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We have agonized over how best to present this section; would it be better to separate the different disability laws under their own section on the entry page, should we add the "rest" of the disability laws underneath the ADA? Finally, this is the format that we decided on; to place ALL applicable disability law under a single heading with links to contacts as well as links to the actual law.
I, personally, am a FIRM believer in reading about the law or issues before I start asking questions. By doing that, it gives me a better idea of what questions to ask in the first place. Others do better by asking first, then after getting an answer, going to the source to check that answer. Whichever method works best for you is what, ultimately, one should use. We are just trying to provide everyone with whichever option best suits them.
I will say this much however, there are some interesting "convolutions" between what can and can not legally be done or asked. There are also some convolutions with regards to which law applies to which group or organization. For instance, the ADA does not cover the executive branch of the Federal government. The executive branch is covered by title V (sections 501, 503, 504 in particular) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination in services and employment on the basis of handicap and which is a model for the requirements of the ADA. The ADA, however, does cover Congress and other entities in the legislative branch of the Federal government. Title I of the ADA employment provisions apply to private employers, State and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions. Employers with 25 or more employees were covered as of July 26, 1992. Employers with 15 or more employees were covered two years later, beginning July 26, 1994.
Federal contractors and subcontractors who are covered by the affirmative action requirements of section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 may invite individuals with disabilities to identify themselves on a job application form or by other pre-employment inquiry, to satisfy the section 503 affirmative action requirements. Employers who request such information must observe section 503 requirements regarding the manner in which such information is requested and used, and the procedures for maintaining such information as a separate, confidential record, apart from regular personnel records. A pre-employment inquiry about a disability is allowed if required by another Federal law or regulation such as those applicable to disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam era. Pre-employment inquiries about disabilities may be necessary under such laws to identify applicants or clients with disabilities in order to provide them with required special privileges.
HOWEVER, under the ADA, an employer may not ask or require a job applicant to take a medical examination before making a job offer. It cannot make any pre-employment inquiry about a disability or the nature or severity of a disability. An employer may, however, ask questions about the ability to perform specific job functions and may, with certain limitations, ask an individual with a disability to describe or demonstrate how s/he would perform these functions. An employer may condition a job offer on the satisfactory result of a post-offer medical examination or medical inquiry if this is required of all entering employees in the same job category. A post-offer examination or inquiry does not have to be job-related and consistent with business necessity.
However, if an individual is not hired because a post-offer medical examination or inquiry reveals a disability, the reason(s) for not hiring must be job-related and consistent with business necessity. The employer also must show that no reasonable accommodation was available that would enable the individual to perform the essential job functions, or that accommodation would impose an undue hardship. A post-offer medical examination may disqualify an individual if the employer can demonstrate that the individual would pose a "direct threat" in the workplace (i.e., a significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of the individual or others) that cannot be eliminated or reduced below the direct threat level through reasonable accommodation. Such a disqualification is job-related and consistent with business necessity. A post-offer medical examination may not disqualify an individual with a disability who is currently able to perform essential job functions because of speculation that the disability may cause a risk of future injury.Additionally, to add confusion to MOST of the ADA, recent case-law at the district court level and above (including the Supreme Court), has made some of the original provisions of certain sections of the ADA moot. For instance, with respect to Title I, authority to investigate complaints AND issue regulations was granted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). While doing so, the EEOC felt that "[t]he determination of whether an individual is substantially limited in a major life activity must be made on a case by case basis, without regard to mitigating measures such as medicines, or assistive or prosthetic devices." 29 CFR pt. 1630, App. §1630.2(j) (1998) (describing §1630.2(j)). However, with the Supreme Court's ruling in the Sutton (KAREN SUTTON and KIMBERLY HINTON, PETITIONERS v. UNITED AIR LINES, INC.) case, the Court held that mitigating measures SHOULD be considered (even though Sutton lost the case) when making a determination of whether or not one is "disabled" in accordance with the ADA.
In my opinion, it is cases such as the aforementioned Sutton case which "set" bad precedence for further cases. In any case, we provide more detail about some of the "poorer" disability cases that have been decided under the legal heading on the entry page.
With that, on with some of the more "common" disability laws, points of contact, and complaint offices/contacts:
AMERICANS with DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and is enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice.
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.
To be protected by the ADA, one must have a disability or have a relationship or association with an individual with a disability. An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment. The ADA does not specifically name all of the impairments that are covered. For your convenience, we have included links to the following:
Public Law 101-336. Text of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Public Law 336 of the 101st Congress, enacted July 26, 1990. The ADA prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, State and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation. It also mandates the establishment of TDD/telephone relay services.
ADA Regulation for Title II, as printed in the Federal Register (7/26/91). The Department of Justice's regulation implementing title II, subtitle A, of the ADA which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in all services, programs, and activities provided to the public by State and local governments, except public transportation services.
ADA Regulation for Title III, as printed in the Code of Federal Regulations (7/1/94). The Department of Justice's regulation implementing title III of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in "places of public accommodation" (businesses and non-profit agencies that serve the public) and "commercial facilities" (other businesses). The regulation includes Appendix A to Part 36 - Standards for Accessible Design establishing minimum standards for ensuring accessibility when designing and constructing a new facility or altering an existing facility.Title II & III Regulation Amendment Regarding Detectable Warnings, as printed in the Federal Register (11/23/98). This amendment suspends the requirements for detectable warnings at curb ramps, hazardous vehicle areas, and reflecting pools until July 26, 2001.
ADA Title I: Employment
Title I requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide qualified individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from the full range of employment-related opportunities available to others. For example, it prohibits discrimination in recruitment, hiring, promotions, training, pay, social activities, and other privileges of employment. It restricts questions that can be asked about an applicant's disability before a job offer is made, and it requires that employers make reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities, unless it results in undue hardship. Religious entities with 15 or more employees are covered under title I.
Title I complaints must be filed with the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 days of the date of discrimination, or 300 days if the charge is filed
with a designated State or local fair employment practice agency. Individuals may file a lawsuit in Federal court only after they receive a "right-to-sue" letter from the EEOC.
Charges of employment discrimination on the basis of disability may be filed at any U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission field office. Field offices are located in 50 cities throughout the U.S. and are listed in most telephone directories under "U.S. Government." For the appropriate EEOC field office in your geographic area, contact:(800) 669-4000 (voice)
(800) 669-6820 (TTY)Publications and information on EEOC-enforced laws may be obtained by calling:
(800) 669-3362 (voice)
(800) 800-3302 (TTY)For information on how to accommodate a specific individual with a disability, contact the Job Accommodation Network at:
(800) 526-7234 (voice/TTY)
ADA Title II: State and Local Government Activities
Title II covers all activities of State and local governments regardless of the government entity's size or receipt of Federal funding. Title II requires that State and local governments give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all of their programs, services, and activities (e.g. public education, employment, transportation, recreation, health care, social services, courts, voting, and town meetings).
State and local governments are required to follow specific architectural standards in the new construction and alteration of their buildings. They also must relocate programs or otherwise provide access in inaccessible older buildings, and communicate effectively with people who have hearing, vision, or speech disabilities. Public entities are not required to take actions that would result in undue financial and administrative burdens. They are required to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures where necessary to avoid discrimination, unless they can demonstrate that doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity being provided.Complaints of title II violations may be filed with the Department of Justice within 180 days of the date of discrimination. In certain situations, cases may be referred to a mediation program sponsored by the Department. The Department may bring a lawsuit where it has investigated a matter and has been unable to resolve violations. For more information, contact:
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Disability Rights Section - NYAV
Washington, D.C. 20530www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
(800) 514-0301 (voice)
(800) 514-0383 (TTY)Title II may also be enforced through private lawsuits in Federal court. It is not necessary to file a complaint with the Department of Justice (DOJ) or any other Federal agency, or to receive a "right-to-sue" letter, before going to court.
ADA Title II: Public Transportation
The transportation provisions of title II cover public transportation services, such as city buses and public rail transit (e.g. subways, commuter rails, Amtrak). Public transportation authorities may not discriminate against people with disabilities in the provision of their services. They must comply with requirements for accessibility in newly purchased vehicles, make good faith efforts to purchase or lease accessible used buses, remanufacture buses in an accessible manner, and, unless it would result in an undue burden, provide paratransit where they operate fixed-route bus or rail systems. Paratransit is a service where individuals who are unable to use the regular transit system independently (because of a physical or mental impairment) are picked up and dropped off at their destinations. Questions and complaints about public transportation should be directed to:
Office of Civil Rights
Federal Transit Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Room 9102
Washington, D.C. 20590http://www.fta.dot.gov/initiatives_tech_assistance/customer_service/14524_ENG_HTML.htm
(888) 446-4511 (voice/relay)
ADA Title III: Public Accommodations
Title III covers businesses and nonprofit service providers that are public accommodations, privately operated entities offering certain types of courses and examinations, privately operated transportation, and commercial facilities. Public accommodations are private entities who own, lease, lease to, or operate facilities such as restaurants, retail stores, hotels, movie theaters, private schools, convention centers, doctors' offices, homeless shelters, transportation depots, zoos, funeral homes, day care centers, and recreation facilities including sports stadiums and fitness clubs. Transportation services provided by private entities are also covered by title III.
Public accommodations must comply with basic nondiscrimination requirements that prohibit exclusion, segregation, and unequal treatment. They also must comply with specific requirements related to architectural standards for new and altered buildings; reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures; effective communication with people with hearing, vision, or speech disabilities; and other access requirements. Additionally, public accommodations must remove barriers in existing buildings where it is easy to do so without much difficulty or expense, given the public accommodation's resources.
Courses and examinations related to professional, educational, or trade-related applications, licensing, certifications, or credentialing must be provided in a place and manner accessible to people with disabilities, or alternative accessible arrangements must be offered.
Commercial facilities, such as factories and warehouses, must comply with the ADA's architectural standards for new construction and alterations.Complaints of title III violations may be filed with the Department of Justice. In certain situations, cases may be referred to a mediation program sponsored by the Department. The Department is authorized to bring a lawsuit where there is a pattern or practice of discrimination in violation of title III, or where an act of discrimination raises an issue of general public importance. Title III may also be enforced through private lawsuits. It is not necessary to file a complaint with the Department of Justice (or any Federal agency), or to receive a "right-to-sue" letter, before going to court. For more information, contact:
back to topU.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Disability Rights Section - NYAV
Washington, D.C. 20530www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
(800) 514-0301 (voice)
(800) 514-0383 (TTY)
ADA Title IV: Telecommunications Relay Services
Title IV addresses telephone and television access for people with hearing and speech disabilities. It requires common carriers (telephone companies) to establish interstate and intrastate telecommunications relay services (TRS) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TRS enables callers with hearing and speech disabilities who use telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDDs), which are also known as teletypewriters (TTYs), and callers who use voice telephones to communicate with each other through a third party communications assistant. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set minimum standards for TRS services. Title IV also requires closed captioning of Federally funded public service announcements. For more information about TRS, contact the FCC at:Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554(888) 225-5322 (Voice)
(888) 835-5322 (TTY)More Information on the ADA:
JOINT STATEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Excerpt from press release: "May 24-People with disabilities who require special assistance such as motorized wheelchairs and motorized carts recently had their right to reasonable accommodations reinforced, according to new guidelines released by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice... (for full story, click here).ADA Documents
ADA statute, regulations, tech sheets, and more.ADA Technical Assistance Program
The DOJ provides free technical assistance and information to businesses, non-profit service providers, state and local governments, people with disabilities, and the general public.Bobby Helps Web Access
This free program analyses web sites for their accessibility.Certification of State and Local Building Codes
Title III of ADA provides building code certification process in order that specifications be met.Civil Rights Department of DOJ
Frequently requested information you can download or order under the Freedom of Information Act.Department of Justice (DOJ) ADA HOME PAGE
Explanation of ADANew and Proposed Changes
Find out all the new and proposed changes to the ADA.Publications Available
The Department of Justice will provide you with any documentation concerning the ADA.Self-Serve Gas Stations
Even self-serve stations must provide assistance in pumping gas, post notice on how disabled people may obtain that assistance, and not charge more for this service.Service Animals
Service animals are animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities such as guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks. Service animals are working animals, not pets.Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses and organizations that serve the public must allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. This federal law applies to all businesses open to the public, including restaurants, hotels, taxis and shuttles, grocery and department stores, hospitals and medical offices, theaters, health clubs, parks, and zoos.
Settlements under ADA
List of all ADA settlements and consent agreements since enactment.
Telecommunications Act
Section 255 and Section 251(a)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, require manufacturers of telecommunications equipment and providers of telecommunications services to ensure that such equipment and services are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, if readily achievable. These amendments ensure that people with disabilities will have access to a broad range of products and services such as telephones, cell phones, pagers, call-waiting, and operator services, that were often inaccessible to many users with disabilities. For more information, contact:
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
FCC Disability Issues Homepage(888) 225-5322 (Voice)
(888) 835-5322 (TTY)Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act, as amended in 1988, prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin. Its coverage includes private housing, housing that receives Federal financial assistance, and State and local government housing. It is unlawful to discriminate in any aspect of selling or renting housing or to deny a dwelling to a buyer or renter because of the disability of that individual, an individual associated with the buyer or renter, or an individual who intends to live in the residence. Other covered activities include, for example, financing, zoning practices, new construction design, and advertising.
The Fair Housing Act requires owners of housing facilities to make reasonable exceptions in their policies and operations to afford people with disabilities equal housing opportunities. For example, a landlord with a "no pets" policy may be required to grant an exception to this rule and allow an individual who is blind to keep a guide dog in the residence. The Fair Housing Act also requires landlords to allow tenants with disabilities to make reasonable access-related modifications to their private living space, as well as to common use spaces. (The landlord is not required to pay for the changes.) The Act further requires that new multifamily housing with four or more units be designed and built to allow access for persons with disabilities. This includes accessible common use areas, doors that are wide enough for wheelchairs, kitchens and bathrooms that allow a person using a wheelchair to maneuver, and other adaptable features within the units.
Complaints of Fair Housing Act violations may be filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. For more information or to file a complaint, contact:Office of Program Compliance and Disability Rights
Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street, S.W. , Room 5242
Washington, D.C. 20410Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
(800) 669-9777 (voice)
(800) 927-9275 (TTY)For questions about the Fair Housing Act, you may call the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at:
(202) 708-2333 (voice)
(202) 401-1247 (TTY)For publications, you may call the Housing and Urban Development Customer Service Center at:
(800) 767-7468 (voice)
(800) 877-8339 (TTY)Additionally, the Department of Justice can file cases involving a pattern or practice of discrimination. The Fair Housing Act may also be enforced through private lawsuits.
Air Carrier Access Act
The Air Carrier Access Act 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. Requirements address a wide range of issues including boarding assistance and certain accessibility features in newly built aircraft and new or altered airport facilities. People may enforce rights under the Air Carrier Access Act by filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation, or by bringing a lawsuit in Federal court. For more information or to file a complaint, contact:
Aviation Consumer Protection Division
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Room 4107, C-75
Washington, D.C. 20590Aviation Consumer Protection Home Page
(202) 366-2220 (voice)
(202) 366-0511 (TTY)Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act
The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984 generally requires polling places across the United States to be physically accessible to people with disabilities for federal elections. Where no accessible location is available to serve as a polling place, a political subdivision must provide an alternate means of casting a ballot on the day of the election. This law also requires states to make available registration and voting aids for disabled and elderly voters, including information by telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDDs) which are also known as teletypewriters (TTYs). For more information, contact:
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Voting Section - 1800 G
Washington, D.C. 20530ADA Checklist for Polling Places
(800) 253-3931 (voice/TTY)
N
ational Voter Registration ActThe National Voter Registration Act of 1993, also known as the "Motor Voter Act," makes it easier for all Americans to exercise their fundamental right to vote. One of the basic purposes of the Act is to increase the historically low registration rates of minorities and persons with disabilities that have resulted from discrimination. The Motor Voter Act requires all offices of State-funded programs that are primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities to provide all program applicants with voter registration forms, to assist them in completing the forms, and to transmit completed forms to the appropriate State official. For more information, contact:
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Voting Section - 1800 G
Washington, D.C. 20530(800) 253-3931 (voice/TTY)
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. Its purpose is to allow the Attorney General to uncover and correct widespread deficiencies that seriously jeopardize the health and safety of residents of institutions. The Attorney General does not have authority under CRIPA to investigate isolated incidents or to represent individual institutionalized persons.
The Attorney General may initiate civil law suits where there is reasonable cause to believe that conditions are "egregious or flagrant," that they are subjecting residents to "grievous harm," and that they are part of a "pattern or practice" of resistance to residents' full enjoyment of constitutional or Federal rights, including title II of the ADA and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. For more information or to bring a matter to the Department of Justice's attention, contact:
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Special Litigation Section - PHB
Washington, D.C. 20530Civil Rights Division Special Litigation Section
(202) 514-6255 (voice/TTY)
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (formerly called P.L. 94-142 or 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 their individual needs.
IDEA requires public school systems to develop appropriate Individualized Education Programs (IEP's) for each child. The specific special education and related services outlined in each IEP reflect the individualized needs of each student.
IDEA also mandates that particular procedures be followed in the development of the IEP. Each student's IEP must be developed by a team of knowledgeable persons and must be at least reviewed annually. The team includes the child's teacher; the parents, subject to certain limited exceptions; the child, if determined appropriate; an agency representative who is qualified to provide or supervise the provision of special education; and other individuals at the parents' or agency's discretion.
If parents disagree with the proposed IEP, they can request a due process hearing and a review from the State educational agency if applicable in that state. They also can appeal the State agency's decision to State or Federal court. For more information, contact:
Office of Special Education Programs
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
U.S. Department of Education
330 C Street, S.W. (Room 3086)
Washington, D.C. 20202Office of Special Education Programs
(202) 205-5507 (voice/TTY)
Rehabilitation Act
The Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by Federal agencies, in programs receiving Federal financial assistance, in Federal employment, and in the employment practices of Federal contractors. The standards for determining employment discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act are the same as those used in title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Section 501
Section 501 requires affirmative action and nondiscrimination in employment by Federal agencies of the executive branch. To obtain more information or to file a complaint, employees should contact their agency's Equal Employment Opportunity Office.Section 503
Section 503 requires affirmative action and prohibits employment discrimination by Federal government contractors and subcontractors with contracts of more than $10,000. For more information on section 503, contact:
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Room C-3325
Washington, D.C. 20210(202) 693-0106 (voice/relay)
Section 504Section 504 states that "no qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under" any program or activity that either receives Federal financial assistance or is conducted by any Executive agency or the United States Postal Service.
Each Federal agency has its own set of section 504 regulations that apply to its own programs. Agencies that provide Federal financial assistance also have section 504 regulations covering entities that receive Federal aid. Requirements common to these regulations include reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities; program accessibility; effective communication with people who have hearing or vision disabilities; and accessible new construction and alterations. Each agency is responsible for enforcing its own regulations. Section 504 may also be enforced through private lawsuits. It is not necessary to file a complaint with a Federal agency or to receive a "right-to-sue" letter before going to court.
For information on how to file 504 complaints with the appropriate agency, contact:
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Disability Rights Section - NYAV
Washington, D.C. 20530www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
(800) 514-0301 (voice)
(800) 514-0383 (TTY)Section 508
Section 508 establishes requirements for electronic and information technology developed, maintained, procured, or used by the Federal government. Section 508 requires Federal electronic and information technology to be accessible to people with disabilities, including employees and members of the public.
An accessible information technology system is one that can be operated in a variety of ways and does not rely on a single sense or ability of the user. For example, a system that provides output only in visual format may not be accessible to people with visual impairments and a system that provides output only in audio format may not be accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Some individuals with disabilities may need accessibility-related software or peripheral devices in order to use systems that comply with Section 508. For more information on section 508, contact:
U.S. General Services Administration
Center for IT Accommodation (CITA)
1800 F Street, N.W.,
Room 1234, MC:MKC
Washington, DC 20405-0001
www.itpolicy.gsa.gov/cita(202) 501-4906 (voice)
(202) 501-2010 (TTY)U.S. Architectural and Transportation
Barriers Compliance Board
1331 F Street, N.W. Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004-1111800-872-2253 (voice)
800-993-2822 (TTY)Architectural Barriers Act
The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) requires that buildings and facilities that are designed, constructed, or altered with Federal funds, or leased by a Federal agency, comply with Federal standards for physical accessibility. ABA requirements are limited to architectural standards in new and altered buildings and in newly leased facilities. They do not address the activities conducted in those buildings and facilities. Facilities of the U.S. Postal Service are covered by the ABA. For more information or to file a complaint, contact:
U.S. Architectural and Transportation
Barriers Compliance Board
1331 F Street, N.W. , Suite 1000
Washington, D.C. 20004-1111(800) 872-2253 (voice)
(800) 993-2822 (TTY)General Sources of Disability Rights Information
ADA Information Line
(800) 514-0301 (voice)
(800) 514-0383 (TTY)
www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm or ada.gov
Regional Disability and Business
Technical Assistance Centers
(800) 949-4232 (voice/TTY)
www.adata.orgStatute Citations
We've included a link to ALL state statues/codes for informational purposes. On-line statues/codes are RARELY if ever totally accurate, so you will want to check the most up-to-date printed version as well; however, as a research and learning tool, the use of these statues/codes is incalculable.Air Carrier Access Act of 1986
49 U.S.C. § 41705Implementing Regulation:
14 CFR Part 382Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq.Implementing Regulations:
29 CFR Parts 1630, 1602 (Title I, EEOC)
28 CFR Part 35 (Title II, Department of Justice)
49 CFR Parts 27, 37, 38 (Title II, III, Department of Transportation)
28 CFR Part 36 (Title III, Department of Justice)
47 CFR §§ 64.601 et seq. (Title IV, FCC)Architectural Barriers Act of 1968
42 U.S.C. §§ 4151 et seq.Implementing Regulations:
41 CFR Subpart 101-19.6Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act
42 U.S.C. §§ 1997 et seq.Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988
42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq.Implementing Regulation:
24 CFR Parts 100 et seq.Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq.Implementing Regulation:
34 CFR Part 300National Voter Registration Act of 1993
42 U.S.C. §§ 1973gg et seq.Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
29 U.S.C. § 791Implementing Regulation:
29 CFR § 1614.203Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
29 U.S.C. § 793Implementing Regulation:
41 CFR Part 60-741Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
29 U.S.C. § 794Over 20 Implementing Regulations for federally assisted programs, including:
34 CFR Part 104 (Department of Education)
45 CFR Part 84 (Department of Health and Human Services)
28 CFR §§ 42.501 et seq.Over 95 Implementing Regulations for federally conducted programs, including:
28 CFR Part 39 (Department of Justice)Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 29 U.S.C. § 794d
Telecommunications Act of 1996
47 U.S.C. §§ 255, 251(a)(2)Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1973ee et seq.
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