulous or ill-informed individuals (e.g., some 
       lawyers and consultants), and indicated that helping 
       covered entities identify inaccurate information was very 
       important.

     ù The American Public Transit Association has provided 
       materials and seminars on the ADA for its members.  It 
       indicated that members are attempting to comply in good 
       faith, particularly with help from local advisory 
       committees, but they face significant cost constraints in 
       complying with the ADA and other federal requirements.

     ù The installation and operation of telecommunications relay 
       systems appears to be ahead of schedule; 42 states already 
       have a statewide relay service in operation, and all other 
       states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia are 
       planning such services.

     ù State governments are working very diligently to meet all 
       their responsibilities, but some find that they carry a 
       great measure of the burden for information dissemination 
       within the state without the resources to do so 
       effectively.

     ù County governments are likewise working very diligently to 
       implement the ADA, but the National Association of 
       Counties indicated that county governments could be used 
       more effectively as agents of implementation at the local 
       level in filling some of the information gaps.

     ù City governments reported being financially strapped and 
       looking for some relief from the ADA.  However, it was 
       noted that much of what the ADA requires of cities was 
       also required under the Rehabilitation Act and that many 
       cities struggling with ADA now are those that failed to 
       comply with the Rehabilitation Act in past years.

     These reports of significant progress must be viewed 
cautiously because they only represent those organizations with 
an awareness of the ADA.  As will be discussed more fully in 
Section IV of this report, the actual status of ADA 
implementation has been greatly hindered by lack of information 
and technical assistance among covered entities and people with 
disabilities.  Much remains to be done before covered entities 
can be said to be in compliance.

     One area of the ADA in which information dissemination and 
technical assistance can be fairly readily accomplished is public 
transportation.  Because the universe of public transportation 
providers is finite and known, and because these providers are 
accustomed to working with the federal government (and, not 
incidentally, know that funding depends on performance), efforts 
to implement the ADA's transportation provisions have moved ahead 
fairly well.

     For example, virtually all public transit providers 
submitted their paratransit plans on time; of those that had been 
reviewed by September 30, 1992, nearly 90 percent of the plans 
had been approved.  Similarly, only one provider (of the 45 that 
submitted plans) did not meet the requirements for key station 
plans, although it should be noted that, of the 716 key stations 
initially identified, nearly half (325) requested time extensions 
for completion.

     One particular success story related to implementation of 
the ADA's transportation provisions concerns the development of 
the Oregon State Securement Device.  This device has apparently 
resolved many questions about wheelchair lifts and consequently 
has enabled the DOT to focus more of its efforts on solutions to 
transportation accessibility for people with hearing and vision 
impairments.

                      Nonprofit Organizations


Finding 5:The ADA has opened up new opportunities for 
        disability-related activities in the nonprofit community.

     The role of "philanthropic" nonprofit organizations in the 
lives of people with disabilities has, historically, been in the 
care and treatment of disabling conditions and in the provision 
of social services.  One significant and perhaps long-term impact 
of the ADA has been to provide a
vision for expanding the work of these groups into the promotion 
of opportunities for people with disabilities to live more 
independently.

     The Dole Foundation for Employment of People with 
Disabilities, together with the J.M. Foundation and the Milbank 
Memorial Fund, spearheaded an initiative to engage more than 20 
foundations and corporate giving programs in a unified effort 
called the Funding Partnership for People with Disabilities.  The 
Partnership received more than 600 grant proposals and funded 35 
projects at a total cost of more than $1 million.  (See Appendix 
G for a list of these projects.)  The Partnership hopes to 
increase substantially the funding for 1993 and to include 
advancement of the ADA's goals as a major priority for funding.

     The selection criteria for grantees under the Partnership 
emphasized the potential for "community-wide impact on productive 
employment, self-sufficiency, and/or other opportunities for 
people with disabilities."  Each proposing entity was required to 
include at least two organizations, institutions, or groups, and 
to involve the disability community.  Coalitions received 
priority if they had a matching funds commitment, the capacity to 
raise additional funds, or a commitment of substantial in-kind 
resources.

     The programs funded were those demonstrating new methods for 
service delivery:  training, technical assistance, and education 
efforts, particularly on the ADA; and research and dissemination 
projects to evaluate and promote successful activities under the 
ADA.

                           Entrepreneurs


Finding 6:Entrepreneurial activities stimulated by the ADA have 
        had very mixed results; some have been helpful, others 
        highly counterproductive.


     The ADA has been derisively referred to by some of its 
opponents as the "Lawyer's Relief Act."  While some attorneys 
have benefited financially from the ADA, other professionals have 
also seen the ADA as a business opportunity.  For example, 
consultants and architects have conducted training seminars, 
developed materials, performed compliance audits, and advised 
organizations on ADA implementation issues.  Companies have 
produced videos, published newsletters, and written "how-to" 
manuals on the ADA as a for-profit venture.

     Through these activities, much has been accomplished in 
training and advising covered entities regarding their 
obligations under the ADA.  However, some of these efforts have 
not contributed to an accurate understanding of the ADA's 
requirements, and some have had a strongly adverse effect on the 
implementation of the ADA.

Products and Services

     By encouraging entrepreneurial efforts, the ADA has created 
something of its own industry.  The most substantial elements of 
this industry are training seminars and workshops conducted by a 
variety of entities and accessibility surveys conducted by 
management and architectural consulting firms.  The consumers of 
these services have included businesses of all sizes, as well as 
state and local government entities and nonprofit organizations.

     ADA products include a wide range of items, including the 
following:

     ù Computer software--Several companies have developed 
       software for writing job descriptions.  Advertisements for 
       some of these programs include language "guaranteeing" 
       their ability to revise an organization's job descriptions 
       so that they comply with the ADA.

     ù Compliance manuals--Manuals have been produced by 
       organizations ranging from reputable firms with a history 
       of publication in disability law issues to a cluster of 
       other firms that have attempted to seize the opportunity 
       provided by the ADA.  Many in the latter group have simply 
       recycled federal publications for a profit.

     ù Videos--The size of the market for ADA videos is not 
       known, but some companies have attempted to tap into it by 
       developing videos ranging in price from under $50 to over 
       $500.  (A list of some of the many ADA videos on the 
       market is included as Appendix H.)

     ù Auxiliary aids--While a number of companies have sold 
       auxiliary aids and assistive technology devices for a long 
       time, others are seeking to break into this market as a 
       result of the ADA.  One example of an ADA-specific product 
       is an auxiliary aid for use by public accommodations to 
       communicate with persons with hearing impairments, 
       produced and marketed by a Connecticut firm.  This 
       hand-held device, resembling a portable telephone, sells 
       for $59.95, and the company hopes to reach thousands of 
       places of public accommodation.

     ù Resource directories--One potentially promising 
       ADA-related product is the directory that provides a list 
       of vendors of products and services related to the 
       accommodation of people with disabilities.  A Maryland 
       firm named RehabTech, for example, is developing an ADA 
       sourcebook containing names, addresses, telephone numbers, 
       and descriptions of organizations that help others comply 
       with the ADA.  The value of this effort is underscored by 
       the results of a survey conducted by the Gallup 
       Organization for the Electronic Industries Foundation 
       demonstrating that most business people are unaware of 
       organizations that provide products and services for 
       people with disabilities.

Impact on Implementation

     A general concern has been raised that many of the 
entrepreneurial efforts have promoted false or misleading views 
of the ADA and what it requires.  In some cases, it appears that 
seriously misleading and perhaps even fraudulent activities may 
have been conducted.  For example, one firm has reportedly been 
selling photocopies of the ADA regulations for several hundred 
dollars, with a marketing brochure that tells companies that the 
choice they face is either to purchase these materials or risk 
legal action and fines of $50,000 to $100,000.

     Too often, the marketing of ADA products and services has 
taken the approach of that firm.  Other examples include the 
following:

     ù A brochure for a compliance manual stated, "Don't let an 
       oversight land you in court!"

     ù One firm's materials contained a photograph of several 
       sticks of dynamite and the caption, "How to stay clear of 
       the coming explosion of ADA litigation."

     ù Yet another document showed a photograph of an office with 
       the caption, "Is your facility a lawsuit waiting to 
       happen?" The photograph supposedly contained ten ADA 
       violations that the reader was to try to spot to avoid 
       being at risk for a lawsuit.

     Two concerns have been raised about the seminars, workshops, 
and consultations being conducted by some individuals and firms:

     ù Some believe that the intent of the seminar leaders is to 
       create fear in the attendees and thereby a sense of need 
       for expert (and often expensive) services.  The effect is 
       that many covered entities harbor misplaced and 
       inappropriate fears about what the ADA requires and react 
       by simply ignoring the ADA altogether.

     ù A second and related concern is that companies are being 
       persuaded to spend extraordinary amounts of money for fees 
       and accommodations that are not necessary.  These expenses 
       have a negative effect on the businesses, create ill will 
       regarding the ADA and people with disabilities, and could 
       conceivably increase unnecessarily the amount of money 
       claimed under ADA's tax credit provisions.

Two Department of Justice grantees--the Council of Better 
Business Bureaus Foundation and the Building Owners and Managers 
Association--have taken a particularly active interest in 
addressing these problems.
               III.  FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMPLAINTS:
              EVIDENCE OF CONTINUED NEED FOR THE ADA

     The need for comprehensive civil rights legislation to 
protect the rights of people with disabilities has become even 
clearer as implementation of the ADA has progressed.  Reports of 
discrimination abound in formal actions through the courts and 
federal agencies, in statistical survey data, and in anecdotal 
evidence.  The number of legal actions has remained relatively 
low because of the restraint of people with disabilities and 
organizations that represent and serve them, as well as the 
willingness of many covered entities to try to resolve problems 
when confronted with them.  This section discusses some of the 
reports of discrimination and efforts to address them.

                    Formal Complaints/Lawsuits


Finding 7:Complaints filed under the ADA thus far indicate that 
        certain key areas need greater attention, including, for 
        example, accommodating current employees with 
        disabilities under Title I.


     As of September 1992, DOJ had received approximately 450 
complaints each under Titles II and III.  Tables 4 and 5 provide 
an analysis of the nature of these complaints.  It is worth 
noting that two individuals had filed about 90 of the first 250 
complaints under Title III; when those are removed from the 
total, the level of complaints filed seems quite low.  The vast 
majority of Title II complaints concern government employment and 
accessibility of government facilities and services.  The largest 
number of Title III complaints concern accessibility of service 
establishments, sales or rental establishments, places of 
education, places of lodging, establishments serving food or 
drink, and places of exhibition or entertainment.

     As of September 15, 1992, EEOC had received approximately 
450 complaints under the employment provisions of Title I.  
However, it is important to recognize that this number applied to 
a much shorter period of time because the employment provisions 
took effect later than the public accommodation provisions (July 
26 versus January 26).  As of January 1993, after the first year 
of ADA Watch, EEOC had received approximately 4,299 charges of 
discrimination.  The following is the distribution of EEOC 
complaints by category of discrimination:


             Category                           Percentage

          Discharge                                46.7
          Benefits                                  3.6
          Other issues                             23.1
          Accommodation                            20.7
          Hiring                                   15.1
          Harassment                                9.2
          Discipline                                6.4
          Rehire                                    4.6
          Layoff                                    4.2
          Wages                                     2.7
          Promotion                                 3.2
          Suspension                                2.2

     The following two issues are particularly noteworthy with 
regard to the EEOC complaint data:

     ù Over 40 percent of complaints relate to discharge from 
       employment.  This almost certainly reflects the current 
       economic and employment environment and may change if 
       unemployment figures drop.

     ù Employers have generally focused most of their ADA 
       compliance efforts on the hiring process (applications, 
       interviews, etc.) rather than their relationships with 
       current employees with disabilities.

These data will be important to monitor over time to ensure that 
appropriate technical assistance materials are developed and 
disseminated.

     DOJ staff have indicated that, while they are prepared for 
forceful litigation when necessary, the Department will try to 
settle complaints first through other means, including 
alternative dispute resolution (as called for in the ADA).  DOJ 
reported the following as examples of successful resolution of 
complaints:

     ù An art institute provided an interpreter for a deaf 
       student taking a postsecondary summer course.  The 
       institute hired contract interpreters for the 40-hour 
       course and plans to hire a permanent staff person whose 
       duties would include interpreting for future courses.

     ù A private school made changes (including modifications to 
       restrooms and installation of a ramp) to the buildings in 
       which its high school graduation ceremony and reception 
       were held.  These actions followed a complaint by a person 
       who uses a wheelchair and wanted to attend a relative's 
       graduation from the school.
                              Table 4

     TITLE II COMPLAINTS CONCERNING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
       ENTITIES FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ)*
                   - As of September 10, 1992 -


Total complaints received:                                    528

  Retained by DOJ:  
    Employment (prisons, law enforcement, government service)  63
    Inaccessible facilities or programs:prisons                31
                                  courthouses                  20
                                  other public facilities      32
    Lack of auxiliary aids (hearing devices, interpreters,
         alternate formats, TDD's)                             48
    Governmental laws & policies prevent access                21
    Lack of access to voting rights                             7
    Lack of access to various services (in prisons, from 
governments)                                                    4
    Miscellaneous (insurance, exams, retaliation, government new 
      construction, zoning)                                    46
                                                             ____
    Total retained by DOJ                                     272

  Referred to other agencies: 
    Department of Transportation                               82
    Department of Education                                    75
    Department of Health and Human Services                    52
    Department of the Interior                                 24
    Department of Housing and Urban Development                11
    Environmental Protection Agency                             1
    Department of Agriculture                                   2
    Department of Labor                                         6
    Equal Employment Opportunity Commission                     1
    United States Postal Service                                2
                                                             ____
    Total referred to other agencies                          256

* The ADA Title II regulations specify that complaints against 
  state and local government entities should be referred to the 
  federal agency whose responsibilities lie in that functional 
  area.


     ù A supermarket agreed to modify its parking lot to allow 
       greater access for persons with disabilities.  The changes 
       included increasing the number of spaces designated as 
       accessible and increasing the size of several spaces to 
       allow for van-accessible parking.

     ù A national professional certification program made 
       modifications in its testing requirements to allow a 
       person with vision and mobility impairments to take the 
       examination.

     ù A television station agreed to provide sign language 
       interpreters for all of the programs it produced about the 
       1992 elections.  The station will also provide 
       interpreters for other programs if requests are made in 
       advance.  In addition, the television station is exploring 
       the possibility of close-captioning its own local 
       productions.

     ù A state bar association agreed to accommodate an 
       individual with a learning disability by providing him 
       with more time in which to complete the bar examination 
       based on an individualized assessment of his needs.

     ù A city consented to provide notices of meetings and 
       agendas in formats that are readable by individuals with 
       vision impairments.

     The DOJ Title II complaint data must be viewed somewhat 
cautiously because of the large number of complaints filed by 
certain individuals.  For example, it appears that 75 (or nearly 
30 percent) of the 256 complaints referred to other federal 
agencies concern access to education, suggesting that schools 
were a primary source of discrimination; however, one person 
filed 60 of those charges against private schools in Vermont and 
Massachusetts.  It will take some time before clear patterns of 
alleged discrimination appear in the complaint data.

     The EEOC has filed the first lawsuit for the federal 
government under the ADA on behalf of Charles Wessel.  AIC 
Security Investigations Ltd. is being sued for allegedly 
illegally dismissing Wessel, who was their executive director, 
when they learned he had cancer.  Mr. Wessel developed lung 
cancer in June 1987, but it was only in April 1992, after being 
diagnosed as having brain cancer (and told that he probably had 
six months to a year to live), that he was asked to retire.  The 
company contends that "with all the medication he had, he was not 
functioning" and issued a statement saying it had not violated 
the law.  The EEOC is alleging "that he was fired because of his 
disability, although he was able to do the job and in fact was 
doing the job."


                              Table 5

     TITLE III COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
                   - As of September 10, 1992 -


                 Report of all complaints by state

AL   -  5
AR   -  1
AZ   - 12
CA   - 28
CO   - 55
CT   -  1
DC   -  3
FL   - 18
GA   -  4
HI   -  3
ID                 -  6
IL                 - 11
IN                 -  3
KS                 -  1
KY                 -  2
LA                 -  3
MA                 - 28
MD                 - 10
ME                 -  1
MI                 - 41
MN                               -  1
MO                               -  6
MS                               -  3
MT                               -  1
NC                               -  3
NE                               -  7
NH                               -  2
NJ                               -  5
NM                               -  2
NV                               -  9
NY                                             - 25
OH                                             - 10
OK                                             -  4
OR                                             -  5
PA                                             - 15
RI                                             -  1
SC                                             -  6
SD                                                2
TN                                             -  1
TX                                             - 18
UT                                                           -  5
VA                                                           - 10
VT                                                           - 46
WA                                                           - 10
WI                                                           -  3
WY                                                           -  5
                                                             ____
Total                                                         441






            Report of all complaints by violation code

          (1)Policies                                89
          (2)Auxiliary aids                          47
          (3)Existing facilities                    277
          (4)New construction                         1
          (5)Alteration                               1
          (6)Transportation                           0
          (7)Retaliation                              6
          (X)Code unlisted                           71
          Total                                     492*

* The total exceeds the complaint total (441) by 51 because 2 
  codes are listed 45 times and 3 codes are listed 3 times.
                        Table 5 (continued)


       Report of all complaints by public accommodation code

A Places of lodging                                          43
B Establishments serving food or drink38
C Places of exhibition or entertainment30
D    Places of public gathering                               2
E Sales or rental establishments                             57
F    Service establishments                                  99
G Stations used for specified public transportation0
H    Places of public display or collection                   1
I    Places of recreation                                    10
J    Places of education                                     54
K Social service center establishments                        8
L    Places of exercise or recreation                        12
304  Transportation                                           9
CF   Commercial facilities                                    0
T/C  Testing/Courses                                          7
L/T  Leased from public accommodation                         6
(X)  Code unlisted                                           82
                                                    Total   458**

**The total exceeds the complaints total (441) by 17 because 2 
codes were listed 11 times and 3 codes were listed 3 times.
     Other ADA-related court cases include the following:

     ù John Hockenberry, a popular reporter who uses a 
       wheelchair, sued the Virginia Theater for failure to 
       provide access.  After purchasing a ticket to a show, he 
       could not attend the performance because of a flight of 
       seven steps.  Ushers reportedly refused to help him use 
       the steps.

     ù Disabled in Action, Inc., sued a Philadelphia restaurant 
       for not removing a small step that prevents access into 
       the restaurant for wheelchair users.

     ù A law graduate ("John Doe") sued the Connecticut Bar 
       Examining committee in order to take the July 1992 bar 
       examination.  He refused to answer questions about mental 
       illness and emotional disorders on the application.  A 
       motion for a preliminary injunction was filed.  The 
       committee insisted that the only way they would allow John 
       Doe to take the exam was with an official status of 
       Connecticut bar exam reject.  (Note: the District of 
       Columbia Court of Appeals modified similar questions after 
       a representative of the Mental Health Law Project advised 
       them that the questions were illegal under the ADA.)

     ù A man from Arizona sued Little League Baseball (LLB) for 
       denying him the right to coach third base.  LLB contended 
       that his wheelchair would pose a risk to players if he 
       coached from third base.  It ordered him to coach only 
       from the dugout.  This was based on a 1991 rule banning 
       coaches in wheelchairs from coaches' boxes, regardless of 
       field or game conditions or the nature of the coach's 
       disability.  The federal court granted plaintiff's motion 
       for a temporary restraining order.

These cases indicate some of the kinds of issues likely to 
surface in litigation under the ADA.

                    Accounts of Discrimination


Finding 8:Early efforts by covered entities to implement the 
        ADA's employment provisions have helped to remove formal 
        barriers to employment of people with disabilities, but 
        many barriers still exist.


     The evidence that discrimination exists has been shown in 
several surveys.  For example, the Louis Harris poll of 1986 
found that unemployment among people with disabilities was a 
staggering 67 percent.  While there may be other factors 
involved, certainly discrimination must be considered a major 
cause of such unemployment.  It will be important to track how 
levels of discrimination change over time as the ADA is 
implemented.  However, at this early stage of implementation, it 
is clear that many people with disabilities believe, based on 
their own experiences, that substantial discrimination continues 
to exist.

     In a recent survey of its readers conducted by the magazine 
CAREERS & the disABLED, fully 87 percent of respondents (half of 
whom were employed at the time of the survey) indicated that they 
think companies discriminate against people with disabilities in 
hiring.  Nearly three-quarters of respondents (72 percent) also 
believed that discrimination was greater against people with 
disabilities than other minority groups or women.  Despite this 
perception, nearly two-thirds (65
percent) believe that the ADA will enhance their chances for 
employment.  Results of this survey are included in Table 6.

     ADA Watch has identified many examples of actual or alleged 
discrimination through public hearing testimony, media tracking, 
letters and calls received, and personal interviews.  The 
following are a small sample:

     ù An attorney who has multiple sclerosis reported being 
       rejected 400 times before obtaining a job with a law firm.

     ù A word processor with spina bifida was asked in a job 
       interview how she went to the bathroom.

     ù A postal worker was placed on leave without pay when he 
       told his supervisor he had AIDS.

     ù A recent newspaper article reported the story of an 
       eight-year-old girl with spina bifida who was kept from 
       skating with her friends at a public skating rink "because 
       she might get hurt or one of the other children might be 
       injured by her walker."  The girl's mother, an active 
       member of the Spina Bifida Association who had lobbied for 
       passage of the ADA, informed the rink representative that 
       he was in violation of Title III of the Act.  The rink's 
       management claims they "did not deny the little girl the 
       right to skate...all we requested was that she have adult 
       supervision or go to a less congested area."  The mother 
       is considering action against the skating center.

     ù The Director of the Governor's Committee on Employment of 
       People with Disabilities in an eastern state, who uses a 
       wheelchair, was invited to speak at a conference on the 
       ADA, but the speaker's platform did not have a ramp.


                              Table 6

                      CAREERS & the disABLED
                        1992 Reader Survey


     CAREERS & the disABLED:  The Career Magazine for People with 
Disabilities conducted a survey of 500 readers, drawn randomly 
from its readership of 35,000. Results are projected to be 
accurate within plus or minus two percentage points.


Key findings:

     Average age: 37 years

     Gender: 57.2% male, 42.8% female

     Employment status: 51.1% employed (unemployed includes 
     college students)

     If hired by a company or government agency, would you 
relocate?

                    Yes               62.7%
                    No                34.0%
                    Maybe              3.3%

     Do you think companies discriminate against people with 
     disabilities in hiring?

                    Yes               87.4%
                    No                12.6%

     If yes, is it more so than for members of other minority 
     groups or women?

                    Yes               72.4%
                    No                27.6%

     Do you think that the Americans with Disabilities Act will 
     enhance your chances for employment?

                    Yes               64.9%
                    No                27.6%
                    Maybe              7.5%
     ù A former Fireman of the Year in a major city was dismissed 
       from his job when he became blind, with no attempt by the 
       fire department to accommodate his disability.  After 
       taking legal action, he was rehired with back pay.

     ù A recent survey found that 48 percent of private 
       physicians refuse to treat patients who are HIV-positive.

     ù A 12-year-old girl sued the Girl Scouts when she was 
       turned away from a summer camp because the facility was 
       not accessible.

     ù In New York, two new or newly renovated inaccessible 
       public places opened in the summer of 1992: a restaurant 
       that has steps and no ramp into the dining area from a 
       street-level bar and a large theater that has no assistive 
       listening system.

     These examples illustrate that discrimination against people 
with disabilities is still common throughout American society.  
The ADA continues to be needed and will probably always be needed 
to counter the strong tendency toward discrimination against 
people with disabilities.
           IV.  EXEMPLARY EFFORTS TO COMPLY WITH THE ADA

     It is still very early in the implementation of the ADA to 
adequately assess efforts to comply.  Many organizations have 
just begun to take steps toward full implementation; others have 
yet to see whether the steps they have taken thus far will prove 
effective in removing barriers for people with disabilities.  
With this caveat, the following discussion is designed to 
identify a few approaches that hold promise and to try to 
indicate some general patterns in those organizations that have 
most effectively moved forward in complying with the ADA.

                           Partnerships


Finding 9:Some of the most productive ADA implementation 
          activities have involved cooperative efforts between 
          and among government agencies, businesses and business 
          organizations, and the disability community.


     Partnerships for ADA implementation have taken many forms.  
The federal government and the Funding Partnership for People 
with Disabilities have helped to stimulate some of these efforts 
by incorporating the goal of cooperation into their grant 
programs.  The Partnership noted the following in its progress 
report:

     . . . we encouraged cooperation among our applicants by 
     making coordination with other organizations from different 
     sectors an application  requirement:  the request for 
     proposals specified that organizations from different 
     sectors of the economy--businesses, non-profits, government 
     agencies, consumer groups, educational organizations, and 
     others--form cross-sector coalitions to develop programs 
     supporting the economic and social advancement of people 
     with disabilities.

     The following are examples of federal efforts funded by DOJ 
that have effectively linked organizations for projects.

     ù The American Foundation for the Blind, Gallaudet 
       University, and the National Center for Law and the Deaf 
       joined to develop materials and advise organizations 
       regarding communication disabilities caused by hearing and 
       vision loss.

     ù The Council of Better Business Bureaus Foundation, the 
       Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, and Barrier 
       Free Environments are collaborating to provide assistance 
       to small and medium-sized businesses.

     ù The National Conference of States on Building Codes and 
       Standards and Paralyzed Veterans of America are working 
       together to promote the certification of state codes for 
       equivalency with the ADA accessibility guidelines.

     ù The National Restaurant Association and the National 
       Center for Access Unlimited (itself a joint venture of 
       United Cerebral Palsy Associations and Adaptive 
       Environments Center) are producing materials to assist the 
       food service industry with ADA compliance.

     The value of partnerships in effective implementation of the 
ADA can also be demonstrated by efforts such as the collaboration 
between the California Department of Rehabilitation (the state 
agency charged with ADA implementation in California) and the 
California Chamber of Commerce.  The two organizations have 
worked together both formally and informally to develop materials 
for businesses in the state and to conduct training seminars 
statewide.

     A somewhat different example of cooperation involves a group 
of businesses in the San Francisco Bay area that began to meet as 
a small group informally over lunch to discuss ADA 
implementation.  This collaborative approach allowed each company 
to avoid "reinventing the wheel" and to find the best solutions 
and share them.  It also created an opportunity for the firms to 
"benchmark" compliance against each other.  The net effect of 
this effort is that all the organizations involved--now more than 
30 companies--benefit from some of the best thinking on ADA 
implementation available in the region.

     Such cooperative efforts have created the accurate 
perception that ADA implementation need not be an adversarial 
activity but can be accomplished through partnerships and direct 
communication among those having a stake in compliance.

                    Exemplary Programs/Actions

     At this stage of ADA implementation, most of the 
well-publicized exemplary efforts in employing and serving people 
with disabilities involve organizations that have been actively 
involved in this area for a long time.

     When ADA Watch staff conducted interviews with professionals 
in the field, most expressed difficulty in identifying leading 
firms that had not already been exemplary long before there was 
an ADA.  One staff person at a Project With Industry site said 
that she believed that the ADA's greatest effect at this stage, 
particularly in the employment area, was to encourage companies 
to remove administrative barriers and to train employees; the 
acid test was whether they actually began to hire people with 
disabilities.

     According to many reports, the key factor that characterizes 
an exemplary effort under the ADA is leadership.  One witness at 
a National Council on Disability hearing spoke about the 
challenges faced by small businesses in hiring people with 
disabilities.  He then expressed his conviction, based on 
extensive work with small businesses, that the only way a small 
business, or any business, would become strongly proactive in 
complying with the ADA was if a "champion" in senior management 
set the pace for the firm.

     Among the employers that have developed exemplary approaches 
are the winners of annual awards given by the President's 
Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (PCEPD).  The 
following are the employers most recently selected for those 
honors.

     PCEPD Annual Awards--1992

     Large employer, private:Ross Stores, Inc., Ross Dress for 
                             Less
                             Newark, CA

     Large employer, public: Headquarters, Army & Air Force 
                             Exchange Service
                             Dallas, TX

     Medium employer, private:Western Administrative Support 
                             Center
                             Seattle, WA

     Small employer, private:Carolina Fine Snacks of Greensboro
                             Greensboro, NC

                             River Valley Laundry
                             Russellville, AR

     Labor Award             American Federation of State, County 
                             and Municipal Employees
                             AFL/CIO
                             Washington, DC

     The following are the top ten employers cited in a survey by 
CAREERS & the disABLED and the percentages of respondents who 
selected them.



       Employer                        Percentage

       IBM                               15.6
       Federal government                10.0
       AT&T  6.4
       McDonald's                         5.1
       State government                   3.8
       Marriott3.3
       General Electric                   2.6
       Du Pont2.3
       Boeing                             2.0
       Hewlett-Packard                    1.5
       Sears 1.5

     The clear pattern from these data is that large employers 
appear to be doing the best job; however, this may not portray 
the full picture in that the nature of the survey tends to favor 
larger firms.  It would be useful to identify the characteristics 
of small to medium-sized firms, as well as larger ones, that 
receive high ratings from their employees with disabilities to 
create a set of guiding principles for effective employment of 
people with disabilities.  Actions taken by some of the larger 
firms, such as Hewlett-Packard's Barrier Awareness Day, could be 
replicated at little cost by smaller firms.

     Other promising efforts include the following.

     ù America West Arena, home of the Phoenix Suns professional 
       basketball team, has taken a strongly proactive approach 
       to including people with disabilities, including (a) 
       incorporating 14 wheelchair sections in the facility, in 
       all price ranges and viewing angles, and a "dog park" for 
       service dogs; (b) making all concession counters 3 feet 
       high to accommodate wheelchair users and people of short 
       stature; (c) installing an assistive listening device for 
       people with hearing impairments; (d) providing different 
       ways to purchase tickets to ensure that people with all 
       kinds of disabilities are able to do so; and (e) producing 
       and disseminating a brochure entitled Arena Access that 
       explains the various accessibility provisions of the 
       facility.

     ù E-Systems, a Dallas-based firm, is a good example of a 
       firm taking new steps to comply with the ADA.  The company 
       initiated significant efforts, including conducting a 
       review of all employment-related processes and functions, 
       and providing comprehensive employee training to ensure 
       that their employees were informed and aware of the ADA's 
       provisions and that all aspects of the employment process 
       were in compliance.

     ù Interior Design magazine's August 1992 issue promoted 
       universal design and compliance with the ADA.  Article 
       subjects included (a) an overview of the ADA; (b) examples 
       of how design to accommodate people with disabilities can 
       be graceful; (c) a portfolio of universal design products 
       created by university students; (d) a public school 
       designed to accommodate students with multiple 
       disabilities; and (e) remarks from the conference, 
       "Universal Design:  Access to Daily Living," held in May 
       1992.

     ù The Kansas Relay Center has taken leadership on the 
       development of telecommunications relay systems, providing 
       assistance to other states and working to develop 
       state-of-the-art methods for handling emergency calls.

     ù The Boulder County government in Colorado has shown how 
       compliance with the ADA can be achieved by a county 
       government, even within the budget constraints most local 
       governments face.  Actions it took included (a) conducting 
       training for several hundred county employers and people 
       with disabilities; (b) developing a clear, written summary 
       of the requirements and action steps for the county to 
       come into compliance with the ADA, a summary that has been 
       used by others in the state for their own compliance 
       efforts; (c) creating and using a series of 
       self-evaluation checklists on issues such as architectural 
       accessibility, employment processes, and communications 
       methods; and (d) generally serving as a resource in the 
       county on matters related to ADA implementation.

     ù The Ellis County courthouse in Waxahachie, Texas, needed 
       an accessible entrance for wheelchair users.  Community 
       leaders cooperated to solve the problems associated with 
       making this historic building accessible while preserving 
       its historic integrity.  An advisory committee of people 
       with disabilities from the community was created to assist 
       the county in its efforts, and an architectural firm 
       reviewed options for creating the entrance.  A gazebo was 
       relocated to create an appropriate location for the ramp, 
       and the basement floor was made level to enable wheelchair 
       users to enter the building.

Many more such examples could be cited.
          V.  NEEDED ADA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/INFORMATION

     One of the great concerns among people with disabilities and 
covered entities is that, despite extraordinary efforts by 
federal agencies, obtaining federal technical assistance has been 
very frustrating and difficult--some say impossible.  This lack 
of assistance does not appear to be a result of insufficient 
effort or inefficiency on the part of the agencies.  It is simply 
a matter of too much demand for the current staff and resources 
to meet.  The problem exists at virtually every agency with ADA 
responsibility.

     DOJ, EEOC, and the Access Board have attempted to remedy 
this problem in a number of ways, including voice-mail systems 
that, despite their efficiency, offend many callers who find them 
impersonal and ineffective.  As the number and length of calls to 
the NIDRR Regional Centers have increased, the ability of their 
staff to provide substantive responses has been strained to the 
limit.  Many callers to ADA Watch have expressed their 
frustration at the difficulty of getting the answers they need 
from the designated agencies or at the length of time it takes to 
receive a response.

     The agencies are taking steps to remedy some of these 
problems.  For example, DOJ and the Access Board are currently 
investigating new telephone systems for both voice and TDD that 
will handle calls more efficiently, and the EEOC has trained its 
regional office staff to respond to ADA calls, relieving some of 
the pressure on headquarters.

     While the federal government has taken major steps to 
provide ADA information and technical assistance, much more basic 
information about the ADA, as well as specific technical 
assistance, is needed for implementation to proceed fully and 
effectively.  Federal and state agencies have reported that the 
demand for information has overwhelmed their staff and budgets.


Finding 10:The need for information and technical assistance 
          continues to grow, outstripping federal and state 
          resources.


     As more and more individuals and organizations learn about 
the ADA, the need for information and technical assistance will 
increase.  One of the myths about ADA implementation is that, 
once a certain threshold is passed, probably within the next year 
or two, the need for ADA assistance will be significantly 
reduced.  The nation's experience with the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973 suggests otherwise: that law has been in place for nearly 20 
years, and many covered entities still do not know what 
compliance involves.

     Implementation of the ADA is off to a much better start than 
implementation of the Rehabilitation Act in terms of both 
development of regulations and technical assistance materials.  
This is in part because the federal government has learned from 
its experience with the Rehabilitation Act what information the 
public needs.  However, the ADA covers many more entities than 
the Rehabilitation Act and is far more comprehensive, and there 
will be a long-term need for technical assistance.

     Without some course corrections in information dissemination 
and technical assistance strategies under the ADA, the demand 
will continue to overwhelm government resources.

                         Lack of Awareness


Finding 11:While efforts to inform people with disabilities and 
          covered entities about the ADA have been substantial, 
          many large gaps still exist.


     The federal government has taken major steps to inform 
Americans about the ADA through its grant programs, information 
hotlines, publications, and other approaches (e.g., sending an 
insert in an IRS mailing to businesses).  However, according to a 
1991 Louis Harris poll, only 14 percent of Americans said they 
were "very familiar" with the ADA, and 42 percent said they were 
"unfamiliar" with it.  While awareness has probably increased 
through media coverage and other information dissemination 
efforts since the poll, the number of those very familiar with 
ADA probably remains low.

     The federal government could significantly increase ADA 
awareness by developing public service announcements (PSAs) and 
working with the National Association of Broadcasters, the 
television networks, and the Advertising Council to have these 
PSAs broadcast on radio and television nationwide.  One important 
benefit of such a campaign would be to address the misinformation 
and disinformation being spread by unscrupulous or ill-informed 
individuals.


Recommendation 2

The federal government should plan, coordinate, and fund a media 
campaign to disseminate accurate information about the ADA 
through public service announcements on radio and television.

     Using celebrity spokespersons or other public figures could 
increase the interest in the announcements on television.  As 
Justin Dart, Jr., chairman of the PCEPD, testified at an ADA 
Watch public hearing, "Twenty words by the President, the Vice 
President, or leaders of Congress on national television is worth 
20 million brochures."  Accurate, helpful information is needed 
to inform covered entities and people with disabilities of their 
rights and obligations.


Finding 12:Minorities with disabilities, overrepresented in the 
          disability community, are significantly underreached by 
          current ADA information and technical assistance 
          efforts.


     The obstacles facing minorities with disabilities are 
particularly great.  (These are addressed in greater depth in 
Section VI.)  At this point, there is a substantial need for a 
targeted information dissemination strategy for minority 
communities.  DOJ has taken an initial step to address this issue 
by funding a grant to the Foundation on Employment and Disability 
in California to develop information targeted to minority 
communities.  The "mass market" approach discussed
above can be one piece of this picture, but only one piece.  As 
one minority witness said to the National Council on Disability, 
"Everyone watches TV."  Another emphasized radio as an effective 
medium--both general audience stations and those targeted to 
minority groups.

     The mechanisms for specifically targeting each minority 
group may vary.  For some groups, the use of languages other than 
English (e.g., Spanish or Chinese) will be required.  In some 
instances, alternative information delivery systems will be 
important, such as targeting Native Americans through their 
tribal communities. Special attention must be paid to the 
cultural characteristics of each group to ensure that the message 
is clearly communicated and that voluntary compliance with the 
ADA is increased.


Recommendation 3

New materials and dissemination strategies should be developed 
that are targeted to, and sensitive to the needs of, African 
Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic and Latino populations, 
Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other minority 
populations.

     According to testimony received by the National Council on 
Disability at its ADA Watch public hearings, there is still a 
great need for ADA information nationwide, particularly among 
small businesses and in smaller communities outside major 
metropolitan areas.  Organizations such as the Kiwanis, Lions, 
and Rotary Clubs may be helpful in reaching smaller communities.  
The Small Business Administration, the National Federation for 
Independent Business, and certain industry-specific associations 
could be key to reaching small businesses.  Efforts by the 
Council of Better Business Bureaus Foundation could also be 
expanded.

     To reach people with disabilities in smaller communities, 
tapping into social service networks and local government and 
civic organizations could be useful.  The "Calling on America" 
campaign of Jim Brady and the National Organization on Disability 
has been particularly effective in motivating such communities to 
meet the needs of their citizens with disabilities.


Recommendation 4

Systematic outreach and technical assistance efforts should be 
initiated that focus on small businesses and communities outside 
major metropolitan areas.

     One key to a successful strategy for dissemination of 
information and technical assistance is to allow more of this 
work to be done by entities that are located close to where the 
questions arise.  For example, EEOC has taken steps to train its 
field representatives to serve as ADA advisors.  To the extent 
that county governments, local businesses, disability groups, and 
others
can take on this responsibility, the federal agencies at the 
headquarters level will be able to focus more on the development 
of policy guidance.


Recommendation 5

The dissemination of ADA information and technical assistance 
materials should be increasingly decentralized and moved out of 
the federal sector.

     A representative from Hawaii testified to the National 
Council that the sheer distance from the mainland, coupled with 
the unfortunate consequences of the time differences in reaching 
DOJ and the Access Board for technical assistance support, 
creates a disincentive to comply with the ADA.  The U.S. Trust 
Territories face a similar problem.  The people in these distant 
regions feel that they have very little support.  The 
geographical factors are complicated by cultural differences that 
affect ADA implementation and especially the government's ability 
to communicate effectively the requirements and methods for 
complying.


Recommendation 6

Federal technical assistance projects should be established in 
Alaska, Hawaii, and the Trust Territories.

     Funding for technical assistance must be sustained for a 
sufficient period of time to ensure that the benefits of the ADA 
are not lost through lack of awareness.

                   Need for Targeted Assistance


Finding 13:As organizations and individuals advance in their 
          knowledge of the ADA, their questions are becoming 
          increasingly sophisticated and technical, often 
          requiring complex responses.


     The NIDRR Regional Disability and Business Technical 
Assistance Centers, as well as EEOC and DOJ staff, have observed 
that the questions on ADA implementation that they are receiving 
have become increasingly sophisticated and technical.  This is a 
function of the ordinary maturation of understanding related to 
implementation of any law.

     The organizations that represent and serve covered entities 
and people with disabilities have expressed an interest in taking 
a more active role in the development of more industry- and
profession-specific materials.  The federal sector could profit 
from new or more effective mechanisms whereby these organizations 
assist in the creation of these kinds of materials.


Recommendation 7

The next generation of technical assistance materials should be 
more industry- and profession-specific.

     On a similar note, the first round of grants by DOJ focused 
primarily on people with disabilities and businesses, with little 
emphasis on state and local governments.  The fact that as many 
complaints have been filed against state and local governments as 
against public accommodations (see Section III) suggests that the 
need for technical assistance is significant among these 
government entities.  DOJ has indicated that it intends to 
increase its efforts to provide technical assistance to state and 
local governments in FY 1993.


Recommendation 8

More technical assistance should be provided to state and local 
government entities.


Finding 14:Covered entities are looking for the greatest degree 
          of certainty of being in compliance with the ADA that 
          the federal government can offer.


     The complaint most often heard about the ADA from covered 
private sector entities was the legislation's "soft" or "vague" 
language.  This concern has come to be expressed as the need to 
know exactly what is required for  compliance and when an entity 
can be certain that the actions taken are satisfactory.  To date, 
the federal agencies have not formally endorsed or certified the 
ADA technical assistance materials as being valid guides for 
determining when an entity is in compliance.


Recommendation 9

The federal government should formally endorse technical 
assistance materials to increase public confidence in their 
validity as standards for ADA compliance.

     Finally, it is becoming increasingly important for the 
federal government to step out of the role of primary provider of 
technical assistance and to become more of a catalyst for the 
provision of technical assistance by the business and disability 
communities.  This can be achieved through symposia, summit 
meetings, training sessions, and other vehicles that link leaders 
from the disability community and the private sector with the 
federal sector.
Recommendation 10

The federal government should cultivate and coordinate ADA 
leadership in the private sector and the disability community and 
thereby become more the catalyst than the provider of technical 
assistance.



     This leadership in the private sector, both in the 
disability community and in the business community, is already 
beginning to develop as a result of the various grants for 
technical assistance projects that have been awarded by federal 
agencies.  However, further development of such ADA leadership 
will be needed, particularly in underserved areas such as rural 
and minority communities.  This process will enhance the 
likelihood that the materials developed will meet the needs of 
the populations that these communities serve.
             VI.  ADA ISSUES REQUIRING FEDERAL ACTION

     While many dedicated people helped to create the ADA, no one 
could have anticipated all of the specific questions or issues 
that would ultimately arise under this new law.  This section 
provides an overview of the emerging issues under the ADA; it is 
not exhaustive, but only indicative of the issues that will 
require the attention of the federal government in the coming 
years.

                 The ADA and Other Disability Laws


Finding 15:As ADA regulations become more refined, the ADA's 
          relationship to other federal disability 
          nondiscrimination laws is becoming clearer in certain 
          areas and more confused in others.


     The revisions recently made to the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973 point to the reality that the ADA will set the standard for 
other disability laws.  The language and provisions of the ADA, 
while drawn in large part from Section 504 of the Rehabilitation 
Act, have now become the conceptual framework for the next 
generation of disability law.

     The precise nature of the relationship between the ADA and 
other federal disability laws is, however, only now beginning to 
be understood.  Issues that are beginning to emerge include the 
following:

     ù The definitions of disability vary from law to law (with 
       estimates as high as 42 different definitions), and 
       efforts are needed to apply standard definitions to the 
       extent practicable.

     ù The existence of several different accessibility standards 
       and guidelines has created some concern over which 
       standards to use.

     ù It is often not clear where one law begins and another 
       ends (e.g., the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Fair 
       Housing Act).

     Federal agencies are already attempting to address these 
issues.  DOJ has begun to work with the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development (HUD) and other agencies to investigate the 
ADA/Rehabilitation Act/Fair Housing Act relationship.  Such 
coordination could be enhanced through the Interagency Disability 
Coordinating Council established under the Rehabilitation Act 
Amendments of 1992.


Recommendation 11

The Interagency Disability Coordinating Council should identify 
and address gaps in coverage, conflicting definitions of terms, 
and problems of overlapping jurisdiction of federal disability 
nondiscrimination laws.

     Among the areas being mentioned as unresolved are 
accessibility of existing post offices (applying "program 
accessibility" standards under Section 504 has either not been 
attempted or has not been effective in enabling people with 
disabilities to use older postal facilities) and the status of 
volunteers/ unpaid staff for covered employers.  There is a 
proposal to create an entity with ongoing responsibility to work 
with DOJ's Civil Rights Division to address these issues.

     As new questions arise and the various federal agencies with 
implementation responsibility respond to them, covered entities 
and people with disabilities will want to learn about the 
responses as soon as possible.  Timely publication and 
dissemination of ADA technical guidance memoranda would have 
great value in directing efforts to implement the ADA in the most 
constructive manner.


Recommendation 12

The Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission, the Department of Transportation, the Federal 
Communications Commission, and the Access Board should prepare 
and disseminate regular technical guidance memoranda regarding 
ADA policy decisions.

                     Key Implementation Issues

     The early days of ADA implementation have progressed 
smoothly, given the comprehensiveness and complexity of the law.  
However, the list of implementation issues to be addressed 
continues to grow as the details of the law and regulations are 
applied in practice.  The evolving interpretation and application 
of the ADA is raising significant issues with potentially wide 
application.

Specific Disabilities

     One matter of concern relates to certain populations of 
people with disabilities and the impact of ADA implementation 
upon them.


Finding 16:People with certain kinds of disabilities, such as 
          vision and hearing impairments, short stature, and 
          environmental illness, are becoming frustrated with the 
          way ADA implementation efforts are being conducted.


     People with vision and hearing impairments have expressed 
concern that, even in federally conducted activities such as 
training and technical assistance efforts, accommodations have 
not
been made for them.  People of short stature have raised major 
concerns about the impact of ADA accessibility guidelines on 
people with their disability.  The following issues have been 
mentioned.

     ù Restrooms--faucet and door handles, dryers, dispensers out 
       of reach; toilets too high.

     ù Public phones--buttons and coin slots still out of reach.

     ù Public water fountains--even accessible fountains too 
       high.

     ù Elevator controls--even accessible buttons too high, 
       except for lower floors; reach bars not helpful for 
       heat-sensitive buttons.

     ù Banking--counters too high; drive-up facilities impossible 
       to use; ATM out of reach; LED windows not visible.

     ù Electric doors--electronic eye too high for some; possible 
       to become trapped between doors.

     ù Schools--fountains, restrooms, door knobs, cafeteria 
       lines, lockers out of reach.

     ù Transportation--school buses need seat belts for short 
       children and a fold-out step; some children need to be 
       lifted.  (Note:  A recommendation to resolve this might be 
       to allow short people to stand on the wheelchair ramp on 
       accessible buses; this is now prohibited.)

     ù Libraries--card catalog drawers too high.

     ù Supermarkets--items out of reach; carts too tall.

     ù Hotels--registration desks and restroom facilities too 
       high.  (Note:  A recommendation to make stools available 
       upon request.)


Finding 17:Despite the broad scope of the ADA, there still appear 
          to be some gaps in coverage, such as full protection 
          for people with environmental illness.


     Several previously unrecognized disabilities are emerging in 
the awareness of the American public.  For example, there is 
increased awareness of people with severe head injury caused by 
violence or other trauma.  Individuals with multiple chemical 
sensitivities and environmental illnesses have become 
increasingly vocal about the effects of tobacco smoke, chemicals, 
and perfumes in hotels, restaurants, bars, and other places of 
public accommodation.  Regulations and guidelines they recommend 
include prohibiting smoking in public gathering places including 
hallways, forbidding department stores from spraying perfumes in 
the air, and removing perfumed deodorizing devices from restrooms 
and other common areas.


Recommendation 13

Congress and the Administration should consider legislation to 
address the needs of people with "emerging disabilities," such as 
those with head injuries resulting from violence or other trauma 
and those with environmental illnesses who are severely adversely 
affected by secondary smoke or other pollutants in public places.

Technical Issues


Finding 18:Numerous technical issues involving the interpretation 
          and application of the ADA and its regulations have 
          been raised, including the use of edge warning devices 
          on transit platforms and accessibility standards for 
          recreational areas.


     The enormous number of specific technical issues arising 
under the ADA precludes an exhaustive discussion of them in this 
report.  However, one newly emerging concern is the movement, 
particularly in the federal sector, toward use of the UNIX 
computer system.  As of now, the technology does not exist to 
make this system fully accessible for people with vision 
impairments.  An Atlanta-based firm is reportedly working on the 
solution to the problem, but is undercapitalized.  One expert has 
estimated that an investment of $500,000 or more may be required 
to develop this technology.

     Other technical issues being examined at this time include 
whether and how to use edge warning devices on transit platforms, 
and accessibility requirements for recreation and wilderness 
areas.  The National Council on Disability has examined some of 
these issues in a recent report to the President and the 
Congress.

Employee Benefits


Finding 19:Major elements of employee benefit plans are being 
          called into question by the ADA, such as whether an 
          employer's health care plan may discontinue coverage of 
          certain benefits specifically needed by people with 
          disabilities.


     A recent issue of the Benefits Law Journal was dedicated to 
the study of the ADA's impact on employee benefit plans.  This 
represents only one manifestation of a growing awareness about 
the potential impact of the ADA in this area.  One set of policy 
issues concerns the responsibilities of employers and insurers in 
providing health insurance to people with disabilities.  The 
national debate on health care reform is focusing, at least in 
part, on the ADA since the Oregon Medical Waiver Request was 
rejected by the Bush Administration because it was found to 
violate the ADA.

     This issue will be one of the most important ADA-related 
concerns over the next several years.  After the first year of 
ADA Watch, an Insurance Task Force of the President's Committee
on Employment of People with Disabilities was assembled to 
consider these issues and to make recommendations to resolve 
them.  A related issue of particular concern to employers, also 
being addressed by a task force of the PCEPD, is the impact of 
the ADA on workers compensation costs and procedures.

Minorities with Disabilities

     The National Council on Disability has taken a great 
interest in issues of concern to minorities with disabilities, 
particularly as these issues relate to the ADA.  The Council has 
held two substantive meetings to learn about such minority 
issues.  Key findings that have come from these meetings include 
the following:

     ù Individuals who are members of minority groups and who 
       have disabilities often experience double discrimination, 
       and it is sometimes difficult to discern the specific 
       source of discrimination at any instance.  Minority women 
       with disabilities also note gender discrimination, thereby 
       increasing the source of discrimination to three possible 
       categories.

     ù Individuals with disabilities who are members of minority 
       groups tend to have higher unemployment rates and lower 
       participation in disability programs than other members of 
       the disability community, making them among the poorest of 
       the poor.

     ù Minorities, in general, are disproportionately represented 
       among the population of people with disabilities.  Certain 
       minority groups show an overrepresentation of 
       disabilities; for example, Native American men are seven 
       times more likely to develop a disability by age 26 than 
       are members of the general population.

     ù Minority persons with disabilities tend not to know about 
       their rights under nondiscrimination laws.  One estimate 
       by an expert who testified at a National Council 
       conference on the needs of minority members with 
       disabilities is that fewer than 10 percent of such 
       individuals know about the ADA.

     Moreover, cultural factors can complicate the problems 
people with disabilities face.  For example, one witness noted 
that certain Asian cultures carry stereotypes about people with 
disabilities that are especially difficult to address.  Another 
noted that distrust of government is often prevalent in certain 
minority communities, reducing the potential for the ADA to be 
effective as a means of eliminating discrimination.

     The following were among the actions recommended by those 
speaking at the National Council's meetings.

     ù Conduct ADA outreach through mass media, community 
       institutions, and in locations that will reach minority 
       populations;

     ù Provide materials and information in other languages, 
       simpler English, and in culturally appropriate media; and

     ù Conduct hearings in other languages and use multilingual 
       sign language interpreters for hearings conducted in 
       English.

Government Services and Programs


Finding 20:The role of traditional government activities in 
          support of people with disabilities and the application 
          of previously existing disability laws are being 
          affected by the ADA.


     One additional matter is being raised as a long-term issue: 
the effect of the ADA on the delivery of government services and 
programs for people with disabilities.  As the ADA is enhancing 
the ability of people with disabilities to live independently, 
the traditional government support programs will take on a 
different character that is more consistent with the philosophy 
of the independent living movement.  Ultimately, the 
philosophical foundation and resulting policies of all disability 
programs should be consistent with those of the ADA.

     For example, government funding should be redirected to 
enable:

     ù Families to support their children with disabilities at 
       home;

     ù All children to attend regular, neighborhood schools with 
       peers of their own age;

     ù Youth with disabilities to train alongside their 
       nondisabled peers for active jobs and careers; and

     ù All adults with disabilities to live in their communities 
       through independent and supported living arrangements and 
       with the aid of increased provision of affordable personal 
       assistance services and assistive technology.
                       VII.  RESEARCH AGENDA

     The data available on people with disabilities have, 
historically, been very limited.  Census data regarding work 
disabilities and activity limitations have provided useful but 
limited information for public policy decision making.  Other 
data sources have not been sufficiently comprehensive or focused 
to allow for informed disability policy analysis.  There are very 
few national data bases that address disability.

     For example, the Survey of Disability and Work conducted by 
the Social Security Administration in the 1960s and 1970s 
provided some very useful information, but dealt exclusively with 
the working-age population.  More important, it is now not being 
conducted at all.  The Survey of Income and Program Participation 
(SIPP) has not been conducted recently and did not offer adequate 
information on a broad range of disability issues.  The National 
Health Interview Survey and National Medical Expenditure Survey 
have been valuable in helping to assess health care utilization, 
but much less useful for considering other disability policy 
issues such as housing, transportation, and income maintenance.

     As a second illustration of the problem, estimates of the 
number of children with disabilities range from 1 million to 10 
million, clearly too large a range to be very useful in 
developing disability policy.  Similarly, it is very difficult to 
obtain good data on many low-prevalence conditions such as 
Friedreich's Ataxia and Tourette's Syndrome, or even spinal cord 
injury.  The ADA has created a need and an opportunity for an 
expanded research agenda.

                         Current Research


Finding 21:There is a growing body of information about such 
          issues as perceptions of the ADA, costs of 
          implementation, and attitudes toward ADA 
          responsibilities that will enable policymakers to 
          prioritize implementation efforts more effectively.


     Since the passage of the ADA, a number of surveys have been 
conducted by associations and other organizations trying to 
understand the impact of the ADA.  For example, the Bureau of 
National Affairs conducted an employee survey to identify, among 
other things, whether fellow employees of people with 
disabilities considered it fair to have their jobs altered in 
some way to accommodate a person with a disability.  One set of 
data from this study describes what respondents thought should be 
considered as disabilities.  Among the conditions that fewer than 
half the respondents identified as "legitimate" disabilities were 
alcoholism, drug addiction, cancer, AIDS, and diabetes.  The 
potential for discrimination against people with these conditions 
may well prove to be higher than for others.

      The survey of 385 companies conducted by Buck Consultants 
(noted in Section II of this report) contained several 
significant findings in addition to those reported earlier.  For 
example, industrial firms reported somewhat higher levels of ADA 
understanding than service firms or others: 46 percent of 
industrial firms rated their understanding as high (i.e., 4 or 5 
on a 5-point scale), while 42 percent of service firms and 36 
percent of others reported the same.  However, on the same scale, 
only 31 percent of industrial firms rated their level of 
preparedness as high,
slightly less than the 33 percent reported by the service and 
other firms.  This suggests that greater understanding of the ADA 
does not necessarily lead to greater preparedness.

     Two current studies by the U.S. General Accounting Office 
(GAO)--one on public accommodations and one on 
transportation--will help to assess the cost of implementation.  
The GAO is reportedly also contemplating a study on employment 
under the ADA.  The Access Board has developed a proposed ADA 
research agenda.  The topics for priority consideration were 
published in the Federal Register and are listed in Appendix I.  
Other surveys have been conducted by organizations such as the 
American Management Association to identify levels of awareness 
and compliance activities.  However, much research remains to be 
conducted.


Finding 22:The progress and impact of the ADA cannot be fully 
          determined with existing data sources, and substantial 
          additional research is needed.


     The availability of disability statistics will probably 
increase somewhat in the years to come.  For example, the 
Department of Health and Human Services held a two-day conference 
in December 1992 to discuss directions for the development of 
statistical data on disability.  The conference was scheduled to 
follow immediately the research conference sponsored by the 
National Council on Disability in Washington, DC.  As data of all 
kinds become increasingly available, one very substantial task 
will be to coordinate the information, interpret it, and apply it 
to policy questions; the need is not just for information, but 
for a framework to analyze it.

                          Needed Research

     Given the gaps in existing data and the need to know with 
some confidence how to direct resources, the time has come to 
make a concerted effort at the federal level to develop a strong 
research agenda on disability-related concerns and issues.


Recommendation 14

A comprehensive research agenda should be developed to measure 
the nation's progress in meeting the ADA's four goals of equality 
of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and 
economic self-sufficiency.

     Despite the growing amount of data being generated, 
additional information is needed to determine what effect the ADA 
is having on covered entities and on people with disabilities.  
The opportunity presented by data collection efforts related to 
these goals is to provide needed information to guide disability 
policy for many years to come.

     A large-scale longitudinal study to determine whether and 
how the ADA is meeting the needs of people with disabilities 
would be extremely useful.  Such a study could be conducted by a 
joint effort of the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the National 
Center for Health Statistics, the
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, the 
National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, and the 
various departments and agencies responsible for implementing the 
ADA.


Recommendation 15

Congress should authorize and fund a large-scale longitudinal 
study to determine how the needs of people with disabilities are 
being met over time as the ADA is implemented.

     In the current economic environment, with concerns about the 
federal budget deficit, proposing additional funds for any 
federal activity seems questionable.  However, the costs of 
implementing the ADA have been rightly considered an investment.  
As covered entities and people with disabilities learn about the 
ADA, opportunities will be created for individuals with 
disabilities to move from public support into circumstances in 
which they can contribute to the tax base.



Recommendation 16

Funding for federal government ADA information dissemination, 
technical assistance activities, and research should be adequate 
to ensure the successful ongoing implementation of the law.

                            APPENDIX A

                        ADA Watch Brochure



Page 1 of brochure
Page 2 of brochure
                            APPENDIX B

                             ADA Watch
                       Public Hearing Agenda

                          Washington, DC
                         June 15-16, 1992



                  NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY
                             ADA WATCH

       Public Hearing on the Americans with Disabilities Act
             Room 106, Senate Dirksen Office Building
                          Washington, DC
                         June 15-16, 1992


                             - AGENDA -

Monday, June 15, 1992


9:00 -  9:45 a.m.                   Opening Remarks

   Sandra Swift Parrino, Chairperson, National Council on 
   Disability

   John R. Dunne, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights 
   Division, U.S. Department of Justice

9:45 - 11:00 a.m.   Employment Panel #1

   Christopher G. Bell, Acting Associate Legal Counsel for ADA 
   Services, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

   Justin Dart, Jr., Chairman, The President's Committee on 
   Employment of People with Disabilities

   Barbara T. Judy, Project Manager, Job Accommodation Network

11:00 - 11:15 a.m.  Break

11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  Employment Panel #2

   Susan Meisinger, Vice President for Government Affairs, 
   Society for Human Resource Management

   Wendy Lechner, Manager, Research and Policy Development, 
   National Federation of Independent Business

   Mitchell Travers, President, The Travers Group

   Richard Gunden, President and CEO, The Ability Center of 
   Greater Toledo
Monday, June 15, 1992 (cont.)


12:30 - 2:00 p.m.        Lunch

2:00 - 3:15 p.m.         Public Accommodations Panel #1

   Remarks:  The Honorable Steny H. Hoyer, U.S. House of 
Representatives

   Gordon H. Mansfield, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and 
   Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 
   Development; Chairman, U.S. Architectural and Transportation 
   Barriers Compliance Board

   John L. Wodatch, Director, Office on the Americans with 
   Disabilities Act, U.S. Department of Justice

   Robert D. Lynch, American Institute of Architects

   James C. Dinegar, Vice President, Government and Industry 
   Affairs, Building Owners and Managers Association

3:15 - 3:30 p.m.         Break

 3:30 - 4:45 p.m.        Public Accommodations Panel #2

   Barbara Bode, Vice President and Executive Director, Council 
   of Better Business Bureaus' Foundation

   Maureen McCloskey, Paralyzed Veterans of America

   Barry F. Scher, Vice President of Public Affairs, Giant Food 
   Inc.

   Sally Weiss, Information and Publications Coordinator, United 
   Cerebral Palsy Association

   Robert Watson, Executive Director, DateAble


Tuesday, June 16, 1992


9:00 -  9:15 a.m.        Opening Remarks

   Sandra Swift Parrino, Chairperson, National Council on 
   Disability

   The Honorable Benjamin A. Gilman, U.S. House of 
Representatives

   The Honorable Hamilton Fish, Jr., U.S. House of 
Representatives

9:15 - 10:45 a.m.   Cross-Content Area Issues

   William H. Graves, Director, National Institute on Disability 
   and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education

   Carolyn L. Feis, Program and Evaluation Methodology Division, 
   U.S. General Accounting Office

   Paul Marchand, Director, Governmental Relations, The Arc

   John Ambrose, National Mental Health Association

10:45 - 11:00 a.m.  Break

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  Transportation

Receiving testimony: The Honorable William F. Goodling, U.S. 
House of Representatives

   Donald Trilling, U.S. Department of Transportation

   Rosalyn Simon, Executive Director, Project ACTION

   Tom Waldron, Director of Operations, Virginia Railway Express; 
   American Public Transit Association

   David Raphael, Community Transportation Association

   Paul Schroeder, Director, Governmental Affairs, American 
   Council of the Blind/Transportation Co-Chair, Consortium for 
   Citizens with Disabilities
Tuesday, June 16, 1992 (cont.)


12:30 - 2:00 p.m.        Lunch

 2:00 - 3:15 p.m.        Telecommunications

   The Honorable John McCain, United States Senate

   Linda B. Dubroof, Director of TRS Implementation, Federal 
   Communications Commission

   Pamela Ransom, Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc.

   David Rosenthal, Kansas Relay Service

3:15 - 3:30 p.m.         Break

3:30 - 4:45 p.m.         State and Local Government

   Stewart B. Oneglia, Chief, Coordination and Review Section, 
   Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice

   Marian Schooling Vessels, Special Assistant to the Governor 
   for the Americans with Disabilities Act; Executive Director, 
   Maryland Governor's Committee on Employment of People with 
   Disabilities

   Homer Page, Commissioner, Boulder County, Colorado; National 
   Association of Counties

   Curt Decker, Executive Director, National Association of 
   Protective and Advocacy Systems

   Tony Scallon, Council Member, City of Minneapolis

4:45 -  5:00 p.m.        Closing Remarks

   Sandra Swift Parrino, Chairperson, National Council on 
   Disability
                            APPENDIX C

                             ADA Watch
                       Public Hearing Agenda

                     San Francisco, California
                         October 20, 1992



                  NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY
                             ADA WATCH

       Public Hearing on the Americans with Disabilities Act
             Ballroom C, San Francisco Marriott Hotel
                     San Francisco, California
                         October 20, 1992


                             - AGENDA -

8:45 - 9:00 a.m.         Opening Remarks

   Kent Waldrep, Vice Chairperson, National Council on Disability

9:00 - 9:45 a.m.         Overview Panel

   William Tainter, Director, California Department of 
Rehabilitation

   Melanie Wiegner, Legal Advisor, California Chamber of Commerce

   Erica Jones, NIDRR Region IX Technical Assistance Center

9:45 - 11:00 a.m.   Public Sector

   Sheila Conlon Mentkowski, Advocacy Director, NORCAL Center on 
Deafness

   Michael Humphrey, Executive Director, Santa Rosa Independent 
   Living Center

   Les Treece-Sinclair, ADA Implementation Section, California 
   Department of Rehabilitation

11:00 - 11:15 a.m.  Break

11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.  Open Forum

   Comments from the floor

12:15 - 1:30 p.m.        Lunch

1:30 - 2:45 p.m.         Private Sector

   Catherine Kelly Baird, California Governor's Committee for the 
   Employment of Disabled Persons

   Jeanie Hanks Van Amen, Los Cerritos Center (Orange County)

   Guerry Dalrymple, America West Arena representative

   Bruce Flynn, Wells Fargo

2:45 - 3:00 p.m.         Break

3:00 - 4:15 p.m.         Non-Profit Sector

   Dr. Harry Murphy, University of California, Northridge

   Florence Curnutt, San Jose Community College

   Jill Singer, Administrator, Ambulatory Health Care Program, 
   California Medical Association

   Susan Cota, California Medical Association Task Force on 
   Accessibility of Medical Services

4:15 - 5:15 p.m.         Open Forum

   Comments from the floor

5:15 - 5:30 p.m.         Closing Remarks

   Kent Waldrep, Vice Chairperson, National Council on Disability
                            APPENDIX D

                    U.S. Department of Justice
                 ADA Technical Assistance Grantees



                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
                 ADA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTEES


American Foundation for the Blind, and Gallaudet University - 
  National Center for Law and the Deaf
Washington, DC

American Hotel and Motel Association
Washington, DC

American Speech-Language- Hearing Association
Rockville, MD



The Association for Retarded Citizens of the United States
Arlington, TX




The Association on Higher Education and Disability
Columbus, OH


Building Owners and Managers Association
Washington, DC

Council of Better Business Bureaus' Foundation
Arlington, VA



Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
Washington, DC


Eastern Washington University Center for Health Research
Cheney, WA

Food Marketing Institute
Washington, DC


Foundation on Employment and Disability
Torrance, CA
Provide technical assistance to consumers and covered entities 
relating to communications barriers resulting from hearing and 
vision loss; develop and distribute pamphlets targeted at 
restaurants, the hospitality industry, places of assembly, health 
care providers and consumers

Disseminate ADA information, develop & conduct seminars at 
state-level Association conferences, articles and an ADA 
compliance handbook for the lodging industry

Disseminate ADA information to people with communications 
disabilities, including retail stores, daycare centers, places of 
assembly, and emergency service providers, conduct national 
training workshops and telephone assistance on communications 
access issues

Disseminate ADA information as it applies to individuals with 
mental retardation; establish center to disseminate information 
to restaurants, hotels and motels, retail stores, and places of 
public assembly nationally on how to provide cognitively 
accessible services; conduct Title III training for Arc chapters 
and child care facilities; create a resource book for child care 
centers

Collaborate with the National Clearinghouse on Licensure 
Enforcement and Regulations to develop a manual on "Testing 
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities"; provide a 
telephone hotline for ADA information

Conduct nationwide seminars for building owners and managers on 
ADA requirements for commercial facilities and places of public 
accommodation

Educate small and medium-sized business members on Title III 
obligations; provide resources for alternative dispute resolution 
and educational materials; collaborate with DREDF and Barrier 
Free Environments to conduct meetings with business and 
disability groups

Establish telephone information line for Titles II and III; 
conduct regional seminars for community representatives to assist 
individuals with rights and responsibilities; provide training 
and resources for groups nationwide

Produce videotapes, printed materials and public service 
announcements to serve as resources for daycare centers 
nationally, and conduct training for daycare providers

Collaborate with the National Center for Access Unlimited to 
disseminate information to grocery chains; develop ADA starter 
kit; conduct seminars and exhibit at 1992 Convention

Provide materials and presentations to community organizations; 
telephone information lines for minority communities in 
California; DOJ projects' resource on minority issues

                         Institute for Law and Policy Planning
Berkeley, CA


                         National Association of Protection and 
                           Advocacy Services
Washington, DC


National Center for State Courts
Williamsburg, VA


National Conference of States on Building Codes and Standards
Herndon, VA




National Federation of the Blind
Baltimore, MD



National Rehabilitation Hospital
Washington, DC



National Restaurant Association
Washington, DC





Police Executive Research Forum
Washington, DC




Produce documentaries on barrier removal in places of public 
accommodation available at the ADA Regional Disability and 
Technical Assistance Centers and other technical assistance and 
training projects

Conduct training seminars on nonlegal dispute resolution, 
self-advocacy, and voluntary compliance, and provide funding and 
materials to the network of Protection and Advocacy Service 
Centers and Client Assistance Programs

Disseminate publications, checklists, compliance strategies for 
state and local courts; provide a model academic curriculum for 
future judges and court administrators

Collaborate with Paralyzed Veterans of America to promote 
certification of state codes for equivalency with ADA standards, 
promote voluntary compliance with new construction and 
alterations requirements, develop alternative dispute resolution 
models, and hold a national seminar on certification, appeal, and 
complaint procedures

Conduct "Information Access Project" to assist entities in 
finding methods for converting visually displayed information 
into formats accessible for individuals who are visually 
impaired; resource for other grantees

Provide informational materials, seminars, and a consumer 
brochure for doctors, hospitals, health care facilities, and 
health care consumers, as well as an accessibility checklist and 
compliance handbook for facility managers

Produce and distribute informational material, compliance manual, 
videotape for the food-service industry; collaborate with the 
National Center for Access Unlimited on a booklet with 
self-inspection checklists, applications of compliance techniques 
and training on barrier removal, alterations, new construction, 
attitudes, and dispute resolution

Collaborate with the Epilepsy Foundation of America and Eastern 
Kentucky University's Police Studies Department Training to 
develop model policies and procedures for police and sheriff's 
departments, information/training materials, videotape, brochure 
and handbook for organizations serving police and persons with 
disabilities
                            APPENDIX E

              Project ACTION, Demonstration Projects
                         (Phases I and II)



                          PROJECT ACTION
                      DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
                            - PHASE I -


Grantee
Goal
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon

Massachusetts Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities
Boston, Massachusetts
Design a securement system for mobility aids in "common use" on 
public transportation vehicles.

Increase the use of the statewide transportation system developed 
in Massachusetts.
Florida Alliance for Employment of the Handicapped
Tallahassee, Florida
Develop a method for determining the need for accessible 
transportation which can be used at the operations level and 
which includes key persons in the local community.
Housatonic Area Regional Transit
Danbury, Connecticut
Develop a model program designed to identify people with 
disabilities in the community and their transit needs;  develop 
outreach and marketing strategies.
Focus on Community Understanding and Services
Columbus, Ohio
Train consumers with disabilities and transit personnel; conduct 
marketing and outreach programs.
Southeastern Pennsylvania  Transportation Authority
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Develop a low-cost, modular partial high-level platform and ramp 
to improve regional accessibility and access to the SEPTA 
commuter rail system for wheelchair users.
Cerenio Management Group
San Francisco, California
Train transit users with disabilities as sensitivity trainers of 
transit personnel and travel trainers for other people with 
disabilities.
Hiram G. Andrews Center
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Design and carry out attitude, awareness, and interactive 
training programs for transit personnel to raise sensitivity to 
persons with "hidden" disabilities.
Buckeye Paralyzed Veterans of America
Euclid, Ohio
Train persons with disabilities to fully utilize the Greater 
Cleveland Regional Transit Authority's expanding accessible fixed 
route transportation; develop a receptiveness and sensitivity 
toward persons with disabilities among transit employees.

Regional Transportation  Commission
Reno, Nevada
Develop a program to teach people with disabilities to 
effectively use accessible public transportation in the 
Reno-Sparks metropolitan area; provide skills usable in other 
public transportation systems.

Easter Seal Society of Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Develop and maintain a non-rigid, 24-hour response time for 
paratransit service.
Mass Transit Administration
Baltimore, Maryland
Address attitudinal, behavioral, and informational issues 
affecting the use and delivery of accessible fixed route services 
through outreach, marketing, and training aimed at consumers with 
disabilities using accessible fixed service, MTA bus operators, 
and the general public.


Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Boston, Massachusetts
Demonstrate the implementation of an emergency evacuation 
procedure for the safe evacuation of passengers with 
disabilities, especially those who use wheelchairs on rapid 
transit lines.
San Antonio Independent Living Services
San Antonio, Texas
Identify a pilot group of people with disabilities to train in 
use of fixed route bus transportation; train peers also.
Katherine McGuinness and Associates
Waltham, Massachusetts
Convene a working group of local transit agencies, water 
transportation operators, and disability advocacy groups to 
develop regulations for access to public water transportation 
facilities.

Kalamazoo Handicappers United
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Identify needs by disability, geography, and service 
characteristics to promote accessible transportation program 
emphasis; provide public and private service providers a sound 
basis for scaling and designing systems.

Econometrics
Bethesda, Maryland
Develop a program to train people with disabilities to utilize 
both fixed route transit and rural public transit services.
Goodwill Industries of Mid- Eastern Pennsylvania
Shillington, Pennsylvania
Develop an Employment and Carpooling Program to match 
transportation needs of individuals with disabilities with 
volunteers  who could provide that service; develop and implement 
training to teach consumers how to use fixed route and 
paratransit services.
New Jersey Transit
Newark, New Jersey
Develop fare policy to provide a reduced transfer fare for 
paratransit and fixed route transit trips; develop key transfer 
points and promote use of vehicle-to-vehicle transfer from 
paratransit to fixed route.

Services for Independent Living
Cleveland, Ohio
Develop a universal, safe and easy way to use the securement 
system; establish design, testing, and evaluation criteria for 
the acceptability of the system by people with disabilities.

Access-A-Ride
New York, New York
Conduct a multi-ethnic outreach effort to enhance the mobility of 
people with disabilities living in low-income neighborhoods.
League of Human Dignity
Omaha, Nebraska
Establish and implement a program to inform and educate the 
public and persons with disabilities about the availability of a 
new partially lift-equipped fixed route bus service in Omaha.
The Kennedy Center
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Provide an evolving mobility training and peer support program to 
a total of thirty-four individuals with disabilities; assist the 
Greater Bridgeport Transit District in assessing and testing a 
free transfer mechanism between fixed route service and 
paratransit service.
Easter Seal Society of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Encourage potential users of fixed route accessible transit 
services to ride, addressing the environment around the rider 
including the bus, its fellow passengers, and other aspects of 
the ride.

Community Council of Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Improve the mobility of persons with disabilities by increasing 
trips on wheelchair-accessible bus routes operated by the Phoenix 
Transit System through outreach, education, and marketing 
programs.

                          PROJECT ACTION
                      DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
                           - PHASE II -


Grantee
Goal

Bear River Association of Governments
Logan, Utah
Priority: Community Identification
With Utah State University and the Logan Transit District, 
develop and test a statistical model for identifying transit 
needs of persons with disabilities.
Lifespan Associates
Akron, Ohio
Priority: Community Identification
Work with public transportation providers, human service 
agencies, and the disability community in Ohio and Pennsylvania 
to identify transit needs based on statistical surveys and 
personal interviews.

Community Council, Inc.
Phoenix, Arizona
Priority: Develop Outreach and Marketing Strategies
Encourage people ineligible for ADA complimentary paratransit to 
use accessible fixed route services.
The Arc
Arlington, Texas
Priority: Develop Training Programs for Transit Providers
Develop a communications skills program for Fort Worth transit 
personnel to more effectively assist persons with disabilities, 
especially those with cognitive impairments.

KRW, Incorporated
Alexandria, Virginia
Priority: Develop Training Programs for Transit Providers
Nationwide training of transit personnel covering a wide range of 
real life situations with funding from the Architectural and 
Transportation Barriers and Compliance (Access) Board.

Transit Authority of River City
Louisville, Kentucky
Priority: Develop Training Programs for Transit Providers
Work with the Disabled Citizens Computer Center to develop a 
computer-based interactive program to train transit personnel on 
their responsibilities under ADA.
City of Napa
Napa, California
Priority: Develop Training Programs for Transit Users with 
Disabilities
Develop a model travel training program that can be easily used 
by other small, rural transit systems around the country.
Easter Seal of Southwest Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Priority: Develop Training Programs for Transit Users with 
Disabilities
Train selected adults and youth with disabilities on the use of 
accessible public transportation; conduct a "Train the Trainer" 
program at the end of the project period.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Washington, D.C.
Priority: Develop Training Programs for Transit Users with 
Disabilities
Carry out a model travel training assistance program that will 
lead to the training of approximately 200 people with a variety 
of disabilities.

New York Easter Seal Society
Albany, New York
Priority: Develop Training Programs for Transit Users with 
Disabilities
Launch an innovative project for training selected high school 
seniors and new graduates with disabilities on using public 
transportation.
Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Services for Independent Living, 
  Inc.
Cleveland, Ohio
Priority: Apply Technology to Eliminate Barriers
Field test a universal securement prototype device for use on
fixed route and paratransit systems under climatic conditions in 
three locations.
Boston College, Department of Psychology
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Priority: Apply Technology to Eliminate Barriers
Research the safety and usability of sloped area with detectable 
warnings that are safe and usable by persons with visual 
impairments.
Cerenio Management Group
San Francisco, California
Priority: Assist Private Entities
Carry out a comprehensive sensitivity and ADA training program 
for all Super Shuttle management staff nationwide.
International Taxicab and Livery Association
Kensington, Maryland
Priority: Assist Private Entities
Develop a user-friendly handbook which will address the many ADA 
issues affecting private sector transportation entities.
The Kennedy Center, Inc.
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Priorities: Develop Training Programs for Transit Users with 
Disabilities, Outreach Programs, and Feeder Service
Train persons with cognitive impairments and multiple 
disabilities on using accessible public transportation.
Maryland Department of Transportation
Baltimore, Maryland
Priorities: Develop Training Programs for Transit Users with 
Disabilities and Outreach Programs
Undertake multiple activities including training persons with 
disabilities ineligible for ADA complimentary paratransit to use 
bus, rail, and light rail services; train transit personnel.
Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center of Central Connecticut
Meriden, Connecticut
Priorities: Develop Outreach & Marketing Strategies, and Develop 
Training Programs for Transit Providers
Develop, implement, and evaluate a training program for students 
with disabilities who are transitioning from public school to 
work or higher education; sensitivity and service training for 
transit personnel.
Focus on Community Understanding & Services, Inc.
Columbus, Ohio
Priorities: Identify People with Disabilities, Develop Outreach & 
Marketing Strategies, Develop Training Programs for Transit Users 
with Disabilities and  Advocacy
Launch an expanded program of outreach, community identification, 
and training of people with disabilities on the use of accessible 
public transportation services; serve as an advocate for people 
with disabilities on behalf of the ADA.
Research Foundation, City University on behalf of Barauch College 
  Computer Center for the Visually Impaired
New York, New York
Priorities: Develop Outreach and Marketing Strategies and Develop 
Training Programs for Users with Disabilities
Embark on an aggressive program of community outreach, marketing, 
and consumer training to educate consumers in New York City with 
visual, cognitive, and other impairments on the use of innovative 
tactile maps.
Topeka Independent Living Resource Center, Inc.
Topeka, Kansas
Priorities: Identify People with Disabilities, Develop Outreach 
and Marketing Strategies, & Develop Training Programs for Transit 
Users with Disabilities
Undertake a program of community identification, outreach, and 
consumer training aimed at reducing dependency on paratransit 
services, increasing ridership among persons with disabilities on 
accessible fixed route services.



Urbitran Associates, Inc.
New York, New York
Priorities: Develop Outreach and Marketing Strategies & Develop 
Training Programs for Transit Users with Disabilities
Develop and test a program of outreach and marketing and consumer 
training targeted at persons ineligible for ADA complimentary 
paratransit services on the use of Madison's new service-route 
buses.
York County Transportation Authority
York, Pennsylvania
Priorities: Develop Training for Transit Providers and Users with 
Disabilities
Develop and carry out an innovative training program for transit 
personnel and people with disabilities on the ADA and how to 
interact constructively with each other.





                            APPENDIX F

               National Institute on Disability and
                  Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)

                 Regional Disability and Business
                   Technical Assistance Centers



               NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY AND
                  REHABILITATION RESEARCH (NIDRR)

   Regional Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers


Toll-free telephone number for all centers:  800-949-4232

Regional Center I:
   Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode 
Island, Vermont

     New England Disability and Business Technical Assistance 
Center
     145 Newbury Street
     Portland, Maine  04103
     207-874-6535 (Voice/TDD)
     207-780-4417 (Fax)

Regional Center II:
   New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

     Northeast Disability and Business Technical Assistance 
Center
     354 South Broad Street
     Trenton, New Jersey  08608
     609-392-4004 (Voice)
     609-392-7044 (TDD)
     609-392-3505 (Fax)

Regional Center III:
   Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, 
   Virginia, West Virginia

     Mid-Atlantic Disability and Business Technical Assistance 
Center
     2111 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 400
     Arlington, Virginia  22201
     703-525-3268 (Voice/TDD)
     703-525-6835 (Fax)

Regional Center IV:
   Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North 
   Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee

     Southeast Disability and Business Technical Assistance 
Center
     1776 Peachtree Road
     Suite 310, North
     Atlanta, Georgia  30309
     404-888-0022 (Voice)
     404-888-9006 (TDD)
     404-888-9091 (Fax)

Regional Center V:
   Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin

     Great Lakes Disability and Business Technical Assistance 
Center
     1640 West Roosevelt Road (M/C 627)
     Chicago, Illinois  60608
     312-413-1407 (Voice/TDD)

Regional Center VI:
   Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

     Southwest Disability and Business Technical Assistance 
Center
     2323 South Shepherd Boulevard, Suite 1000
     Houston, Texas  77019
     713-520-0232 (Voice)
     713-520-5136 (TDD)
     713-520-5785 (Fax)

Regional Center VII:
   Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri

     Great Plains Disability and Business Technical Assistance 
Center
     4816 Santana Drive
     Columbia, Missouri  65203
     314-882-3600 (Voice/TDD)
     314-882-1727 (Fax)

Regional Center VIII:
   Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

     Rocky Mountain Disability and Business Technical Assistance 
Center
     3630 Sinton Road, Suite 103
     Colorado Springs, Colorado  80907-5072
     719-444-0252 (Voice)
     719-444-0268 (TDD)

Regional Center IX:
   Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Basin

     Pacific Coast Disability and Business Technical Assistance 
Center
     440 Grand Avenue, Suite 500
     Oakland, California  94610
     510-465-7884 (Voice)
     510-465-3172 (TDD)
     510-465-7885 (Fax)



Regional Center X:
   Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

     Northwest Disability and Business Technical Assistance 
Center
     605 Woodview Drive
     Lacey, Washington   98503
     206-438-3168 (Voice)
     206-438-3167 (TDD)
     206-438-4014 (Fax)


       National ADA Technical Assistance Grants Coordinator

Contractor
     Raymond Glazier
     Abt Associates, Inc.
     55 Wheeler Street
     Cambridge, Massachusetts  02138-1168
     617-492-7100
     617-492-5219 (Fax)

                            APPENDIX G

         Funding Partnership for People with Disabilities

                         Project Summaries



         FUNDING PARTNERSHIP FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
                       - PROJECT SUMMARIES -


Recording for the Blind
Washington, DC



Coalition for Information Access for Print-handicapped Readers 
Project
Create automated Comprehensive Listing System for education 
materials available in North America in alternative format.  
Objectives: 1) facilitate access to bibliographic information, 2) 
make books available nationally, 3) facilitate inter-agency 
referral, 4) eliminate duplication
Denver Center for Independent Living
Denver, CO
Help people with disabilities acquire skills, information, and 
support by giving them vouchers to purchase independent living 
services.

Association for Retarded Citizens of Natrona County
Caster, WY

Integrate children with mental retardation into "latchkey" 
programs and introduce children without disabilities to their 
disabled counterparts in recreational settings.
Rural Minnesota CEP, Inc.
Detroit Lakes, MN
Comprehensive employment services for youth with disabilities.
Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled
Brooklyn, NY

Establish an Access to the Workplace Center to educate Brooklyn 
employers about ADA and related laws and the technology, 
resources, and strategies relevant to hiring people with 
disabilities and mainstreaming them on the job.  Provide tailored 
services to employers.
Drexel University Office of Research Administration
Philadelphia, PA

Research the potential of assistive technologies to benefit 
children with motor disabilities.
Partners for Disabled Youth, Inc.
Boston, MA
Transfer successful youth with disabilities entrepreneurship 
skills program from New York to Boston and assure long-term 
commitment from adults with disabilities (to act as program 
mentors) and from local business community.

Hospital Audiences, Inc. (HAI)
New York, NY

Access to Places of Assembly: 1) create manual to replicate 
accessibility surveys of recreational/cultural sites, 2) produce 
pamphlets and video for specific types of places of assembly, 3) 
conduct seminars for site managers, 4) disseminate products.

Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth, Inc.
Fort Worth, TX
Provide ADA training to 84 businesses in a seven-county area over 
two years, resulting in employment of 67 people with 
disabilities.  Specifically focus on ADA's employment provisions.

Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute, University of 
   Wisconsin
Menomonie, WI
Develop and demonstrate effective ADA implementation for small 
employers.  The project employs training, technical assistance, 
and direct service to demonstrate effectiveness of integrating 
and accommodating people with disabilities.

International Center for the  Disabled
New York, NY
Pediatric Functional Capacity/Pre-Vocational Assessment Program.  
Provide and improve medical rehabilitation and pre-vocational 
services to students with disabilities in the NY public school 
system.

Foundation for Exceptional Children
Reston, VA
Create links with Chambers of Commerce to help youths with 
disabilities find jobs.  This project replicates a successful 
program, "Team Work," in which adult mentors help young people 
with disabilities make the transition from school to work.

Opportunity Village Assoc. for Retarded Citizens
Las Vegas, NV

Provide transportation through Share-a-Ride program for disabled 
citizens who wish to work in the community.
Full Citizenship, Inc.
Lawrence, KS
Provide informational resources to improve employer awareness of 
and knowledge about employment of people with disabilities.  
Provide on-going support and technical assistance for employers.

Casa Colina Hospital for Rehabilitative Medicine
Pomona, CA
Low-cost self-help groups to support individuals with disabling 
low back pain to enable them to return to a more productive life.  
Develop educational materials and optimal procedures.

Association of Retarded Citizens of  New Jersey
North Brunswick, NJ

Develop educational materials to teach women with developmental 
disabilities about women's health issues.  Workbooks and 
videotape for consumers; separate set for families and staff.

Kansas Elks Training Center for the Handicapped, Inc.
Wichita, KS
Hire worksite consultant to enhance activities of Employer 
Training Center (business/agency co-venture) to 1) establish 
model employment sites in small to mid-sized businesses and 2) 
provide site assessments, on-site consultation, and management 
training to area businesses.

Kent State University
Kent, OH
A model employer education and technical assistance program 
covering a seven-county area in Ohio.  More than 1,500 employers 
and human resource professionals provided with information on the 
ADA.  Speakers bureau for presentations to civic and professional 
groups.

National Chamber Foundation
Washington, DC
Study to 1) survey state and local Chambers on willingness to 
work with disability community on ADA, 2) evaluate and categorize 
funding partnership efforts and other community approaches, 3) 
disseminate findings through a report and a national conference.

St. Joseph Rehabilitation Hospital & Outpatient Center
Albuquerque, NM

Care Giver Training Material Development and Distribution. 
Develop and distribute a video and workbook to educate family 
care-givers on the proper techniques to physically assist 
disabled family members. Materials in English and Spanish and 
distributed free of charge.

American Bar Association, Commission on Mental & Physical 
   Disabilities
Washington, DC

Develop ADA Resource Manual to help employers understand 
obligations to applicants/employees with mental illness and 
provide suggestions to fulfill those obligations.The Institute 
   for Rehabilitation & Research
Houston, TX

Mobility International USA
Eugene, OR
A Model for Municipal Compliance with ADA.
Establish a municipal coalition to develop, test, and disseminate 
a model approach for evaluating municipal compliance with ADA.

A Proactive Approach to ADA: A Community Access Model.
Develop a cost-effective, efficient model program for 
organizations to use in implementing the ADA.

TransCen, Inc.
Rockville, MD
Develop a statewide coalition to provide disability awareness 
training and technical assistance to the state's business 
community: train-the-trainer seminars; disability awareness 
training and reasonable accommodation seminars; implementation 
manual.
Center for Independence of the  Disabled in New York
New York, NY
Train a large team of people with disabilities, employers, civic 
leaders, and parents as trainers and advocates in the areas of 
reasonable accommodation; form a long-term coalition with the 
project partners that the community will utilize as an ongoing 
resource.
Council of Better Business Bureaus' Foundation
Arlington, VA
Promote compliance with Title III (Public Accommodations) of the 
ADA by providing public education, training, and technical 
assistance on requirements, compliance options, and dispute 
resolution.
Self Help for Hard of Hearing  People, Inc.
Bethesda, MD
Produce and disseminate six guidebooks addressing access and 
employment for hearing impaired individuals for the hospitality, 
airport, and hospital industries.
Foundation for Technology Access (FTA)
Albany, CA
Demonstrate ability of computer technology to promote 
integration, employment, and independence through FTA's national 
network of community-based computer resource centers.
National Association of Counties  County Health Policy Project
Washington, DC
County Government as Leaders in the Implementation of the ADA.
Forge partnerships between county governments in the state of 
Maryland and local disability communities to facilitate optimal 
implementation of ADA.  Develop model for replication.
Rochester Center for Independent Living, Inc.
Rochester, NY
Develop voluntary compliance with ADA through cost-effective and 
efficient dissemination of information and compliance assistance, 
including mediation services, to the groups targeted by ADA.

The Foundation of Employment & Disability, Inc.
Torrance, CA
Inform 20,000 small business owners and managers of their 
responsibility under the ADA and promote willingness to comply 
and find cost-effective ways to do so.

Pratt Institute
Brooklyn, NY

Support a two-day conference to exchange current information on 
design issues that affect people with impaired mobility, vision, 
and hearing.
The Center for Rehabilitation Services at Theda Clark Reg.
Neenah, WI
Quick Program: Transdisciplinary evaluation of medical 
rehabilitation and psychological needs of people with 
disabilities.  Develop a case management model and cost/benefit 
analysis.

Access Living
Chicago, IL
Coalition for Architectural Access.
Develop reference materials that integrate the architectural 
accessibility regulations of the ADA and other laws and train 
individuals with disabilities and architects in the standards.




                            APPENDIX H

                Selected ADA-Related Videocassettes



                SELECTED ADA-RELATED VIDEOCASSETTES


American Federation for the Blind
     "Making the ADA Work for You"

Building Owners and Managers Association International
     "The Americans With Disabilities Act Title III:  Public 
     Accommodations and Commercial Facilities"

California Chamber of Commerce
     "ADA:  What Every Manager Must Know"
     "ADA Interviewing Do's and Don't's"

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
     "Open for Business"

Film & Video, Inc.
     "ADA Facts & Fears"

National Easter Seal Society
     "Party"
     "Wheelchair"
     "Nobody is Burning Wheelchairs"
     "Pizza"
     "Providing Public Transportation to Everyone"
     "Bus"

National Restaurant Association
     "A Warm Welcome"

President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities
     "Part of the Team"

                            APPENDIX I

             Architectural and Transportation Barriers
                  Compliance Board (Access Board)

                   Proposed ADA Research Agenda



             ACCESS BOARD PROPOSED ADA RESEARCH AGENDA

      (as published in the Federal Register, Vol. 57, No. 92)


1.  Medical Facilities Examination Equipment

2.  Windows

3.  Signage and Orientation Information for Persons Who Are 
    Visually Impaired or Blind

4.  Engraved Signage

5.  Special Provisions for Alterations to Buildings and 
    Facilities

6.  Space and Reach Range Requirements for Persons Using Power 
    Wheelchairs and Three-Wheeled Scooters

7.  Protruding Objects

8.  Detectable Warnings, Handrail Extensions, and Tread Markings 
    for Persons With Visual Impairments

9.  Diagonal and Circular Stairs

10. Bathing Facility Accessibility

11. Under Table and Fixed Seating Depth Requirements

12. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point of Sale Machines

13. Homeless Shelters

14. Chemical and Environmental Sensitivities

15. Ramp Slope

16. Swimming Pools

17. Health Club Equipment

18. Standardization of Audible Alarms

19. Public Information for Persons With Hearing Impairments

20. Transportation Facilities: Signage Along Circulation Paths 
    and Station Identification Signs

21. Airports: Security Systems

22. Boats and Ferries

23. Vehicle Ramps

24. Steps on Buses, Light Rail, Commuter Rail, and Intercity Rail 
    Cars

25. Vehicle Doors: All Vehicle Modes

26. Interior Lighting on Buses

27. Intercity Rail Car Restrooms and Sleeping Rooms

28. Lifts: Vehicle Interlock on Commuter and Intercity Trains

29. Electric Cart Accessibility

30. Floor Surfaces: Carpet Weave

31. Pedestrian Overpasses
           NATIONAL COUNCIL MEMBER AND STAFF BIOGRAPHIES

                     National Council Members


John A. Gannon, Acting Chairperson

     John Gannon of Cleveland, Ohio, and Washington, D.C., 
founded John A. Gannon and Associates.  His firm has offices in 
Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; and Washington, 
D.C.  A fire fighter for more than 30 years, Mr. Gannon was an 
active leader of the International Association of Fire Fighters 
(IAFF) Local 93.  Starting as a member of the local IAFF 
committee, he eventually became president, a position he held for 
10 years before being elected to national office.

     In September 1988, Mr. Gannon was elected IAFF president 
emeritus.  He had served as President of the 170,000-member 
organization since 1980.  Under his leadership, the IAFF expanded 
its role in occupational safety and health.  Concerned about the 
hazards of his profession, he guided and directed a series of 
programs to promote greater safety and health protection.  One 
program sponsored research on safer garments and equipment for 
fire fighters.  Mr. Gannon also fostered development of the IAFF 
Burn Foundation, which raises funds for research on the care of 
people who have experienced severe burns.  In 1985, the 
Metropolitan General Hospital in Cleveland dedicated the John 
Gannon Burn and Trauma Center in recognition of his support for 
the hospital.

     Mr. Gannon was elected vice president of the AFL-CIO, with 
which the IAFF is affiliated.  Within the AFL-CIO, he is vice 
president of the Public Employee Department.  On the Executive 
Council, he is a member of several committees.  He serves on the 
board of the National Joint Council of Fire Service Organizations 
and in 1982 served as its chairman.  He is a member of the board 
of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  Mr. Gannon attended Miami 
University in Ohio and Glasgow University in Scotland, and 
studied at Baldwin-Wallace College and Cleveland State 
University.

A. Kent Waldrep, Jr., Vice Chairperson

     Kent Waldrep has been involved with disability issues on the 
local, state, and national levels since his spinal cord injury in 
1974 while playing football for Texas Christian University.  
Since 1981, Mr. Waldrep has served on the National Council.  
Beyond serving as vice chairperson, he serves as chairman of the 
Research and Prevention Committee.  He was instrumental in 
formulating the National Council initiative on preventing primary 
and secondary disabilities.

     Mr. Waldrep, one of 15 original drafters of the Americans 
with Disabilities Act, gave the legislation its name.  He has 
lectured nationwide on subjects ranging from national disability 
policy to medical research targeted at curing paralysis.  He 
founded the American Paralysis Association and the Kent Waldrep 
National Paralysis Foundation. He has appeared
on Good Morning America, the Today Show, the NBC Nightly News, 
and CNN, and has been featured in People, Look, USA Today, and 
other magazines.

     He was selected by the U.S. Jaycees as one of 1985's ten 
Outstanding Young Men in America and received a special award 
from the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and a sports/fitness award 
from the President's Council on Physical Fitness.  Kent Waldrep 
Days have been celebrated in four Texas cities and Birmingham, 
Alabama.  He serves on many boards, including the Texas 
Rehabilitation Commission.  He is past chairman of the Texas 
Governor's Committee for Disabled Persons and the Dallas 
Rehabilitation Institute.  He also is chairman of Turbo-Resins, 
Inc., a family-owned and -operated aviation repair business.  He 
lives in Plano, Texas, with his wife, Lynn, and two sons, Trey 
and Charles Cavenaugh.

Linda Wickett Allison

     Linda Allison of Dallas, Texas, is a long-time advocate of 
people with disabilities.  She is a board member of the National 
Paralysis Foundation and a trustee for the International Spinal 
Research Trust.  Mrs. Allison, who grew up in Fort Worth, has 
three children.  Her daughter, Marcy, was paralyzed from the 
waist down in a 1979 automobile accident.  Marcy graduated from 
the University of Texas School of Law in 1986 and practices law 
in Austin.  Mrs. Allison's late husband, James N. Allison, Jr., 
owned the Midland Reporter Telegram and other newspapers in Texas 
and Colorado and was a deputy chairperson of the Republican 
National Committee.

Ellis B. Bodron

     Ellis Bodron of Vicksburg, Mississippi, has been a 
practicing attorney since 1947.  He served 36 years as a member 
of the Mississippi legislature, one term in the House of 
Representatives, and eight terms in the Mississippi Senate.  He 
also chaired the Senate Finance Committee from 1961 until 1983.

     Mr. Bodron, who is blind, is associated with several civic 
organizations, including the Vicksburg Lions Club, Vicksburg 
Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Mississippi Alumni 
Association.  In addition, he is a member of the Advisory Board 
of Directors, Deposit Guaranty National Bank.

     Mr. Bodron has also been a member of the Agriculture and 
Industrial Board, which preceded the Board of Economic 
Development, and the Committee of Budget and Accounting and the 
Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Public Employees Retirement 
System.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of 
Law Degree from the University of Mississippi.  He is married 
with two children.

Larry Brown, Jr.

     Since 1981, Larry Brown of Potomac, Maryland, has been the 
Xerox business and community relations manager for the 
Mid-Atlantic Region, Coastal Operations, Custom
Systems Division.  In 1991, he became government and community 
relations manager with Integrated Systems Operations.

     Mr. Brown was a running back for the Washington Redskins for 
eight years.  During that time, he received many awards, 
including Most Valuable Player in the National Football League 
for 1972.  He was inducted into the Washington, D.C., Touchdown 
Club Hall of Fame in 1991.

     After retiring from football in 1977, he worked at E.F. 
Hutton as a personal financial management adviser.  He has been 
special assistant to the director, Office of Minority Business 
Enterprise, Department of Commerce.  He is involved with youth, 
people with disabilities, and senior citizens.  Mr. Brown has 
spoken at schools, colleges, and universities on topics such as 
motivation, discipline, and camaraderie.  He works with many 
organizations, including the Friends of the National Institute on 
Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the Deafness Research 
Foundation, and the Vincent Lombardi Foundation.

Mary Ann Mobley Collins

     A former Miss America who lives in Beverly Hills, 
California, Mary Ann Mobley Collins has a career in film, 
television, and on Broadway.  She has co-hosted National March of 
Dimes telethons with her husband, Emmy-award-winning actor Gary 
Collins; she is a member of the National Board of the March of 
Dimes Foundation and is national chair of the Mother's March 
Against Birth Defects.  She is a member of SHARE, a Los 
Angeles-based women's organization that has raised more than $6 
million for the Exceptional Children's Foundation for the 
Mentally Retarded.  She serves on the National Board of the 
Crohns and Colitis Foundation.

     Mrs. Collins helped raise funds for the Willowood Foundation 
in her native Mississippi, which provides homes for young adults 
with mental and physical disabilities.  She has received many 
awards and honors, including the 1990 International Humanitarian 
Award from the Institute for Human Understanding, Woman of 
Distinction 1990 from the National Foundation for Ileitis and 
Colitis, and the HELP Humanitarian Award of 1985 from HELP for 
Handicapped Children.  She has filmed documentaries in Cambodia, 
Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, and Bolivia on the 
plight of starving children and people with disabilities.

Anthony H. Flack

     Anthony Flack of Norwalk, Connecticut, is president of 
Anthony H. Flack & Associates.  He has been a member of the board 
of Families and Children's Aid of Greater Norwalk and has worked 
with the Child Guidance Center of Greater Bridgeport, the Youth 
Shelter in Greenwich, Hall Neighborhood House in Bridgeport, and 
the Urban League of Greater Bridgeport.  Mr. Flack is a member of 
the Allocations and Admissions Committee, United Way of Norwalk, 
and received the Bell Award for outstanding service in the field 
of mental health at the Bridgeport Chapter, Connecticut 
Association of Mental Health.

Robert S. Muller

     Robert Muller of Grandville, Michigan, began his career with 
Steelcase, Inc., in 1966 and is now an administrator in human 
resources.  He is an adjunct professor in the Department of 
Psychology at Aquinas College and in the Department of Education 
at Calvin College in Grand Rapids.  He serves on the Board of 
Trustees for Hope Network and Foundation in Grand Rapids, which 
serves 1,700 adults with disabilities.  In April 1981, he 
received an honorary degree in educational psychology from the 
Free University in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

     Mr. Muller holds a B.S. in business administration from 
Aquinas College and in 1978 was voted Outstanding Alumnus of the 
Year.  He has lectured at colleges and universities nationally 
and internationally.  He is a board member for several national, 
state, and local organizations.

     In May 1987, Mr. Muller and his wife Carol hosted a 
first-time event at the White House with the Vice President.  The 
Celebration of Disabled Americans at Work was cosponsored by 
several major corporations.  Mr. Muller now serves as president 
of the National Roundtable on Corporate Development for Americans 
with Disabilities.  In 1985, he received the Liberty Bell Award 
from the Grand Rapids Bar Association. In 1988, he was national 
co-chair of the Disabled Americans for President Bush Campaign 
and in 1992 was an honorary national member of the Bush/Quayle 
Disability Coalition Campaign.  In November 1992, Mr. Muller was 
appointed to the Governor's Commission on Handicapped Concerns 
for Michigan.

George H. Oberle, PED

     Dr. George Oberle of Stillwater, Oklahoma, has more than 40 
years' experience in the field of health, physical education, and 
recreation.  He began his career as a high school teacher and 
coach and has been a professor and director of the School of 
Health, Physical Education, and Leisure at Oklahoma State 
University since 1974.  Dr. Oberle is a consultant to many 
organizations in the areas of administration and adaptive 
physical education.  In 1988, he worked with the Kennedy 
Foundation to organize and direct a new program of Unified Sports 
for the Special Olympics.

     Dr. Oberle chaired the College and University Administrators 
Council (1980-82); was president of the Association for Research, 
Administration, Professional Councils and Societies (1984-87); 
and served as a board member of the American Alliance of Health, 
Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (1985-89).  His awards 
include the 1985 Centennial Award from the American Association 
of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; and 
meritorious service awards from Indiana and Oklahoma.

     He was selected for Men of Achievement in 1975 and 
recognized in Who's Who of the Southwest in 1977.  Dr. Oberle 
received his doctorate from Indiana University in administration 
and adapted physical education.  He lectures extensively about 
wellness promotion, adapted physical activity, and sports and 
recreation for people with disabilities.

Sandra Swift Parrino

     As a member and former chairperson of the National Council, 
Sandra Swift Parrino has played an active role in key issues 
affecting the lives of people with disabilities.  Nominated by 
President Reagan in 1982, appointed chairperson by the President 
in 1983, and reappointed by President Bush, Sandra Swift Parrino 
has supported the rights of people with disabilities before 
Congress, in the media, and before groups nationwide.  Under her 
leadership, the National Council has been a driving force to 
create public policies that affect the nation's people with 
disabilities.

     During her tenure as chairperson, the National Council 
worked for the creation and enactment of legislation for people 
with disabilities; issued policy statements such as National 
Policy for Persons With Disabilities; convened hearings 
nationwide to solicit comments and recommendations from people 
with disabilities about how to eliminate discrimination; issued a 
major report, Toward Independence, that outlines key components 
of a comprehensive civil rights law protecting people with 
disabilities; initiated the first national survey of attitudes 
and experiences of Americans with disabilities, in conjunction 
with Louis Harris and Associates, Inc.; issued On the Threshold 
of Independence, a report outlining specifics of the Americans 
with Disabilities Act; created and developed the Americans with 
Disabilities Act; participated with President Bush at the signing 
of the Americans with Disabilities Act; conducted the first 
National Conference on the Prevention of Primary and Secondary 
Disabilities; issued reports on minorities with disabilities and 
personal assistance services; and planned reports on health 
insurance, financing assistive technology, and educating students 
with disabilities.

     Before becoming National Council chairperson, Sandra Parrino 
founded and directed the Office for the Disabled in Ossining and 
in Briarcliff Manor, New York, where she created a regional 
program for public and private organizations that focused on 
programs for people with disabilities and compliance with Section 
504.  She has more than 25 years' experience on boards, councils, 
commissions, committees, and task forces at the federal, state, 
regional, and local levels and as an expert witness, community 
leader, organizer, and activist.

     Mrs. Parrino has represented the U.S. government on 
disability issues in many countries.  She has been invited by the 
Department of State to represent the United States at the 
Meetings of Experts in Finland and China, and represented the 
United States at the United Nations Center for Social Development 
in Vienna several times.  In 1990, 1991, and 1992 she was a 
delegate at the Third Committee on Social Development of the 
United Nations.  In 1991, she was invited by the People's 
Republic of China to assist them in their efforts to help people 
with disabilities.  At the request of the government of 
Czechoslovakia, she and the National Council were invited to 
conduct the Eastern European Conference on Disabilities for 
participants from Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Hungary.

     Mrs. Parrino graduated from Briarcliff College with a B.A. 
in history and completed courses at Bennett College, GuildHall 
School of Drama in London, and the Yale School of Languages.  In 
1992, Mrs. Parrino received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane 
Letters from St. John's University in New York.  Her husband 
Richard is a rheumatologist.  They have
three children, two of whom have disabilities.  Sandra Parrino 
was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and lives in Briarcliff 
Manor, New York.

Mary Matthews Raether

     Mary Matthews Raether of McLean, Virginia, is associated 
with St. John's Child Development Center, a nonprofit 
organization providing instruction, employment training, and 
independent and group home living skills for people with severe 
mental disabilities, especially autism.  Mrs. Raether has been an 
officer and trustee of St. John's since 1985, has chaired the 
public relations committee, and participated on the executive, 
nominating, investment, and development committees.

     Mrs. Raether has been active in civic, educational, and 
religious organizations in the Washington metropolitan area.  
While community vice president of the Junior League of 
Washington, she developed emergency grant procedures and 
fund-raising information services for small and emerging 
nonprofit organizations.  Mrs. Raether has 10 years' experience 
as legislative assistant to Representatives George Bush and 
Barber Conable.  She specialized in tax, Social Security, 
Medicare/Medicaid, and trade issues.  She considers her efforts 
in clarifying the tax status of lobbying by nonprofit 
organizations an outstanding career accomplishment.  She received 
a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1962.  She is 
married and has two children.

Shirley W. Ryan

     Shirley W. Ryan, of Kenilworth, Illinois, is president and 
co-founder of the Pathways Center for Children, an outpatient, 
individualized neurodevelopmental therapy center for children 
with delayed gross or fine motor activity and/or motor-based 
eating problems.  In a related activity, Mrs. Ryan is president 
and co-founder of Pathways Awareness Foundation, a public health 
care awareness organization that focuses on issues that include 
child development problems and procedures for early infant 
assessment of children with special needs.

     As part of her outreach commitment to the community, Mrs. 
Ryan serves as a trustee for the Ronald McDonald's Children's 
Charities and also is director of the United Cerebral Palsy 
Association of Chicago.  She also participates as an Executive 
Committee member for the Chicago Community Trust, a public 
foundation that makes awards in the areas of health, social 
services, education, civic affairs, and arts and humanities.

     Her other activities include service as vice chairman, Board 
of Directors, Chicago Council on Foreign Relations; founder, 
Northwestern University graduate school invitational course; 
founding member, Northwestern University Women's Board; and 
director, Chicago Foundation on Education.

     Mrs. Ryan's mission continues to focus on helping children 
with movement difficulties and their families.  Thanks to her 
vision and perseverance, hundreds of thousands of Americans have 
learned what signs in a baby's physical development may signal 
delayed development and the need for assistance.  Mrs. Ryan is 
married and has three children.

Anne Crellin Seggerman

     Anne Crellin Seggerman of Fairfield, Connecticut, is the 
founder of Fourth World Foundation, Inc., a company engaged in 
the development of interfaith media.

     A member of the Bridgeport Urban Gardens and Youth at Risk/ 
Breakthrough Foundation, Mrs. Seggerman founded and serves as the 
chairman of the board of the Fairfield County Chapter of Huxley 
Institute for Biosocial Research.  She previously was a member of 
the President's Committee on Mental Retardation.

     Mrs. Seggerman is listed in Who's Who of American Women and 
has received numerous honors including an Honorary Doctor of 
Humane Letters award from Sacred Heart University.  She is a 
member of the Association of Knights and Ladies of the Holy 
Sepulchre, and the American Association of the Order of Malta.  
She was previously appointed to serve on the Housing of 
Handicapped Families Committee of the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development.

     Mrs. Seggerman is experienced in providing care, treatment, 
and rehabilitation to people with schizophrenia and has extensive 
experience with people with alcoholism and children with learning 
disabilities.  She is married and has six adult children.

Michael B. Unhjem

     Michael Unhjem of Fargo, North Dakota, is president of Blue 
Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.  He is the youngest person 
ever elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives, a 
member of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform 
State Laws, and served in 1988 as president of the National 
Mental Health Association.

     Mr. Unhjem has been involved in local and national 
organizations, including the Advisory Mental Health Council of 
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the Governor's 
Commission on Mental Health Services; the National Alliance for 
Research on Schizophrenia and Depression; and the National Mental 
Health Leadership Forum.  Awards include the 1989 Special 
Presidential Commendation from the American Psychiatric 
Association, the 1988 Distinguished Leadership Award from the 
North Dakota Psychological Association, and the National 
Excellence in Leadership Award from North Dakota.

     He has been recognized by Who's Who in American Politics, 
Who's Who in North Dakota, Who's Who in the Midwest, 
Personalities of America, and Men of Achievement.  Mr. Unhjem 
graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in history and political 
science from Jamestown College in North Dakota in 1975.  In 1978, 
he earned a J.D. with distinction from the University of North 
Dakota School of Law in Grand Forks. He is married and has two 
children.

Helen Wilshire Walsh

     Helen Walsh of Greenwich, Connecticut, is a board member of 
the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, one of the largest 
rehabilitation facilities in the world.  She has been involved in 
disability advocacy for many years and has been associated with 
the Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at the New York Medical 
Center, where she served as associate trustee.  She has served as 
vice president, president, and chairman of the Board of 
Rehabilitation International, USA.

     Ms. Walsh has been a member of the President's Committee on 
Employment of People With Disabilities, and was appointed by the 
president to serve as a Member of the National Advisory Council 
of Vocational Rehabilitation.  In 1976, Ms. Walsh received the 
Henry J. Kessler Award for outstanding service in the 
rehabilitation field. She has received the Rehabilitation 
International Award for Women and the Anwar Sadat Award for 
outstanding work in the field of rehabilitation.

                      National Council Staff

Andrew I. Batavia

     Andrew I. Batavia is executive director of the National 
Council on Disability.  He formerly served as research director 
for disability and rehabilitation policy at Abt Associates.  
Prior to joining Abt, he was associate director of the White 
House Domestic Policy Council, where he was responsible for 
coordinating federal policy on health care, disability, housing, 
education, and veterans affairs.  He received his bachelor's 
degree in economics and sociology from the University of 
California, his master's degree in health services research from 
Stanford Medical School, and his jurisdoctorate degree from 
Harvard Law School.

     After law school, Mr. Batavia served for two years as an 
attorney for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  
He left that position in 1986 when he was awarded the Mary E. 
Switzer Distinguished Research Fellowship in Medical 
Rehabilitation Finance from the National Institute on Disability 
and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of the U.S. Department of 
Education.  He then served for four years as associate director 
for health services research at the National Rehabilitation 
Hospital Research Center in Washington, D.C.  In that capacity, 
he wrote two books and more than 20 other publications on issues 
of disability and health care policy.

     In 1987, Mr. Batavia was made a fellow of the Washington 
Academy of Sciences.  In 1988, he was awarded the Distinguished 
Disabled American Award from the President's Committee on 
Employment of People With Disabilities.  In 1989, he received an 
international fellowship from the International Disability 
Exchanges and Studies (IDEAS) Program of NIDRR and conducted 
research on how the Dutch health care system affects people with 
disabilities.  In 1990, he was appointed a White House Fellow by 
the President and served as special assistant to Attorney General 
Richard Thornburgh at the U.S. Department of Justice.

     Mr. Batavia is the founding associate editor of the Journal 
of Disability Policy Studies and a cofounding board member of 
Independent Living Assistance, Inc.  He is an adjunct assistant 
professor at the Georgetown University School of Medicine and a 
member of the Bar
of the U.S. Supreme Court, the Bar of the District of Columbia, 
the State Bar of California, and Georgetown's Kennedy Institute 
of Ethics.

Edward P. Burke

     Edward P. Burke currently serves as executive assistant to 
the chairperson and chief of government liaison of the National 
Council on Disability.  Prior to assuming this position, Mr. 
Burke served as special assistant to the commissioner at the U.S. 
Administration on Developmental Disabilities, where he worked 
closely with the commissioner and senior staff in the management 
of an annual budget in excess of $105 million supporting a 
nationwide network of more than 160 programs (Developmental 
Disabilities Councils, Protection and Advocacy Systems, 
University Affiliated Programs, and Projects of National 
Significance).

     Mr. Burke has also served as the executive director of the 
New Hampshire Developmental Disabilities Council and executive 
director of Autism Services Association in Massachusetts.  He has 
extensive experience in direct work with people with severe 
disabilities and their family members, particularly concerning 
issues such as family support, individual support and advocacy, 
special education in mainstream neighborhood schools, responsible 
deinstitutionalization programming, and expert court opinion.

     Mr. Burke holds several degrees and certifications in the 
areas of special and regular education and was awarded one of two 
Winston Churchill Fellowships granted to U.S. citizens in 1979.  
He has considerable experience in serving as a consultant and 
trainer to major government and private sector agencies in this 
country and abroad around the planning, implementation, and 
evaluation of programs designed to increase the independence and 
community integration of people with disabilities, and he has 
published and edited numerous articles and papers on both the 
clinical and policy aspects of serving people with disabilities.

Billie Jean Hill

     Billie Jean Hill joined the staff of the National Council on 
Disability as program specialist in March 1992.  Previously, Ms. 
Hill was director of communications and editor for the Blinded 
Veterans Association and earlier served as founding director of a 
statewide broadcast service for persons with reading disabilities 
with Mississippi Educational Television in her home state.  She 
was appointed to work on a governor's commission in Mississippi 
to report on the needs of children and youth in rural Mississippi 
who are disabled.  Ms. Hill studied journalism and education at 
Mississippi University for Women and at the University of London 
in England.  She serves as chairperson of the Board of 
Publications for the American Council of the Blind.

Mark S. Quigley

     Mark Quigley joined the staff as a public affairs specialist 
in May 1990.  He previously served as a consultant to the U.S. 
National Commission on Drug-Free Schools.  He is a former program 
coordinator at the U.S. Interagency Council on the Homeless and 
former director of communications at the White House Conference 
on Small Business.  Mr. Quigley
graduated magna cum laude in 1979 from Northern Virginia 
Community College in Annandale, Virginia, with an A.A. in general 
studies.  He received a B.A. in government and politics in 1983, 
and an M.P.A. in public administration in 1990 from George Mason 
University in Fairfax, Virginia.

Brenda Bratton

     Brenda Bratton, executive secretary for the National 
Council, was formerly employed as a secretary at the National 
Transportation Safety Board.  Ms. Bratton graduated from 
Farmville Central High School and the Washington School for 
Secretaries.

Stacey S. Brown

     Stacey Brown is staff assistant to the chairperson and has 
been employed by the National Council since 1986.  Prior 
experience includes employment as a receptionist and clerk with 
the Board for International Broadcasting and with the Compliance 
and Enforcement Unit of the Architectural and Transportation 
Barriers Compliance Board, where he was a student assistant.  Mr. 
Brown is a graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C., 
where he earned a B.A. in political science in 1987.

Janice Mack

     Janice Mack, who serves as the administrative officer for 
the National Council, was formerly employed with the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  Ms. Mack graduated from 
Calvin Coolidge High School.

Lorraine Williams

     Lorraine Williams is office automation clerk for the 
National Council.  She graduated from Valdosta High School in 
Valdosta, Georgia, and attends Strayer College, where she is 
majoring in computer information systems science.


1.  The individuals mentioned above are only a few of the key 
people who made the ADA possible.  The roles of other key members 
of Congress, such as Senators Bob Dole and George Mitchell, and 
disability advocates, such as Pat Wright and Paul Marchand, will 
be addressed in a comprehensive history of the ADA currently 
being commissioned by the National Council.