Community – Page 2 – globaldisabilityrightsnow

Focus Countries

Parent Empowerment

Introduction Parent participation in the education of children with disabilities is a core concept of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the U.S. civil rights law that requires schools to meet the educational needs of children with disabilities. IDEA recognizes that family involvement has a profound influence on how children do in school and… Continue reading Parent Empowerment

Low Cost Physical Access Solutions for Schools

Introduction Successfully educating children who are disabled with their nondisabled classmates for full participation in society requires accessible schools. Providing an environment that is accessible to all children reflects the belief that all students are valued and welcome. Accessibility should not be viewed as a constraint or simply a set of rules that must be… Continue reading Low Cost Physical Access Solutions for Schools

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

Putting Physical Access Legislation into Practice

Planning accessible meetings, conferences and workshops is very important for including all members of the community, including people with different types of disabilities. These two resources can assist with planning accessible events. 1. The Marae Accessibility Toolkit is targeted at the development of maraes (meeting grounds of the indigenous Māori people of New Zealand) but is relevant for any government and civil… Continue reading Putting Physical Access Legislation into Practice

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

Scope: Community