ADA Insights helps policymakers and researchers evaluate how the Americans with Disabilities Act is enforced. The research findings it disseminates validates that passing a law is not enough. In order for that law to be upheld and implemented, sufficient funds must be allocated to the agencies responsible.

ADA Insights disseminates research findings conducted by an independent, non-partisan, academic research group. The group is located at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The research data used by the group come from four sources: all ADA employment discrimination administrative complaints filed since July 26, 1992; 782 investigative files kept on people who file administrative complaints; 4,393 ADA employment discrimination lawsuits, and interviews with 535 individuals who have filed ADA employment lawsuits.

Currently, the research consists of two studies. One is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education, The other is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. The objectives of the studies are:

• To examine the benefits obtained by persons with disabilities who file a Title I administrative charge either with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or a state or local fair employment practice agency (FEPA) and to identify factors related to receiving a beneficial outcome.
• To assess the number and characteristics of individuals with disabilities who participate in the EEOC's mediation program, the benefits they receive, and factors related to receiving a beneficial outcome.
• To evaluate the benefits obtained by individuals with disabilities who file a Title I lawsuit and to examine factors related to receiving a beneficial outcome.
• To understand and describe the subjective experiences of individuals who have completed the entire Title I dispute resolution process.
• To pay special attention to the experiences of people with psychiatric disabilities who have filed either a Title I administrative complaint or a lawsuit.
• To design and disseminate useful and accessible information about the Title I enforcement process for people with disabilities and other audiences.

This research can be valuable to lawmakers who are interested in improving how the government spends its dollars. It can also help improve the performance of the EEOC and other agencies. We are glad to present our findings to lawmakers, or other interested groups who can affect changes in policy.

• If you are interested in empirical research related to the ADA, please click here.
• If you would like to see a summary of how the ADA Title I has been enforced, please click here.
• If you have a special interest in ADA Title I complainants with psychiatric disabilities, please click here.
• If you are a lawmaker and are interested in improving enforcement of the ADA, please send us email at info@adainsights.org
• If you are interested in funding research related to ADA enforcement, please send us email at funding@adainsights.org. Currently, we are exploring the possibility of expanding our research to include Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

*Information Briefs*

*Kansas Law Review Article*

*2002 Psychiatric Services Article*

*1999 Psychiatric Services Article*

*1999 Behavioral Sciences and the Law Article*