Restaurant Owners' Attitudes Toward the Disabled and the Americans With Disabilities Act

Abstract

This pilot study is concerned with the Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in the summer of 1990, which gives expanded federal rights to people with disabilities. Under Title III of the law, privately-owned businesses such as restaurants must now make their facilities accessible to the disabled. Owners responded to a survey that was designed to measure their attitudes toward disabled people as consumers and on accessibility. The results of this pilot study indicate that most owners regard accessibility as necessary, but are unsure if inaccessibility is discrimination and cause for legislation such as the ADA. Key Words: Americans with Disabilities Act, attitude assessment, disabled, restaurant, discrimination.