It's Here! The new ADA rule is released.

In honor of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the orginial Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Department of Justice released the final regulations revising the Americans with Disabilities Act. IAAPA members may remember IAAPA's involvement with these regulations throughout the rulemaking process.

On Friday, July 23, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder signed final regulations revising the Justice Department’s Americans with Disability Act regulations, including its ADA Standards for Accessible Design. In general, these final rules will take effect six months after the date on which they are published in the Federal Register (which hasn't happened yet), but compliance with the 2010 Standards for Accessible design is not required until 18 months after the date of publication.

DOJ has prepared fact sheets identifying the major changes in the rules. IAAPA members should look at the Title III highlights for a sense of what the new regulations include (quick review: Title I of the Act deals with employment practices; Title II is for government facilities; and Title III is for "public accommodations," which is what attractions facilities are). Members may also find it helpful to review the summary of the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design.

Here at IAAPA, we've begun reviewing the new rule and will have a summary for the attraction industry soon. Continue to check this blog and the IAAPA website for information. Also, be sure to attend our education session on the ADA at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2010 in Orlando. The session is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 3:30 p.m.