Service Providers and the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

Why should service providers learn more about the ADA?

Many service providers and other professionals are not aware of the ADA and the rights of people with disabilities, including rights under the ADA. Service providers and professionals who have disabilities have rights, and service providers and professionals who work with people with disabilities have responsibilities. When service providers and professionals are informed about the ADA, they can better support people with disabilities and share information with their colleagues. Educated service providers and professionals are key to improving access to information.

What is the ADA?

The ADA is a key civil rights law passed in 1990 that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of community life, including medical services, employment, education, and more.

What is the definition of disability under the ADA?

The ADA defines a person with a disability as someone who:

Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, or
Has a history or record of an impairment (such as cancer that is in remission), or
Is regarded as having such an impairment by others even if the individual does not actually have a disability (such as a person who has scars from a severe burn that does not limit any major life activity).

What are my rights and responsibilities under the ADA?

For professionals and service providers with disabilities:

As an employee with a disability, you are covered by the ADA. Title I protects the rights of qualified individuals with disabilities. The ADA makes it unlawful to discriminate in all aspects of employment practices, including hiring, firing, pay, training, promotions, and more. Service providers and professionals with disabilities are covered under Title I of the ADA and have the right to request reasonable accommodations in the workplace.

A reasonable accommodation is any change or adjustment to a job or work environment that creates equal access for an employee with a disability. For example, a reasonable accommodation may include modifying an employee’s work schedule, providing alternate formats of communication, or adjusting policies such as a “no pet” policy to allow service animals. The process of determining reasonable accommodations is informal and should be an interactive and dynamic discussion between the employee and employer. The conversation is generally initiated by the individual with a disability.

For service providers and professionals working with people who have disabilities:

Public hospitals, clinics, schools, and institutions or organizations operated by state and local governments are covered by Title II of the ADA as programs of the public entities. Private practices, businesses, and schools are covered by Title III of the ADA as places of public accommodation. Some examples of responsibilities that service providers have under both Title II and Title II of the ADA are:

Allowing reasonable modification of policies and procedures.
Ensuring effective communication.
Providing accessible facilities.

Where can I learn more?

Other resources

ADA National Network: Health Care and the Americans with Disabilities Act https://adata.org/factsheet/health-care-and-ada
ADA National Network: Reasonable Accommodations in the Workplace https://adata.org/factsheet/reasonable-accommodations-workplace
U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission: Health Care Workers and the Americans with Disabilities Act https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/health-care-workers-and-Americans-disabilities-act

Suggested Citation: Horowitz, E., Garcia-Torres, M., Gonzalez, O., Parker Harris, S., Gould, R., Porter, M., and Harniss, M. (2024). Service Providers and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Chicago, IL and Seattle, WA. ADA National Network Knowledge Translation Center.

Content was developed via the ADANN Spanish Language Outreach project, and is based on professional consensus of ADA experts and the ADA National Network.

The content of this product was developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant numbers 90DPAD0004, 90DPAD0011, 90DPAD0003, 90DPAD0008, 90DPAD0005, 90DPAD0012, 90DPAD0010, 90DPAD0007, 90DPAD0014, 90DPAD0006, and 90DPAD0002). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this product do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

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