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
Scope: City
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
Planning for Equal Employment Opportunities
Although unemployment among people with disabilities is often high, some places have successfully increased employment rates. Choosing the right mix of policies, programs, and activities can help. But there are also programs that have not gone well. Reviewing what others have done and replicating some of the best practices can help avoid or reduce the… Continue reading Planning for Equal Employment Opportunities