Federal Laws Protect Persons With Disabilities

We are fortunate to live in a country like America, where there are many federal legislations to protect the rights of persons with disabilities.

Persons With Disabilities Deserve The Same Rights As Persons Without Disabilities

Persons with disabilities deserve equal rights and opportunities as persons without disabilities in all areas of life including:

Civil rights

Employment

Education

Transportation

Housing

Communications

Several Federal Laws Protect Persons With Disabilities Against Discrimination

Today, we provide you a brief summary of key federal legislations which protect persons with disabilities in America.

The Americans with Disabilities Act: This civil rights law protects persons with disabilities in all areas of public life including:

Jobs

Schools

Transportation

All public and private places open to the general public

Telecommunications Act: This law mandates manufacturers of telecommunications equipment as well as providers of telecommunications services to make all equipment and services accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, if readily achievable.

This act allows persons with disabilities to have access to a broad range of products and services such as:

Telephones

Cell phones

Pagers

Call-waiting

Operator services

Fair Housing Act: This protects people with disabilities against discrimination when they are renting, buying, or securing financing for any housing.

The Air Carrier Access Act: This act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in air travel and requires air carriers to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities.

The rules address a wide range of issues including boarding assistance as well as accessibility features in aircrafts and airports.

Voting Accessibility For the Elderly and Handicapped Act: The purpose of this act is to ensure polling places across the country are physically accessible to persons with disabilities for federal elections.

This law also requires states to make registration and voting aids available for persons with disabilities as well as elderly voters.

National Voter Registration Act: Also known as the “Motor Voter Act,” this law makes it easier for all Americans to exercise their fundamental right to vote by requiring all offices of state funded programs to:

Provide persons with disabilities with voter registration forms.

Assist them in completing the forms.

Transmit completed forms to the appropriate state official.

The main purpose of this legislation is to increase the historically low registration rates of persons with disabilities and minorities. The reason for the low registration rates have been attributed to discrimination.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: This law requires public schools to ensure all eligible children with disabilities get a free public education in the least restrictive environment appropriate to their individual needs.

Rehabilitation Act: This prohibits the discrimination of persons with disabilities in:

Programs conducted by federal agencies

Programs receiving federal financial assistance

Federal employment

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.

Architectural Barriers Act: This law requires federally funded or federally leased buildings and facilities to comply with federal standards for physical accessibility.

The requirements for this act 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.

It’s important to know the law and understand your rights so you can ensure persons with disabilities are treated equal just like everyone else in society.

About Council for Disability Awareness

Council for Disability Awareness has written 478 posts in this blog.

The Council for Disability Awareness is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the American public about the risk and consequences of experiencing an income-interrupting illness or injury. The CDA engages in research, communications, and educational activities that provide information and helpful resources to wage earners, employers, financial advisors, consultants, and others who are concerned about the personal and financial impact a disability can have on wage earners and their families.