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QIAT

ADA Frequently Asked Questions

Category: Title III: Places of Public Accommodations

Question: #43

What are "reasonable modifications" in places of public accommodation?

Answer:

Reasonable modifications under Title III of the ADA are changes in policies, practices or procedures that allow a person with a disability to have equal access to the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations (lodging, etc.) provided by a place of public accommodation.

Here are some examples:

Modifying a "no pets" policy to allow a blind customer to use their trained service dog in a grocery store.
Modifying practices by having restaurant staff cut up food for a guest who cannot do it themselves due to hand tremors.
Modifying doctors office procedures to allow a patient with a disability to attend a virtual appointment instead of in-person.

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General

1. What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

2. How does the ADA define disability?

3. Is gender dysphoria considered a disability?

4. What is the difference between a service animal and an emotional support animal?

5. Do ADA covered entities have to allow people using other power-driven mobility devices like golf carts and Segways to go anywhere pedestrians are allowed to go?

6. If a person is experiencing discrimination due to drug or alcohol addiction, are they protected under the ADA from disability discrimination?

7. Does the ADA apply to non-U.S. citizens?

8. Who can park in an accessible parking space?

Title I: Employment

9. How does Title I of the ADA protect people from disability discrimination in employment?

10. What is a reasonable accommodation in employment?

11. Are there certain requests that are not considered reasonable?

12. What is an undue hardship?

13. How does an applicant or employee request a reasonable accommodation?

14. What is the interactive process?

15. May an employer ask an employee if a reasonable accommodation is needed when the employee has not requested one?

16. Is providing leave necessitated by an employee's disability a form of reasonable accommodation?

17. May an employer apply a "no-fault" leave policy, under which employees are automatically terminated after they have been on leave for a certain period of time, to an employee with a disability who needs additional leave?

18. When an employee requests leave as a reasonable accommodation; may an employer provide an accommodation that requires him/her to remain on the job instead?

19. Is a modified or part-time schedule a reasonable accommodation?

20. Is it a reasonable accommodation to modify a workplace policy because of an employee's disability?

21. Does an employer have to reassign to a vacant position an employee who can no longer perform his/her job because of a disability?

22. Does a reasonable accommodation include changing a person's supervisor?

23. Are there certain things that are not considered reasonable accommodations and are therefore not required?

24. May an employer tell other employees that someone is receiving a reasonable accommodation?

25. May an employer ask whether a reasonable accommodation is needed when an employee with a disability has not asked for one?

26. What is undue Hardship?

27. Does an employer have to provide a modified schedule as a reasonable accommodation when requested by an employee with cancer?
Similar to Question 16 in the FAQ

28. What can employees with disabilities do when they run out of leave and need additional time?

29. Are temporary conditions covered under the ADA?

Title II: State & Local Governments

30. Does the ADA apply to State and Local Governments?

31. Are there any limitations on the program accessibility requirement for a State or Local Government?

32. Is a state or local government always required to modify its policies when requested by a person with a disability?

33. How does Title II affect participation in a State or Local Government's programs, activities, and services?

34. Does Title II cover a public entity's employment policies and practices?

35. How will the A D A 's requirements for State and Local Governments be enforced?

36. Are state and local governments required to have ADA Coordinators?

37. Are there accessibility requirements for medical diagnostic equipment (MDE)?

38. How do you ensure a third-party’s web content or mobile app complies with WCAG 2.1 Level AA?

Title III: Places of Public Accommodations

39. What are public accommodations?

40. What kinds of auxiliary aids and services are required by the ADA to ensure effective communication with individuals with hearing or vision impairments?

41. Are there any limitations on the ADA's auxiliary aids requirements?

42. Are restaurants required to have brailled menus?

43. What are "reasonable modifications" in places of public accommodation?

44. Are stores required to provide personal shopping assistance?

45. Who is responsible for physical access in leased places of public accommodation?

46. Do places of public accommodation have to provide American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters?

47. Do public accommodations need to remove physical barriers on a continual basis?

48. Who can purchase tickets for accessible seats at a venue or event?

49. Are Assistive Listening Systems (ALS) required in Assembly Areas?

50. Does the ADA apply to private schools?

51. Are service animals allowed to ride in shopping carts?

Title IV: Telecommunications

52. My company's technical support clerks have been receiving many calls from an individual using Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS). These calls come from 1 individual who is deaf and the calls take a long time using the relay operator. Can I tell this individual that he is limited to 1 call a week and refuse his relay calls if there are more than one?

Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions

53. Is an individual only allowed to file complaints with a Federal agency or file a lawsuit in order to settle a issue regarding a violation of the ADA?

2010 ADA Accessibility Standards

54. Is there a minimum distance that accessible parking spaces need to be from accessible entrances?

55. Do accessibility standards apply to Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations?

56. When making updates to a primary function area, like the dining area of a restaurant, does an entity also need to ADA or ABA Accessibility Standards make accessibility updates to the entrance, restrooms, and other inaccessible parts of the path of travel?

57. Which types of signs are required to include Braille?

58. Do the 2010 ADA Standards apply to outdoor spaces?

Last Updated on:
Mon Oct 13, 2025