On this 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we recognize the ongoing challenges to full equality, including COVID-19’s devastating and disproportionate impact on people with disabilities. As many people find themselves with long-lasting effects from COVID, we are committed to making sure that people understand their rights under federal nondiscrimination laws.
The Justice Department today reached a single agreement with nineteen building owners in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia who rent space in their buildings to stores and restaurants. The agreement requires the owners to fix their buildings so that people with mobility disabilities, like wheelchair users, can get in the door to shop or eat. Physical barriers, like steps at an entrance, can keep people with disabilities out and cause discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).