Federal economic support and benefit laws based on disability vary from monetary social security disability income and Medicare healthcare benefits (both of which require individuals to initially qualify by paying into the system for many years through employment wage deductions), to supplemental security income and Medicaid healthcare benefits that are primarily applied for on the… Continue reading Economic Support in the U.S.
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GDRN Theme: Law / Policy
U.S. Housing Laws
There are four key disability nondiscrimination laws that apply to the subject of accessible housing. Two of these laws do not apply only to housing and are covered separately: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 applies to housing that is built with federal financial assistance or federal funds The Americans with Disabilities Act of… Continue reading U.S. Housing Laws
U.S. Air Carrier Access Act
The Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (ACAA) prohibits discrimination in air transportation by domestic and foreign air carriers against qualified individuals with physical or mental impairments. It applies only to air carriers that provide regularly scheduled services for hire to the public. The ACAA establishes standards concerning a wide range of issues including boarding… Continue reading U.S. Air Carrier Access Act
U.S. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), formerly called the Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975, requires public schools to make available to all eligible children with disabilities a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment appropriate to the child’s education needs. Under the law, State and local education agencies are… Continue reading U.S. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Section 504 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or Section 504, can be considered the oldest federal disability civil rights law in the U.S. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in public and private programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. The law also covers programs and activities that are conducted by the federal… Continue reading Section 504 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that critically extended Section 504’s disability nondiscrimination mandate to the private sector. The ADA reaches such entities as private employers (with 15 or more employees), retailers, service establishments, transportation companies, and telecommunication companies, regardless of whether they receive federal financial assistance. The law is… Continue reading Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
National U.S. Disability Laws
The laws included on the RightsNow! website are primarily rights-oriented laws that prohibit many different kinds of entities, such as individuals, state and municipal governments, private employers and businesses, and service organizations, from discriminating on the basis of disability. However, we include some explanation and links related to the ongoing federal benefits and support laws that pertain… Continue reading National U.S. Disability Laws
Advocating for Laws that Reflect CRPD Principles
Rights-Based Approach to Inclusive Education
This publication, targeted mostly at government personnel and policy makers, focuses on the inclusion of children with disabilities in education in Central Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States (CEECIS). Although some of its guidance is specific to the CEECIS region, some may be adaptable for other regions. The publication reviews sections of the Convention… Continue reading Rights-Based Approach to Inclusive Education
Understanding Legal Capacity
Legal capacity refers to a person’s ability to exercise their legal rights and obligations. For example, a person who has full legal capacity is able to sign contracts to buy or lease property, manage their money, or get a license to marry. Many countries will also connect legal capacity to other rights, such as the… Continue reading Understanding Legal Capacity