Publications: Title II - Public Entities

General State & Local Government Information

Accessibility of State and Local Government Websites to People with Disabilities (DOJ) 5 pgs. 2003. - Document describing the obligation for public entities to provide accessible websites to people with disabilities.

ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments (DOJ) 2006.
The Tool Kit is designed to teach state and local government officials how to identify and fix problems that prevent people with disabilities from gaining equal access to state and local government programs, services, and activities.  It will also teach state and local officials how to conduct accessibility surveys of their buildings and facilities to identify and remove architectural barriers to access.

ADA Checklist for Polling Places (DOJ) 2016.
Discusses polling place accessibility with a focus on the areas of a facility that may be used as a polling place on Election Day.

The Americans with Disabilities Act and Other Federal Laws Protecting the Rights of Voters with Disabilities (DOJ) 2014. The publication provides guidance about how the federal disability rights laws apply to the election process, from registration to voting. The publication discusses the need for policies, procedures, and programs to be in place to ensure that voters with disabilities are not discriminated against or illegally excluded from voting.

Americans with Disabilities Act Title II Primer (DOJ) 2015.
This document provides general guidance to assist State and local governments in understanding and complying with the ADA's requirements.

Commonly Asked Questions About Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act
(DOJ) 6 pgs. 1994   Questions address issues including structural changes, and other ways in which public agencies can make their services and programs accessible. 

An ADA Guide for Local Governments – Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities (DOJ) 2004. One of the most important roles of local government is to protect their citizenry from harm, including helping people prepare for and respond to emergencies. Making local government emergency preparedness and response programs accessible to people with disabilities is a critical part of this responsibility

Of Consuming Interest: A Guide to Titles II & III of the Americans with Disabilities Act for People with Vision Loss (DOJ) 48 pgs. 1993 This guide provides a good orientation to the Americans with Disabilities Act and defines key terms with relevant examples.  In a Q & A format, the guide explains the rights of people with visual impairments to state and local government services (Title II) and public accommodations (Title III). 

Questions and Answers on the ADA’s Integration Mandate and Olmstead Enforcement
n Olmstead v. L.C., the Supreme Court held that title II prohibits the unjustified segregation of individuals with disabilities. This guide catalogs and explains the positions the Department of Justice has taken in its Olmstead enforcement. It reflects the views of the Department of Justice only.

Technical Assistance Manual on Title II with Yearly Supplements (separate links)
(DOJ) 58 pgs. 1992. This 52 page manual was developed by the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division in order to provide technical assistance on the provisions set forth in Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Title II Highlights (DOJ) 8 pgs.
This document explains which agencies and individuals are covered under the Title II of the ADA. This is a publication from the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Sections that outlines the general provisions of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding State and Local Governments.

City Compliance

ADA Guide for Small Towns
This document discusses compliance with the ADA and specific issues relating to smaller towns or communities.

The ADA and City Governments: Common Problems
 This document contains a sampling of common problems shared by city governments of all sizes that have been identified through the Department of Justice's ongoing enforcement efforts. The document provides examples of common deficiencies and explains how these problems affect persons with disabilities.

Law Enforcement

Commonly Asked Questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act & Law Enforcement (DOJ) 13 pgs. This document offers common sense suggestions to assist law enforcement agencies in complying with the ADA. The examples presented are drawn from real-life situations as described by police officers or encountered by the Department of Justice in its enforcement of the ADA.

Communicating with People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: A Guide For Law Enforcement Officers (DOJ) 2006. This 8-panel pocket guide provides basic information for officers about ADA requirements for communicating effectively with people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Model Policy for Law Enforcement on Communicating with People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DOJ) 2006. This 4-page document serves as a model for law enforcement agencies when adopting a policy on effective communication with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Agencies are encouraged to download and adapt the policy to suit their needs.

Public School Compliance

Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act: A Self-Evaluation Guide for Public Elementary and Secondary Schools
(DOE) 278 pgs. This Guide is intended to serve as a resource to assist school districts in conducting their self-evaluations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).