What is the primary purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

• A. To require employers to hire only people with disabilities
• B. To enable people with disabilities to access goods and services
• C. To fund disability research programs
• D. To provide free counseling to workers

Answer: (B)

The heart of the Americans with Disabilities Act is to remove barriers and ensure people with disabilities can participate in everyday life on equal terms. By prohibiting discrimination and requiring accessible design and reasonable accommodations, the law broadens access to essential areas like employment, public spaces, transportation, and services. In practical terms, this translates to enabling people with disabilities to access goods and services—such as stores, restaurants, websites, and public programs—on an equal basis. That makes sense as the primary aim, rather than forcing hiring of individuals with disabilities, funding research, or providing free counseling, which are not the core purposes of the act.