Federal Disability Laws: Providing Access, Eliminating Discrimination

By: Darren Agaton Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Persons with disability - if not discriminated from work - are sometimes denied access in services and other opportunities, or simply, deprived of rights to live normally. Hence, the government enacted laws that address discrimination on the basis of disability, stated on the federal disability laws.

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

American with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a federal law that prohibits discrimination to persons with disabilities, in terms of employment, public accommodations, telecommunications, commercial facilities and transportation.

• The Fair Housing Act

As amended in 1988, the Fair Housing Act covers private housing, state and local government housing and housing that receive Federal financial assistance. This act prohibits housing discrimination.

Under the Fair Housing Act, it is unlawful to discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex or disability, of selling or renting housing. It is also illegal to deny a dwelling to a renter or buyer in any aspects.

• The Rehabilitation Act of 1973

This act was passed in 1973 and was amended in 1992. Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, in programs, services and opportunities subsidized or financed by the government.

The act also guarantees the persons with disability, an access to all federal buildings and ensures that they will not be discriminated in employment by the government-funded entities.

• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA)

The IDEIA Act of 2004 requires that the states must provide an appropriate and free public education to disabled children ages 3-21 years old.

The children and adults who meet the qualifications of having a disability will be entitled to special education and other related services offered by the state, to be able to meet their educational needs.

• The Air Carrier Access Act

This act prohibits discrimination to individuals with disability, to air travel. The act is only applicable to air carriers, which provide regular scheduled services to the public.

• Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act Amendments of 1994

This act grants financial assistance to the states, to support advocacy efforts and system change that assist to develop and make a consumer-responsive program of technology-related assistance to persons with disabilities.

Technology-related assistance act also ensures timely acquisition and delivery of technology devices and services to people who need it.

• Developmental Disabilities and Bill of Rights Act Amendments

Amended in 1994, this act provides assistance to the states, private and public nonprofit organizations and agencies to ensure that all persons with disabilities can receive the assistance, services, and opportunities essential for them to attain maximum potential through increased productivity, independence and integration into the community.

This act also develops the role of the family in supporting and assisting persons with disabilities to gain their maximum potential. Additionally, it makes grants that are available in the states to support a system which protects the legal and human rights of individuals with developmental disabilities.

• Telecommunications Access Act of 1996, Section 255

The Congress mandated that the services and equipment of telecommunications service providers as well as equipment manufacturers must be made accessible to people with disabilities.

• The Architectural Barriers Act

The Federal Disability Law also grants persons with disabilities, the right to access for facilities and buildings designed, constructed and funded by the Government or leased by a Federal agency through the Architectural Barriers Act.

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