Just a FYI reminder when speaking or posting to an individual or to the public on the civil rights (or on violations against these civil rights) of a person with a disability ….

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a Civil Rights Law that was passed through Congress and then signed by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. The ADA was revised through Congress and later signed by President W. Bush in 2008. The ADA is a comprehensive Civil Rights Law for individuals with disabilities.

The ADA is a written document that can not listen to a complaint of discrimination nor take action on a discrimination complaint. The power of enforcement of the ADA comes from further actions of Congress. After they passed the ADA, Congress then mandated various Federal Regulatory Agencies to oversee and enforce the different parts/Titles of the ADA through their Agencies’ Regulatory Laws.

Three of the Titles of the ADA and their regulatory agencies that are of high interest to SD trainers and handlers are Titles I, II, and III.
Title I: Employment — Regulatory Agency Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Title II: Public Services — Regulatory Agency Dept. of Justice (DOJ)
Title III: Public Accommodations — Regulatory Agency Dept. of Justice (DOJ)

The ADA is NOT an organization of people. When you hear that someone’s civil rights were violated you should NOT advise them to “report that violation” to the ADA. The ADA – an act not an organization – will not as it can not process or investigate a violation. Anyone suffering such a discrimination should be advised to go through the proper sequence of reporting violations to the correct Federal Agency.