Statutes and Regulations

Major statutes and regulations governing the rights of people with disabilities in social, civic and work life.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Federal law passed in 1990 that prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, State and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation.

• Department of Justice ADA Home Page
  Central web resource for information and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including the text of the law and subsequent regulations, guides, technical manuals, links to federal agencies with ADA responsibilities, informational publications, a toll-free information hotline, news, and mediation services.
• ADA Guide for Small Businesses (PDF)
  ADA Guide for Small Businesses (HTML)
  The U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Justice have jointly developed this document to assist small businesses to understand and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Assistive Technology Act of 1998
  Full text of Public Law 105-394 (The Assistive Technology Act of 1998), which continues funding to the states for the development of technology that can help people with disabilities live more independent lives, fully integrated into the community.
• Common ADA Errors and Omissions in New Construction and Alterations (DOJ pub)
  (HTML Version)
  (PDF Version)
  This document lists a sampling of common accessibility errors or omissions that have been identified through the Department of Justice's ongoing enforcement efforts.
• Department of Justice regulations on Title II
  "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." Printed in the Federal Register July 26, 1991.
• Department of Justice regulations on Title III
  "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)." Printed in the Code of Federal Regulations July 1, 1994.
• Disability-Related Information: Asking, Telling, Using, and Storing
  Power Point Presentation by the US Department of Labor's Civil Rights Center providing guidance on the legal requirements that apply when you ask, disclose/tell, use or store a One-Stop customer's disability-related information.
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Regulations on Title I
  Final EEOC regulations on Title I of the ADA, concerning employment, issued July 26, 1992.
• EEOC Enforcement Guidances and Related Documents
  This website contains the collection of the EEOC's guidances and other documents intended to assist covered entities in complying with Federal laws that prohibit job discrimination including Titles I and V of the ADA, and Sections 502 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• Olmstead Decision
  1999 Supreme Court decision ruling that, under the ADA, states must place people with mental disabilities in community settings rather than institutions when the state's treatment professionals have recommended it, the individual affected does not oppose it, and the placement can be reasonably accommodated by the State.
• Public Law 101-336 (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990)
  Full text of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Rehabilitation Act

Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Federal legislation that set up grant programs for vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, independent living and client assistance. The Rehabilitative Services Administration, in the Department of Education, oversees programs created by the Act.
EEOC Guidance on section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act
The EEOC's final rule to implement section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act, under the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992. This rule continues the movement towards full integration of individuals with disabilities into the Federal workforce.
Guidance on Use of Reed Act Funds
The US Department of Labor/ETA has recently issued an advisory concerning use of Reed Act funds (totaling $8 billion) by states. Among the 11 suggestions was one calling for Improving access for individuals with disabilities, including remodeling or retrofitting One-Stop Career Centers and purchasing appropriate software, hardware, furniture and supplies.
Section 504
Full text of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in any federal program or activity.
Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998
Full text of Title IV of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), which amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and tied the provisions of that act more closely to the integrated workforce system imagined by the WIA.
Section 508
Section of the amended Rehabilitation Act requiring all federal agencies to make their electronic and information technologies available to people with disabilities.
Section 508.gov
Information and resources for implementing the requirements of Section 508.

The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program

• The Ticket To Work And Self-Sufficiency Program: Federal Regulations
  Social Security Administration (SSA) program designed to help individuals with disabilities who are receiving SSA benefits find and maintain employment.
• Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program Amendments; Final Rule
  SSA's final regulations for the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program (Ticket to Work program), authorized by the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. The final regulations were published in the Federal Register on May 20, 2008 and will go in to effect on July 21, 2008. These new regulations are intended to significantly improve the Ticket Program and provide greater opportunities for service providers, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies, and employers to become Employment Networks, and expand the choices available to SSA beneficiaries who want to enter or re-enter the workforce.

Workforce Investment Act of 1998
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 was designed to consolidate, coordinate, and improve employment, training, literacy, and vocational rehabilitation programs in the United States.

• Department of Labor Training and Employment Notice on Section 188
  Notice to help One-stop centers meet their obligations to individuals with disabilities under section 188 of the WIA. Includes checklists on: service and accommodation, access to facilities, software accessibility, web page accessibility, information transaction machine (ITM) accessibility and information technology equipment.
• Department of Labor Training and Employment Notice on Common Performance Measures
  Department of Labor Training and Employment Notice on content implementation of common performance measures for job training and employment programs in 2004. The Notice provides information on the performance measures that have been established, and the job training and employment programs impacted by the common measures.
• Department of Labor Training and Employment Guidance Letter
  Department of Labor Training and Employment Guidance Letter on Questions and Answers on the VET Handbook No. 406 (ETA 9002 and VETS 200 Reports and Specifications). The Guidance provides state workforce agencies with additional information on aspects of the new Labor Exchange Performance Measures, and also addresses confidentiality and the collection of characteristics such as disability status by the public labor exchange.
• Final Rule on Section 188
  
• Methods of Administration Analysis Checklist
  The U.S. Department of Labor, Civil Rights Center (CRC) has developed this Checklist to assist States in meeting the regulatory requirements regarding Methods of Administration (MOA). An MOA is a document that describes the actions a State will take to ensure that its WIA Title I-financially assisted programs, activities, and recipients are complying with the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity requirements of WIA and its implementing regulations.
• Section 188
  Full text of Section 188 of the Workforce Investment Act. This section prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities who are applicants, employees, and participants in WIA Title I-financially assisted programs and activities, and programs that are part of the One-Stop system.
• State Methods of Administration Equal Opportunity Guidance
  The U.S. Department of Labor, Civil Rights Center (CRC) has developed this Guidance for use by States in submitting their Methods of Administration as required by 29 CFR part 37. That part implements the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.
• WIA: Coordination of TANF Services Through One-Stops Has Increased Despite Challenges
  The U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) has published a report on coordination between TANF-related programs and WIA's One-Stop Centers
• WIA Section 188 Disability Checklist
  The U.S. Department of Labor, Civil Rights Center (CRC) has developed this Checklist to ensure meaningful participation of people with disabilities in programs and activities operated by recipients of financial assistance under the WIA, including those that are part of the One-Stop delivery system.
• Workforce Investment Act Laws and Regulations
  ETA webpage with the full text of the law, subsequent technical amendments, final regulations, a "plain English" version of the Act, a summary of the workforce development provisions of the Act, and relevant archived material.
• Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization
  Department of Labor webpage with latest news on activities related to WIA reauthorization. Includes policy documents, presentations, public outreach plans, partner agencies' activities, and additional resources.

Enforcement

• ADA Enforcement (Department of Justice)
  Justice webpage describing the Department's responsibilities for enforcing the ADA, and actions to date. Includes status reports, settlements and legal briefs. Also discusses the mediation program, and gives the procedure for filing a complaint.
• Civil Rights Center (Department of Labor)
  DOL office that enforces federal statutes and regulations that "(1) prohibit discrimination in DOL-funded programs and activities; (2) prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability by certain public entitites and in DOL-conducted activities; and (3) prohibit discrimination within DOL itself."
• Department of Labor Training and Employment Guidance Letter on Questions and Answers on the VET Handbook No. 406 (ETA 9002 and VETS 200 Reports and Specifications)
  The Guidance provides state workforce agencies with additional information on aspects of the new Labor Exchange Performance Measures, and also addresses confidentiality and the collection of characteristics such as disability status by the public labor exchange.