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A to Z: ADA Topics and Anniversary Countdown.

Celebrate. Learn. Share: 26 topics and resources on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) throughout the year.

Countdown from July 1 to July 26 to celebrate Disability Pride Month and the Anniversary of the ADA, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990.

  1. Accommodation
  2. Business
  3. Communication
  4. Definition of Disability
  5. Employment
  6. Facility Access
  7. Government
  8. Health Care Access
  9. Interactive Process
  10. Job Description
  11. Know Your Rights
  12. Language
  13. Major Life Activity
  14. Non-Discrimination
  15. Opioid Use Disorder
  16. Prisons, Jails, Correctional Facilities
  17. Qualified Individual
  18. Readily Achiveable
  19. Service Animals
  20. Transportation
  21. Undue Burden
  22. Voting Access
  23. Web Access
  24. eXceptions
  25. Youth Transition
  26. Zoos, Parks, Recreation
ADA Anniversary Tool Kit ADAanniversary.org
#ThanksToTheADA
ADA National Network.
Southeast ADA Center.
Web Course: Foundations of the ADA.

FIND Information. GET Answers to Your Questions on the ADA.
ADA National Network        Phone: 1-800-949-4232       Web: adata.org

Resources for A to Z:
ADA Topics and Countdown to Anniversary

Credit: ADA National Network (adata.org) 1-800-949-4232. 

1. A is for Accommodation

Reasonable Accommodation and Public Accommodation. 
A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment that enables a qualified person with a disability to have equal access to employment, programs, services, or activities. Accommodations can take many forms and are often simple, effective solutions that remove barriers and create opportunities.

What accommodations have helped create a more inclusive workplace, school, or community for you?

2. B is for Business

Businesses of all sizes play an important role in creating welcoming and accessible spaces for everyone. The ADA helps businesses understand how to remove barriers, improve customer service, and ensure people with disabilities can fully participate in the marketplace. Accessibility isn’t just good customer service, it’s good business.

What are some ways you’ve seen businesses create more inclusive experiences?

3. C is for Communication

Effective communication means that everyone has equal access to information. Whether through captioning, sign language interpreters, accessible documents, or assistive technology, communication access helps ensure everyone can participate fully. Access begins with communication.

4. D is for Definition of Disability

The ADA protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination. Understanding how disability is defined under the law helps ensure people know their rights and the protections available to them. Knowledge is the first step to providing access for people with disabilities.

5. E is for Employment

Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to work. The ADA helps ensure qualified individuals with disabilities have equal access to employment and reasonable accommodations when needed. Accessible workplaces benefit everyone.

6. F is for Facility Access

Accessible entrances, parking, restrooms, and pathways help ensure everyone can independently access buildings and services. Removing physical barriers creates more welcoming communities for all.

7. G is for Government

State and local governments have important responsibilities under the ADA to provide accessible programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities. Accessible government means equal participation for everyone.

8. H is for Health Care Access

Everyone deserves equal access to quality health care. The ADA helps ensure medical facilities, equipment, communication, and services are accessible for people with disabilities. Health care access is a civil right.

9. I is for Interactive Process

The interactive process is a collaborative conversation between an employer and employee to identify effective reasonable accommodation. Communication and collaboration create accessible workplaces. 

10. J is for Job Description

Clear job descriptions help identify the essential functions of a position and support fair hiring and accommodation discussions. Clarity benefits everyone.

11. K is for Know Your Rights

Understanding your ADA rights empowers you to advocate for equal opportunity, and access, in your workplace and community. Knowledge is power.

12. L is for Language

Words matter. Using respectful, person-centered or identity-centered language—depending on individual preference, helps foster dignity and equal access. Listen. Learn. Respect

13. M is for Major Life Activity

Major life activities include many everyday functions such as walking, seeing, hearing, learning, communicating, and working. Understanding this term helps explain ADA protections.

14. N is for Non-Discrimination

The ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in employment, government services, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. Equal opportunity matters.

15. O is for Opioid Use Disorder

Individuals participating in or who have completed treatment for opioid use disorder may have protection under the ADA, depending on their circumstances. Understanding the law helps reduce stigma and increase access.

16. P is for Prisons, Jails, Correctional Facilities

The ADA applies in correctional settings, helping ensure qualified individuals with disabilities have equal access to programs, services, and activities. Accessibility matters everywhere.

17. Q is for Qualified Individual

A qualified individual with a disability meets the necessary requirements for a job, program, or service and can perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Opportunity begins with ability, not assumptions.

18. R is for Readily Achievable

Businesses are expected to remove barriers when doing so is readily achievable, meaning easily accomplishable without much difficulty or expense. Small changes can make a big difference

19. S is for Service Animals

Service animals are individually trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities. Understanding the ADA’s service animal requirements helps businesses and the public support access

20. T is for Transportation

Accessible transportation helps connect people with employment, education, health care, and community life. Transportation creates opportunity.

21. U is for Undue Burden

The ADA recognizes that accommodations should be reasonable and generally not create an undue financial or administrative burden. The goal is finding practical, effective solutions.

22. V is for Voting Access

Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to vote independently and privately. Accessible polling places and voting systems help make democracy available to all. Every vote counts

23. W is for Web Access

Digital accessibility ensures websites and online services can be used by everyone, including people who rely on assistive technology. Accessibility belongs online and should be included from the start. 

24. X is for eXceptions

While the ADA contains specific exceptions and limitations, its primary purpose remains promoting equal opportunity and access for people with disabilities. Learn the law. Know your rights. 

25. Y is for Youth Transition

Preparing youth with disabilities for adulthood includes education, employment, independent living, and self-advocacy. Supporting today’s youth builds tomorrow’s leaders.

26. Z is for Zoos, Parks and Recreation

Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy parks, museums, zoos, recreation, and community spaces. Accessibility helps ensure these experiences are open to all.

Access belongs everywhere and should be included from the start.

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