EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION AND THE ADA - A STUDY OF THE ADMINISTRATIVECOMPLAINT PROCESS

This article presents findings from the first in-depth study of how th e employment discrimination charge process, mandated under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), is working. After briefly s ummarizing quantitative findings related to the nationwide experience of ADA complainants, the article provides a mostly qualitative examina tion of how the charge process works with five U.S. Equal Employment O pportunity Commission (EEOC) offices. It points out that many charges filed with the EEOC under the ADA are given extensive and well-thought -out investigations. It explores numerous problems that have tak;en th eir toll on charge processing: understaffing, insufficient investigati ve time, inadequate travel and training funds, and several recently di scontinued administrative policies of the EEOC.