The Age Discrimination Act was enacted in 1975 and is applicable to persons of all ages. It basically expands on the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. What the ADA does is basically prohibit discrimination based on age for any program sponsored by the government, and also any program receiving financial assistance from the government. Presently, complaints must be filed within 180 days with the OCR. There are some extenuating circumstances in which the OCR but it is best to get the papers filed within the 180 days. Once the papers are received in Washington; Upon receipt, OCR screens all complaints and then refers those which describe actions covered by the Age Discrimination Act and contain the necessary information to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). Mediation then begins. Those who have complaints filed against them are required to take part in the mediation. New acts which expand upon the Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 continue to surface. The most recent was an act in 1997 which further outlined what could be considered age discrimination in the workplace. Fighting age discrimination must be done in and out of the workplace for there to be any positive affect. If you believe you have been discriminated against because of your age, do not hesitate to contact someone for help. You can contact either the governing office or legal help.