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State of Alaska > DOLWD > Vocational Rehabilitaion > ADA Coordinator's Office
State and Local Government Frequently Asked Questions
Q.
Is the Federal government covered by the ADA?
A. The ADA
does not cover the executive branch of the Federal government. The executive
branch continues to be covered by title V of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, which prohibits discrimination in services and employment on
the basis of disability and which is a model for the requirements of
the ADA. The ADA however, does cover Congress and other entities in
the legislative branch of the Federal government.
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Q.
Does the ADA cover air transportation?
A.
Discrimination by air carriers in areas other than employment is not
covered by the ADA but rather by the Air Carrier Access Act (49 U.S.C.
1374 (c).
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Q.
What are the ADA's requirements for public transit
buses?
A.
The Department of Transportation has issued regulations mandating accessible
public transit vehicles and facilities. The regulations include requirements
that all new fixed-route, public transit buses be accessible and that
supplementary paratransit services be provided for those individuals
with disabilities who cannot use fixed-route bus service.
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Q.
How will the ADA make telecommunications accessible?
A.
The ADA requires the establishment of telephone relay services for individuals
who use telecommunications devices for deaf persons (TDD's) or similar
devices. The Federal Communications Commission has issued regulations
specifying standards for the operation of these services.
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Q.
Are businesses entitled to any tax benefit to help
pay for the cost of compliance?
A.
As amended in 1990, the Internal Revenue Code allows a deduction of
up to $15,000 per year for expenses associated with the removal of qualified
architectural and transportation barriers. The 1990 amendment also permits
eligible small businesses to receive a tax credit for certain costs
of compliance with the ADA. An eligible small business is one whose
gross receipts do not exceed $1,000,000 or whose workforce does not
consist of more than 30 full-time workers. Qualifying business may claim
a credit of up to 50 percent of eligible access expenditures that exceed
$250 but do not exceed $10,250. Examples of eligible access expenditures
include the necessary and reasonable costs of removing architectural,
physical, communications, and transportation barriers; providing readers,
interpreters, and other auxiliary aids; and acquiring or modifying equipment
or devices.
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