Americans With Disabilities Act: Effects of the Law on Access to Goods and Services

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the extent to which the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has increased disabled persons' access to goods and services provided by businesses and state and local governments, focusing on: (1) the changes in accessibility for disabled persons; (2) the most common accessibility barriers; (3) the changes in business owners' awareness of their responsibilities under ADA; and (4) business owners' barrier removal efforts.