THE ROLE OF THE PEDIATRICIAN IN IMPLEMENTING THE AMERICANS-WITH-DISABILITIES-ACT - SUBJECT REVIEW

In this statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirms the im portance of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), which guarantee s people with disabilities certain rights to enable them to participat e more fully in their communities. Pediatricians need to know about th e ADA provisions to be able to educate and counsel their patients and patients' families appropriately. The ADA mandates changes to our envi ronment, including reasonable accommodation to the needs of individual s with disabilities, which has application to schools, hospitals, phys ician offices, community businesses, and recreational programs. Pediat ricians should be a resource to their community by providing informati on about the ADA and the special needs of their patients, assisting wi th devising reasonable accommodation, and counseling adolescents about their expanded opportunities under the ADA.