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The recent stimulus bill, also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, funds a wide array of projects and programs to jump start the economy and create jobs. The $787 billion measure provides aid to cities and states, supports tax cuts, and funds initiatives to improve infrastructure, transportation, energy efficiency, education, and health care. Various Federal agencies are responsible for spending and distributing stimulus funds. It is important that these agencies and funding recipients comply with all applicable laws, including those protecting the rights of people with disabilities.
Relevant laws include the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) and the Rehabilitation Act which make accessibility a condition of federal funding. The ABA requires access to facilities designed, built, altered or leased with federal funds. The Rehabilitation Act covers access to federally funded programs, federal employment, and electronic and information technology in the federal sector. In addition, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which is modeled in part on these earlier laws, applies similar requirements to the state and local government sector and private sector entities whether or not federal funding is involved. The ADA bans discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, programs and services, transportation, and the built environment.
Standards issued under these laws include ADA standards for facilities and transportation vehicles, ABA standards for federally funded facilities, and standards for electronic and information technology issued under the Rehabilitation Act (Section 508). The Access Board, which leads the development and upkeep of these standards and provides technical assistance and training on them to the public, is available to provide further guidance on their use in Recovery Act projects. The Board also offers supplementary resources that address how access can be achieved in certain areas, such as streetscapes and outdoor sites. The nature and scope of projects and the funding involved determine which standards and available references to follow.
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