IMPLEMENTING THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990 - ASSESSING THE VARIABLES OF SUCCESS

What can the knowledge of program implementation developed over the past two decades tell us about the prospects for successful implementation of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990? As Peter C. Bishop and Augustus J. Jones, jr. note, the literature on program implementation bas been retrospective. The ADA offers an opportunity to use implementation analysis to assess the potential for program success based on lessons of the past. A detailed study of the legislation and the initial steps taken in developing policy guidelines and regulations identifies some problems. However, their overall assessment of the prospects for successful implementation of the ADA is positive. Equally important is the authors' demonstration that implementation analysis can prove insightful when applied prospectively.