Field Guide to Complying With The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

(Updated March 2006)

The purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted in 1992, is to assure equal access and services to disabled individuals. The ADA makes it unlawful to discriminate against people with disabilities. Title III of the Act prohibits entities that own, lease, lease to or operate a place of public accommodation from discriminating against the disabled. How does this impact the real estate sales office? This page includes articles, books, videos and websites relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act. (D. McCormick, Technical Coordinator)

Contents: 

Information from the Justice Department  |  Information from NAR  |  Recent Articles on the ADA  |  Useful Websites  |  City/State Programs  |  Books, eBooks & Other Resources

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Fair Housing Handbook, Third Edition  -  Item # 166-1084

A must-have Fair Housing resource! This handbook, completely revised and updated, is an excellent resource for fair housing guidance. It is the most comprehensive fair housing resource available in the industry. Included in the hand book are suggested fair housing office procedures, background on fair housing regulations, samples of the HUD Equal Housing Opportunity poster and logo, equal service report forms, information on the NAR/HUD partnership and a self-assessment questionnaire.

Order online or call NAR's Information Central at 1-800-874-6500.

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Information from the Justice Department  

Americans with Disabilities Act - ADA Home Page, (U.S. Department of Justice, 2006).

ADA Information Services, (U.S. Department of Justice, Feb. 2006).

Status Report, Enforcing the ADA: April - June 2005, (U.S. Department of Justice, Dec. 29, 2005).

ADA Checklist for New Lodging Facilities, (U.S. Department of Justice, Oct. 2001).

Five Steps to Make New Lodging Facilities Comply with the ADA, (U.S. Department of Justice, 2000).

Comply with the ADA at the Brokerage Office-Personnel, (REALTOR® Magazine - Toolkit).

Issue Summary on Americans with Disabilities Act, (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® - Federal Issues, Apr. 2002).

Supreme court clarifies ADA disability definition, (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® - Letter of the Law, Jan. 2002). 

Able-bodied buyers, accessible homes, (REALTOR® Magazine, Oct. 2001).

Special tools for special needs — Developing an Internet Niche for the Deaf, (REALTOR® Magazine, June 2001).

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Kit, (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® - Legal Affairs, n.d.). 

Court says ADA doesn't apply to residential housing, (REALTOR® Magazine, Dec. 1999). 

Adapting your home to maximize mobility, (The Washington Post, Feb. 18, 2006).

Follow common sense when complying with ADA, (The Business Journal of Greater Milwaukee, Jan. 6, 2006).

Common sense guides builders on complying with ADA guidelines, (Pittsburg Business Times, Dec. 9, 2005).

Companies await changes in Disabilities Act, (Wall Street Journal, July 20, 2005). Q

Tenants and building owners share responsibility for accessibility, (Houston Business Journal, Jan. 21, 2005).

Who's responsible for ADA compliance-Landlords or Tenants?, (Real Estate Issues, Summer 2004). Q

Opening spaces: Architects are learning to incorporate accessibility into design, (Memphis Business Journal, Feb. 23, 2004).

Discrimination in employment and rental housing, (Bay State REALTOR®, Jan./Feb. 2004).

Disabled access can increase customer channels, (Phoenix Business Journal, Jan. 26, 2004).

Accessibility doesn't have to be costly, (Realty Times, July 24, 2003).

ADA: The next generation of accessibility rules and regulations, (Buildings, June 2003).

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Books, eBooks & Other Resources

Books, Videos, Research Reports & More

The resources below are available for loan through Information Central.  Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10.  Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.

Private ADA action does not require proof of intentional discrimination, (Land Use Law Report, Oct. 6, 2004, p. 157-158).
Sanctions upheld for violation of consent decree, (Land Use Law Report, Feb. 11, 2004, p. 18).

Fire code enforcement not violation of Americans with Disabilities Act, (Land Use Law Report, Jan. 14, 2004, p. 3-4).

ADA compliance: Federal court rules disabled are entitled to comparable sight lines in theaters, (Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy, Sept. 2002, p. 1, 6).

ADA Compliance, (Urban Land, Aug. 2002, p. 24, 26).

Federal court takes narrow view of standing requirements under the ADA, (Commercial Leasing Law & Strategy, July 2002, p. 5-6).

City sidewalks covered by ADA, appeals court rules, (Land Use Law Report, June 19, 2002, p. 100).

A clear path: The Americans with Disabilities Act and its impact on real estate appraisal, (Chicago, IL: Appraisal Institute, 1993). VIDEO VT337

ADA handbook: Employment and construction issues affecting your business, (Chicago, IL: Real Estate Education Company, 1993). TH 153 R23

The Americans with Disabilities Act: A review of best practices, (New York, NY: American Management Association, 1993). TH 153 Am3

ADA title III: Compliance made practical, (Chicago, IL: Institute of Real Estate Management, 1992). HD 1394 In7ad

ADA compliance guidebook: A checklist for your building, (New York, NY: Building Owners & managers Association International, 1991). TH 153 B86

The Americans with Disabilities Act: Removing barriers in places of public accommodation, (Jackson Heights, NY: Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, 1991). TH 153 E97

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The inclusion of links on this Field Guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked to this Field Guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.