History of the ADA

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was the groundwork legislation for the ADA. Section 504 is a law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability. The nondiscrimination requirements of the law apply to employers and organizations that receive financial assistance from any Federal department or agency, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
Section 504 forbids organizations and employers from excluding or denying individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to receive program benefits and services. It defines the rights of individuals with disabilities to participate in, and have access to, program benefits and services.
The ADA provides comprehensive federal civil rights protection for people with disabilities. One out of five Americans has a disability. The ADA is a law that provides a fair chance for people with disabilities.

President George H. Bush signed the ADA in 1990. It received a 91-6 vote in the Senate and a 377-28 vote in the House of Representatives. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued regulations to enforce Title I of the ADA in 1991.
Unlike Section 504, the ADA is not limited to companies receiving federal aid or participating in federally connected programs. The ADA prohibits job discrimination against people with disabilities for private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, labor organizations, and labor-management committees. This includes any business with 15 or more employees.