A Brief Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act - a PDH Online Course for Engineers, Architects and Surveyors

A Brief Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act

Course Outline

This one-hour online course introduces the Americans with Disabilities Act. Its application to public accommodations, commercial facilities, State and local government, and employment is described in everyday language. Legal terms such as “public accommodation,” reasonable accommodation,” and “undue hardship” are clearly defined.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

Understanding “reasonable accommodation”;
Understanding “public accommodation”;
Understanding "readily achievable” barrier removal for existing facilities;
Understanding when a “direct threat” to health or safety is present;
Understanding “undue hardship" on the operation of the employer's business;
Being familiar with requirements for accessible facilities;
Understanding essential and marginal job functions;
Knowing about available tax credits and deductions for employers;
Being familiar with the types of employment and facilities covered; and
Being aware of legal enforcement mechanisms available.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for engineers involved in the design of facilities accessible to the public and regulated by the ADA and for engineers who have supervisory responsibilities.

Benefit to Attendees

An attendee of this course will be familiar with and aware of the need to comply with the principles of the Americans with Disability Act.

Course Introduction

Barriers to employment, transportation, public accommodations, public services, and telecommunications have imposed staggering economic and social costs on American society and have undermined our well-intentioned efforts to educate, rehabilitate, and employ individuals with disabilities. By breaking down these barriers, the Americans with Disabilities Act will enable society to benefit from the skills and talents of individuals with disabilities, will allow us all to gain from their increased purchasing power and ability to use it, and will lead to fuller, more productive lives for all Americans.

Course Content

This course is based on a document created from a website (http://www.ada.gov/qandaeng.htm) of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, last updated on November 14, 2008.

A Brief Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act

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Course Summary

The Americans with Disabilities Act is introduced. The applicability of Title I (employment), Title II (State and local government), and Title III (public accommodations and commercial facilities) is described.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

https://www.ada.gov/

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.