Handicapped access for rentals

[Jim Bentley]

The government is running radio ads locally to let renters know that they can't be discriminated against. The ads are basically little 8 second audio skits ("Once we showed up to look at the property, and the landlord saw our race, the property was suddenly not available." ... "When the landlord heard that I was single with 5 kids, he said he wouldn't rent to me" ... etc.). The ad ends by telling renters to contact some federal agency if they feel they've been discriminated against.

I don't have any problem with those scenarios, but one skit had a wheelchair-bound man complaining that he couldn't find a rental, because none of them were handicap-accessible (stairs, no ramps, narrow hallways).

I understand that if I refuse to rent to somebody because of their race or familial status, I can get sued, and I will probably lose. Is lack of handicap access also grounds for a discrimination lawsuit? Is it going to get to the point where we have to provide wheelchair ramps/bath bars/etc. upon request?