Informed and Empowered > Disability Legislation
Overviews
A Guide to Disability Rights Law Published by the U.S. Department of Justice
Individual Laws and Acts
An Overview of ADA, IDEA, and Section 504
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, State and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications. It also applies to the United States Congress.Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and requires access to federally funded programs, including public schools, for individuals with disabilities.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amendments of 1997
The purpose of this education act is to provide federal financial assistance to state and local education agencies to guarantee special education and related services to eligible children with disabilities.Assistive Technology Act of 1998
This Tech Act amendment affirms that technology is a valuable tool that can be used to improve the lives of Americans with disabilities. It extends the funding of the 50 states and six territories to develop permanent, comprehensive, statewide programs of technology-related assistance.Section 508: Accessible Information Technology
Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals. The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology.Fair Housing Act
Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents of legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and people with disabilities.Air Carrier Access Act
The Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 prohibits discrimination by air carriers on the basis of disability. It includes provisions concerning physical facilities and services to be provided to passengers with disabilities.
Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act
The Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA) authorizes the U.S. Attorney General to investigate conditions of confinement at State and local government institutions such as prisons, jails, pretrial detention centers, juvenile correctional facilities, publicly operated nursing homes, and institutions for people with psychiatric or developmental disabilities.