Summary: Before the Americans With Disabilities Act took effect, Congress asked GAO to begin a long-term evaluation to see whether the main objectives of the law were being met. Specifically, Congress was concerned about whether access by persons with disabilities to goods and services provided by the government and the private sector had increased and discrimination against such persons had decreased. GAO found the following: (1) although most features of business and government facilities were accessible to disabled persons, several significant barriers remained; (2) many managers and business owners reported that they were unaware of the law or their specific responsibilities under it; (3) most managers and owners viewed the removal of barriers as beneficial, with few mentioning burdens; and (4) barrier-removal efforts were not always sensible. Many facilities had barriers remaining, and some barrier-removal efforts were planned in areas where no barriers existed. GAO concludes that there is a need for continuing educational outreach and technical assistance for business and government agencies covered by the act.
