Terrorism takes many forms. Many are familiar with the images of masked person making threats or, in fact, carrying out physical violence.

Sometimes, though, terrorism comes in the form of an unsigned or anonymous communication. It could be a threat or it could be another form of intimidation. What is particularly confounding is when a borough employee delivers an unsigned complaint citing accessibility non-compliance with the Americans With Disability Act to a Columbia business.

You’re shaking your head right now, right?

Yeah, this really happened. A one-person business owner with no employees operating out of one of Columbia’s historic properties did get a hand-written anonymous communication … and it was hand delivered by a borough employee.

Actually, the revised regulations of the Americans With a Disability Act “that took effect on March 15, 2011, clarify issues that have arisen over the past 20 years, and contains new requirements, including the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design (2010 Standards). This document provides guidance to assist small business owners in understanding how this new regulation applies to them.”

In San Francisco, the Office of Small Business produced this video: “ADA Compliance for Small Businesses” This workshop is presented by the Office of Supervisor Carmen Chu and the Bar Association of San Francisco. Learn about: Overview of Americans with Disability Act (ADA), compliance with the ADA, how to respond to lawsuits, loan programs for construction, legal services available, and much more.

The ADA Network provides “Information, Guidance and Training on the Americans With Disabilities Act” – there’s a great FAQ (frequently asked questions) page here.

And there’s a provision: “If you feel that you or another person has been discriminated against by an entity covered by either Title II or III of the ADA, you may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, Disability Rights Section. Title II covers state and local government entities and Title III public accommodations and commercial facilities.  Public accommodations are businesses that provide goods or services for the public. “

However, the ADA does ask that complaint letters must be signed by the plaintiff. “The most important part of filing a Title II and III complaint is ensuring that you provide the Department of Justice with the following information:

• Your full name, address, email, the telephone numbers where we can reach you during the day and evening, and the name of the party discriminated against (if known);
• The name and address of the business, organization, institution, or person that you believe has discriminated;
• A brief description of the acts of discrimination, the dates they occurred, and the names of individuals involved;
• Other information that you believe necessary to support your complaint, including copies of relevant documents (not originals); and
• Provide the Department of Justice with the information needed to ensure that they communicate with you effectively. Please let the Department know if you need to receive written communications in a specific format, such as large print, Braille, e-mail, or audio recording, or if you need to receive oral communications by video phone or TTY.

Business entities in Columbia are in business to accommodate everyone including persons with a disability. “It is important to remember that in the context of the ADA, “disability’ is a legal term rather than a medical one. Because it has a legal definition, the ADA’s definition of disability is different from how disability is defined under some other laws. The ADA defines a person with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. This includes people who have a record of such an impairment, even if they do not currently have a disability. It also includes individuals who do not have a disability but are regarded as having a disability. The ADA also makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person based on that person’s association with a person with a disability.”

We suspect there’s not a business owner, landlord or professional office in Columbia which doesn’t want to have Customers come to the business. We believe that every Columbia business operator would like to be fully accessible, though most probably are not. There are “mechanisms” (we heard that term a lot last evening at the town hall meeting), though to accommodate persons with a disability and they do not include “anonymous acts of terrorism” from any person or government representative.