The Northwest ADA Center Celebrates the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Center marks milestone by encouraging people in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington to utilize the organization's services many of which are free to the public

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash., July 1, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- July 26, 2023, marks the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signed by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. The Northwest ADA Center (NWADAC) invites citizens, businesses, and public entities in its designated region to seek out the NWADAC to leverage its many services including free technical assistance, research, and training options.

The Northwest ADA Center is part of the National Network of ADA Centers the premier resource for information, guidance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act and its implementation. The national network consists of 10 regional ADA Centers located throughout the United States that provide services and assistance tailored to meet the needs of local businesses, government, and individuals.

"With nearly 60 million Americans identifying with a disability, this population is the largest minority group in the nation", said Katie Warden, JD, PhD, and Director of the Northwest ADA Center. "Our center wants to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the law's passing by deepening our existing relationships within the Northwestern region of the United States while welcoming new individuals and entities to connect with our center in order for our team of experts to assist them with their questions about this critical law."

NWADAC provides free, confidential, and accurate information, resources, technical assistance, and training on the ADA to businesses, employers, state and local governments, people with disabilities and their families, advocates, and citizens across its region. The center is not an enforcement or regulatory agency.

Key topics NWADAC often addresses are:

• What is the ADA and how it protects the civil rights of people across the nation
• Defining what is a disability under the ADA
• What the ADA does and doesn't cover (for example travel and private housing are covered by separate laws)
• Service Animal Dos and Don't'(s)
• ADA-related lawsuits
• Accessibility questions for both public and private entities
• Reasonable accommodations in the workplace
• Many more!

The ADA and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) give civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The ADA and ADAAA also assure equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities for access to businesses, employment, transportation, state and local government programs and services, and telecommunications.

To connect with the Northwest ADA Center please 800-949-4232 relay: 7-1-1 or email the center: [email protected]

About the Northwest ADA Center: The Northwest ADA Center is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), under grant number 90DPAD0002. The Northwest ADA Center is a part of the Center for Continuing Education in Rehabilitation (CCER) within the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington and collaborates with the Center for Technology and Disability Studies (CTDS), an interdisciplinary program within the Center for Human Development and Disability and the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in the School of Medicine. As the ADA Information Center in Region 10, the Northwest ADA Center has aggressively staffed its project with professionals familiar with disability, rehabilitation, rehab engineering, special education, the built environment, accessibility to buildings and electronic accessibility, civil rights law, and business. The regional advisory committee and our state partners are premier leaders in ADA compliance in each of the states it serves Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

Media Contact

Joshua Steinfeld, Steinfeld Consulting, 1 339-225-1581, [email protected]

SOURCE The Northwest ADA Center