The American with Disabilities Act: A Practical Guide for Managers. - book reviews

Journal of Rehabilitation,  April-June, 1993  by James A. Boyless

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The information presented in seven chapters, two appendices, notes and index, informs the reader about the implications and complications in the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. I commend the author's endeavor.

Chapters 1 and 2 provide the reader information on the history of disability legislation and the beginning of the ADA. It is short and to the point since it contains only five pages.

Overview and impact are the topics of Chapter 3. It is here that the author imparts his message of what a manager can expect from the ADA for compliance and implementation. This chapter contain language of the Act but explains each title section in a short concise manner.

In Chapter 4, the author presents the Americans with Disabilities Act by addressing each title section; Title 1: Employment Provisions, Title II: Public Services, Title III: Public Accommodations, Title IV: Telecommunication, and Title V: Miscellaneous. The author thoroughly discusses Title I and Title Ill with questions, answers, and architectural requirements.

Since this is a book for managers, Chapter 5 (Employment Selection) is written with this in mind. The author gives the manager step by step procedures in preparing for accommodation and assessing individuals for employment. This chapter gives valuable information.

Chapter 6, Program Development to Insure Compliance, urges management to prepare and document the ADA program as any other function in the organization. It encourages long term investment for compliance and implementation.

The last chapter, Questions and Answers, provides information for the manager by addressing commonly asked question about the ADA. Chapter 7, the Q and A, is perhaps one of the best since these are questions that many managers may have before implementation and compliance.

There are two appendices containing the actual language of the Act and a technical assistance manual. Finally, notes and an index complete the book.

The author had an enormous task to provide information for managers to comply with the new Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. His attempt is commendable, but could have been outstanding with a little more work and attention to detail. The book's seven chapters only take 92 pages while the two appendices total 182 pages. Only 1/3 of the book explains the implications and complications in the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. The first two chapters contain only five pages that cover the history of disability legislation and the beginning of the ADA. Although the author may be using the adage of getting to the heart of the matter for managers, he denies other readers vital information. These five pages could have been part of Chapter 3, Overview and Impact. Even here the author starts with critical errors. The graphics are misleading. The pie chart, page 7, depicting the anticipated ADA population and the U.S. Population is in error. It appears that the entire U.S. population is 295 million. I believe that the author meant that the anticipated ADA population is a subset of the entire population and not in addition to it. The bar chart on page 8 is misleading. The chart depicts that the U.S. work force of 200 million and the ADA population of 43-45 million are two distinct groups. However, the author reports in the text that one-third or approximately 15 million are already included in the work force.

Chapter 4 begins with an explanation of the various titles of the Act but lacks completeness. It starts well but changes format by thoroughly discussing Title 1: Employment Provisions and Title III: Public Accommodations while limiting Title 11: Public Services, Tide IV: Telecommunication, and Title V: Miscellaneous. It appears that the author's expertise is in these two areas, thus the emphasis.

Chapter 6 is crucial but is only seven pages in length. It is a mere listing of what managers must do to insure compliance. The book needs more examples and discussion to assist the manager in developing a quality compliance program.

Finally, I take exception to the two appendices. Why are they included? The Act is free for the asking from congressional members representing the districts where managers live. One copy of the technical manual is also free from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for any manager requesting it.

In summary, the book is not as practical as the author intends but could be a valuable source of information with more discussion and examples. I would like to see more discussion of the implications of not complying not just merely the fines imposed. Additionally, information regarding the advantages of hiring persons with disabilities could advance the authors premise of being a guide for managers. Forty-three million people with disabilities represents almost one-fifth of the entire U.S. population and is becoming a formidable force to deal with.

COPYRIGHT 1993 National Rehabilitation Association
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