U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

ENABLING THE DISABLED: THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

NCJ Number
144093
Author(s)
D Goldentyer
Date Published
1993
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video instructs correctional managers in the legal requirements for making buildings and services accessible for handicapped inmates, visitors, and employees.
Abstract
The video focuses on the provisions of Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and their implications for corrections facilities. The visual images and narration indicate that the ADA guarantees people with disabilities equal employment opportunities and access to public and private facilities. Under the ADA, any services or benefits that are offered to people without disabilities must also be offered to people with disabilities. The discussion of services for handicapped inmates focuses on equipment for hearing-impaired inmates, blind inmates, and inmates in wheelchairs. Visitors in wheelchairs must have unobstructed access to the building, and amenities such as restrooms, phones, and water fountains must be accessible to visitors in wheelchairs. Signs must be legible enough to be read by visitors with impaired eyesight, and Braille translations must be provided for those who cannot see the signs at all. Regarding provisions for handicapped employees, it is a violation of the ADA to deny a person a job simply because he or she has a disability. Any public facility that has accessibility problems must develop a transition plan. The plan should identify the problems, propose solutions, and present a timeline and a budget for implementing the solutions.