Happy Birthday, America!
As we approach July 4, Lumina Compliance wanted to take some time to reflect on why we are grateful for America.
America’s commitment to fair housing for all people. While America is still a work in progress, we’ve come a long way. And Lumina Compliance share’s our nation’s commitment to fair housing. The Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA) was signed into law on Sept. 13, 1988, and became effective on March 12, 1989. The Act amended Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin in housing sales, rentals or financing.
The Department of Justice says this about the Fair Housing Amendments Act, “The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination by direct providers of housing, such as landlords and real estate companies as well as other entities, such as municipalities, banks or other lending institutions and homeowners insurance companies whose discriminatory practices make housing unavailable to persons because of race or color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability.
We are thankful for the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988.America’s collective desire to make accessible housing to be a priority. Franklin D. Roosevelt, in The Economic Bill of Rights in 1944, said, “We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. ‘Necessitous men are not free men.’ People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made. In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed. Among these are…the right of every family to a decent home.”
More than 20% of Americans live with a documented disability. Enter the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 or ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. From voting to parking to websites, Americans with disabilities are protected by this Act.
Chances are you or a family member might be one of the Americans living with a disability. At Lumina Compliance we believe that Accessibility should matter to everyone for this very reason. We want to help property owners and managers make sure their properties are accessible to everyone. Every family, every individual should have access to a decent, accessible home.
We are thankful for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.America’s desire to protect individuals with disabilities. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, is American legislation that guarantees certain rights to people with disabilities. It was one of the first U.S. federal civil rights laws offering protection for people with disabilities.
The Section 504 fact sheet says this, “Section 504 protects qualified individuals with disabilities. Under this law, individuals with disabilities are defined as persons with a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities. People who have a history of, or who are regarded as having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, are also covered. Major life activities include caring for one's self, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working, performing manual tasks, and learning. Some examples of impairments which may substantially limit major life activities, even with the help of medication or aids/devices, are: AIDS, alcoholism, blindness or visual impairment, cancer, deafness or hearing impairment, diabetes, drug addiction, heart disease, and mental illness.”
One of our greatest responsibilities as a civilization is to protect our most vulnerable. Someone you know might fit a description above. Imagine if that person needed to find adequate housing. Thank goodness our country offers some level of protection for them.
We are thankful for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Happy July 4 from Lumina Compliance! Enjoy your celebrations.
When you get back to the office, take some time to reflect on how great it is that we live in a nation that offers these protections for all people. If you need help making sure your property is accessible to all people, give us a call. We want to help you stay in compliance with ADA/FHAA/Section 504. More than that, we want to help make sure every property is accessible for all people. It’s our responsibility.
Call Andy at (704) 702-2498 or email him at andy@lumincomp.com if you want to have a conversation about your property and our Accessibility Services.
