Businesses & Service Providers

Access Board Publications

Links to text and .pdf versions of rules, guidelines, notices, studies, reports and certain accessibility laws.

Access Board Trainings

Information regarding trainings given to organizations across the country by the Access Board's on their accessibility guidelines and standards.

Accessibility Guidebook for Outfitters & Guides Operating on Public Lands

Provides guidance and suggestions for outfitters and guides regarding how to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This guide is also available in PDF format.

Accessibility Guidebook for Ski Areas Operating on Public Lands

Provides guidelines and suggestions for ski areas regarding how to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This guide is also available in PDF format.

Accessibility Guidebook on Outdoor Recreation & Trails

This guidebook will help users integrate accessibility into planning, design, construction and maintenance of outdoor recreation facilities and trails while maintaining the natural setting. It provides detailed information about accessibility requirements in an easy-to-use format, with photos, illustrations, design tips, hotlinks and sidebars.

Accessible Format for Persons Who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Information on making materials accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standard for large print.

Accessible Stadiums

Explains accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) for new stadiums, including line of sight for wheelchair seating locations.

Alternative Financing Technical Assistance Project

Find options for financing assistive technology through grants and loans sponsored by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA).

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines

Information on ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) and revised Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) guidelines from the U.S. Access Board, which are used by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Transportation to set enforceable standards.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines for Recreation Facilities

Information from the Access Board about accessibility guidelines that serve as the basis for standards to be adopted by the Department of Justice for new construction and alterations of recreation facilities covered by the ADA. The guidelines include scoping and technical provisions for amusement rides, boating facilities, fishing piers and platforms, golf courses, miniature golf, sports facilities and swimming pools and spas.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Business Connection

ADA related technical assistance, publications and resources for businesses from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Checklist for New Lodging Facilities

Checklist from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division designed to help hotels, motels, inns and other places of lodging comply with the ADA and be accessible to people with disabilities.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Mediation Program

Discusses the procedures for resolving ADA complaints through the U.S. Department of Justice Mediation Program.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design

Requirements for new construction and alterations under the ADA for businesses and non-profit service providers.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Tax Incentives Packet

Information from the U.S. Department of Justice to help businesses understand and take advantage of the tax credit and deduction available for complying with the ADA.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Technical Assistance - Readily Achievable Barrier Removal & Van Accessible Parking Spaces

Discusses removing barriers from existing facilities and provides design guidance on van accessible parking spaces.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title III Regulations - 28 CFR Part 36

Information on nondiscrimination on the basis of disability by public accommodations and in commercial facilities.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title III Technical Assistance Manual: Public Accommodations

Guidance and informantion about Title III of the ADA from the U.S. Department of Justice.

At Your Service: Welcoming Customers with Disabilities

Online course intended to increase understanding of the needs and experiences of people with disabilities, including adjustments of general customer service standards, basic etiquette for interacting with individuals who have a disability and compliance with disability rights statutes.

Beyond 50.05: A Report to the Nation on Livable Communities: Creating Environments for Successful Aging

AARP's Beyond 50 report presents a new agenda for examining, building and retrofitting communities to support successful aging. Livable Communities: An Evaluation Guide is also available. Both documents are in .pdf format.

Building on the Ticket: A New Paradigm for Investing in Economic Self-Sufficiency for People with Significant Disabilities

December 2007 final report from the Ticket to Work & Work Incentives Advisory Panel Annual Report to the President & Congress. Document is in Word format.

Business Leadership Network (BLN)

Information on local chapters, conferences and other information from business owners on best practices in hiring, retaining and marketing to people with disabilities.

Design for Accessibility: A Cultural Administrator's Handbook

This resource from the National Endowment for the Arts is designed to help museum curators and other staff members comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and assist them in making access an integral part of their organization's planning, mission, programs, outreach, meetings, budget and staffing.

Designing Sidewalks & Trails for Access

Guidebook created to provide planners, designers and transportation engineers with a better understanding of how sidewalks and trails should be developed to promote pedestrian access for all users, including people with disabilities.

Disability & Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs) - The National Network of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Centers

Regional centers provide information, training and technical assistance to employers, people with disabilities and other entities with responsibilities under the ADA.

Disability Awareness: A Selected Bibliography

Information from the National Library Service explores myths and misconceptions about people with disabilities to foster greater sensitivity and understanding.

Electronic & Information Technology Accessibility Standards

Final rule from the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) covering accessibility standards for electronic and information technology under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998.

Enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Looking Back on a Decade of Progress

A special tenth anniversary status report from the U.S. Department of Justice

Forest Service Accessibility Guidelines on Outdoor Recreation

Information from the U.S. Forest Service on guidelines related to outdoor recreation facilities. These are the only final accessibility guidelines addressing these types of facilities that are key to accessible outdoor recreation. Document is in Word format.

Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines

Information from the U.S. Forest Service on guidelines related to hiking trails. These are the only final accessibility guidelines addressing these types of facilities that are key to accessible hiking trails. Document is in Word format.

Guidelines for Making Health Settings Accessible to People With Disabilities

Information on developing guidelines for making health venues, events and facilities accessible to people with disabilities.

Information & Advocacy Organizations for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired

List of organizations that provide a variety of direct services to persons who are blind and visually impaired, including advocacy and advisory services, information and referral, counseling and employment programs, assistive devices and publications in special format.

Information & Advocacy Organizations for People with Physical Disabilities

List of national organizations which serve as information clearinghouses, referral agencies and legislative advocates for people with physical disabilities, their families and the professionals who work with them.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Accessible Tax Products

The IRS' most popular tax forms and publications in accessible formats.

International Accessibility Symbols

Provides information on the development of 12 new International Symbols of Accessibility, intended to help advertise various access services.

Job Accommodation Network (JAN) Web Site Accessibility & Accessible Formats

Information on JAN's efforts to make its information accessible to all individuals, including individuals who use assistive technology to access its Web site.

National Business & Disability Council

A resource for employers seeking to integrate people with disabilities into the workplace and companies seeking to reach them in the consumer marketplace.

Public Accommodations & the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Questions and answers on public accommodations from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) Technical Assistance Project

Program sponsored by RESNA that provides technical assistance to the 56 state and territorial assistive technology programs as authorized under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998.

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Universal Design

Part of the State University of New York at Buffalo, RERC researches and develops critical tools for advancing the field of universal design and works to apply those tools to develop products and places through industry partnerships.

Removing Barriers to Health Clubs & Fitness Facilities: A Guide for Accommodating All Members, Including People with Disabilities & Older Adults

Guide provides ways to make a health club's facility and services more accessible to all people, including people with disabilities and older adults. Document is in .pdf format.

Removing Barriers: Planning Meetings that are Accessible to all Participants

Publication highlights guidelines and strategies to help organizations make their meetings accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities. Document is in .pdf format.

Removing Barriers: Tips & Strategies to Promote Accessible Communication

Booklet addresses the basics on ways to effectively communicate and interact with people with disabilities. Provides information and tips that can be incorporated in the workplace as well as in daily community living.

Service Animals in Places of Business

Fact sheet from the Department of Justice answers commonly asked questions about the use of service animals by people with disabilities in places of business.

Service Animals: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Business Brief

Explains the requirements of ADA regarding animals that accompany and provide services for people with disabilities.

Small Businesses & the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Overview from the U.S. Department of Justice regarding ADA requirements for small businesses that provide goods and services to the public.

Testing for Web Accessibility Compliance Under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

Information from the U.S. Department of Education about testing web pages to ensure they meet Section 508 standards.

Tips for Communication with Deaf Employees through an Interpreter

Guidelines reprinted from the Listening Post, a newsletter for Forest Service employees who are deaf or hard of hearing.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Federally Assisted Program (FAP) - Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities

Policy ensuring that all programs, activities and facilities open to the general public and receiving Federal financial assistance from the Service are operated in a nondiscriminatory manner and are accessible to all persons with disabilities.

Web-based Education Course on the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG)

The U.S. Access Board and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) have developed this the four-part course focusing on supplements to ADAAG that cover public sector facilities, including courthouses and prisons, and building elements designed for children's use.

  • The White House: President George W. Bush
  • USA.gov: The U.S. government's official web portal.