ADA Transition & Self-Evaluation Plan

The federal legislation known as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted on July 26, 1990, and later amended effective January 1, 2009, provides comprehensive civil rights protections to qualified persons with disabilities from discrimination on the basis of disability. Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination in all services, programs, and activities provided to persons with disabilities by state and local governments, including transportation. Local public agencies (LPA) with more than 50 full or part-time employees are required to perform self-evaluations of their current facilities relative to the accessibility requirements of the ADA and then establish a plan to correct any deficiencies. Self-evaluation is also required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act for all entities receiving federal financial assistance, including federal highway aid for transportation projects. The process of self-evaluation for accessibility provides a framework for communities to develop a Transition Plan that identifies barriers, prioritizes actions to address barriers, and then sets forth a schedule to implement those actions.