CIVIL RIGHTS
This page has information on civil rights laws that protect people with disabilities and on how to get legal assistance when your rights have been violated.
News
Department of Justice Reaches Landmark Settlement Agreement with Rhode Island and City of Providence Under the ADA, From the U.S. Department of Justice, June 13, 2013
Inter-agency letter regarding hepatitis B discrimination issued, From the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), June 13, 2013
Fidelity Engineering Corporation Settles EEOC Disability Discrimination and Retaliation Suit, From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), June 10, 2013
Harkin promises action on disability treaty, By Jason Noble, Des Moines Register, June 08, 2013
HUD settles claim alleging Bank of America and Fannie Mae discriminated against loan applicant with disabilities, From the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), June 06, 2013
Luminant Mining Company LLC Settles EEOC Disability Lawsuit, From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), May 31, 2013
EEOC Issues Revised Publications on the Employment Rights of People with Specific Disabilities, From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), May 15, 2013
Justice Department Signs Agreement with Stewart County, Georgia, to Ensure Civic Access for People with Disabilities, From the U.S. Department of Justice, May 09, 2013
BMO Harris Bank to Pay $400,000 to Resolve EEOC Disability Lawsuit, From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), May 09, 2013
Justice Department Settles Lawsuit Against Golden Corral Restaurant for Violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, From the U.S. Department of Justice, May 08, 2013
Lawsuit challenges rule that bars mentally disabled married couples from sharing group home bedroom, From the New York Daily News, May 07, 2013
Local company settles genetic discrimination lawsuit, By David Harper, Tulsa World, May 07, 2013
SITA Information Networking Computing USA Settles EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit, From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), May 07, 2013
Probat/Bauermeister to Pay $100,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Lawsuit, From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), May 06, 2013
Justice Department Expands Its Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative with Settlement with Burke Health and Rehabilitation Center in Burke, Virginia, From the U.S. Department of Justice, May 03, 2013
$240 million verdict for Atalissa workers, By Clark Kauffman ,Des Moines Register, May 02, 2013
Following Restraint Death, Groups Seek Probe, By Michelle Diament, Disability Scoop, April 24, 2013
Baptist Health South Florida Sued by EEOC for Disability Discrimination, From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), April 22, 2013
Justice Department Reaches Settlement Agreement with City of Jacksonville, Fla., to Ensure Civic Access for People with Disabilities, From the U.S. Department of Justice, April 19, 2013
Alia Corp. To Pay $100,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit, From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), April 18, 2013
AVT to Pay $50,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Case, From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), April 16, 2013
Facing Lawsuit, State To Shift Away From Sheltered Workshops, By Michelle Diament, Disability Scoop, April 15, 2013
EEOC Sues Wal-Mart for Sexual Harassment, Retaliation and Disability Discrimination, From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), April 10, 2013
Justice Department Reaches Multiple Settlements with Health Care Providers to Stop Discrimination Against Persons with Hearing Disabilities, From the U.S. Department of Justice, April 04, 2013
Health contractor for military to pay $40,000 to settle EEOC lawsuit, By Mike Tsikoudakis, Business Insurance, April 03, 2013
US court backs blocking NC disabled services cuts, By Emery Dalesio (AP), News & Observer, April 02, 2013
Detroit-Area Home Health Agency Owner and Physical Therapist Convicted in $2.3 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme, From the U.S. Department of Justice, April 02, 2013
U.S. Department of Justice accuses Oregon of segregating disabled in sheltered workshops, By Bryan Denson, The Oregonian, April 01, 2013
Patient Recruiter for Miami Home Health Company Sentenced to 36 Months in $20 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme, From the U.S. Department of Justice, April 01, 2013
Operators of Louisiana Home Health Company Convicted in $17.1 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme, From the U.S. Department of Justice, April 01, 2013
From “We the People” to “All the People”, By Guest Blogger Kathleen Cohen, Vice President of Digital Innovation and Integration, National Constitution Center, Disability Blog, March 27, 2013
EEOC Sues Presbyterian Healthcare for Disability Discrimination, From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), March 26, 2013
Outback Steakhouse to Pay $65,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Lawsuit, From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), March 22, 2013
Supervalu / Jewel Food Held in Contempt for Breaching Consent Decree Settling Earlier EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit, From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), March 21, 2013
Disabled Sue Over Web Shopping, By Joe Palazzlo, Wall Street Journal, March 21, 2013
EEOC claims Toys 'R' Us discriminated against deaf job applicant, By Alison Knezevich, The Baltimore Sun, March 19, 2013
Justice Department settles with Ohio hospital over HIV discrimination, From the U.S. Department of Justice, March 13, 2013
Justice Department settles with Missouri eating disorder clinic over HIV discrimination, From the U.S. Department of Justice, February 06, 2013
Americans with Disabilities Act opens pools to disabled swimmers, By Mike M. Ahlers and Tory Dunnan, CNN, Jaunuary 31, 2013
Federal charges allege captors held adults with disabilities in subhuman conditions to carry out Social Security fraud, From the U.S. Department of Justice, January 23, 2013
McCormick & Schmick’s to pay $47,814 to settle EEOC disability discrimination lawsuit, From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), January 07, 2013
Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Law Firm Over Discrimination Against Deaf Individuals, From the U.S. Department of Justice, January 03, 2013
New on-line Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) complaint form available for public review, From the United States Access Board, December 18, 2012
HUD, Houston Housing Authority settle discrimination complaint involving deaf resident, From the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), December 04, 2012
EEOC Sues Staffmark and Sony for Disability Discrimination, From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), December 04, 2012
Despite Dole’s push, vote for U.N. disability rights treaty fails, By Lindsay Wise and Dave Helling, Kansas City Star, December 04, 2012
Advocacy Organizations and Informational Resources
The ADA Home Page is the definitive source for information and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law uses a coordinated approach of litigation, policy analysis, coalition-building, public information and technical support for local advocates to advance community membership, promote self-determination, end the punishment of people with mental illnesses for the system's failures and preserve the rights of people with mental disabilities.
The American Bar Association's Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law seeks to promote the ABA's commitment to justice and the rule of law for persons with mental, physical, and sensory disabilities and to promote their full and equal participation in the legal profession.
The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, Disability Rights Section works to achieve equal opportunity for people with disabilities in the United States by implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).The Section also carries out responsibilities under Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Disability.gov is the federal government's one-stop Web site for information of interest to people with disabilities, their families, employers, service providers and many others. The Civil Rights Section provides links to information on the ADA and other federal civil rights laws pertaining to people with disabilities, their families, employers and community members.
The Disability Law Lowdown Project is a set of podcasts that provide up-to-date information on the Americans with Disabilities Act and related disability laws. You can listen to the podcasts, or read the transcripts, on the website or you can download them to your MP3 player or print copies of the transcripts.
The Disability Rights Center of Kansas (DRC), is the Official Protection and Advocacy System for Kansas; empowered by federal law to advocate for the civil and legal rights of Kansans with disabilities. DRC advocates for the rights of Kansans with disabilities under state or federal laws and educates policymakers on needed improvements to the law and public policy.
The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), founded in 1979, is a leading national civil rights law and policy center directed by individuals with disabilities and parents who have children with disabilities. DREDF's mission is to advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development.
The Kansas Attorney General's Office, promoting human dignity through justice with compassion and professional excellence.
The Kansas Human Rights Commission investigates complaints alleging discrimination and conducts public education programs designed to prevent discrimination.
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Law and Advocacy Center (LAC) works to educate, advocate, and litigate on behalf of and to empower deaf and hard of hearing people.
The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) serves as a national resource center dedicated to the prevention of elder mistreatment. NCEA disseminates elder abuse information to professionals and the public, and provides technical assistance and training to states and to community-based organizations.
The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the P&A/CAP network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.
The U.S. International Council on Disabilities (USICD) is a non-profit, membership, constituent-led organization committed to building bridges between American and international disability communities and cultures. Through a wide range of projects and programs, USICD promotes the inclusion of disability perspectives in U.S. foreign policy and aid and provides opportunities for domestic disability rights organizations to interface with their international counterparts.
Publications
ADA Questions and Answers. A 31-page booklet giving an overview of the ADA's requirements for ensuring equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, State and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation, and requiring the establishment of TDD/telephone relay services. (Spanish, Cambodian, Chinese, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Tagalog and Vietnamese editions available from the ADA Information Line.)
ADA: Know Your Rights Returning Service Members - This publication is designed to inform US military personnel who became disabled while on active duty of their rights under the ADA and provide information on where to go to get assistance.
Additional Monitoring of Polling Places Could Further Improve Accessibility (GAO-09-9410), Sepember 2009 - This General Accountability Office (GAO) report is based on a national survey of polling places during the 2008 election assessing both physical and technological access. The report found that compared to 2000, the proportion of polling places without potential impediments increased and almost all polling places had an accessible voting system. However, 46 percent of polling places had an accessible voting system that could pose a challenge to certain voters with disabilities, such as voting stations that were not arranged to accommodate voters using wheelchairs. (Read highlights of the report)
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is a human rights treaty that sets out the obligations of countries that ratify it to promote, protect, fulfill, and ensure the rights of persons with disabilities. The United Nations adopted the CRPD in 2006. As of May 9, 2011, 99 countries have ratified the treaty and 148 countries have signed it. Currently, the U.S. has not ratified the CRPD.
The Disability Law Handbook from the DBTAC Southwest ADA Center provides information on rights and obligations under several federal disability laws, including an overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
DOJ Fact Sheet on 2010 Revised ADA Requirements for Service Animals - This publication provides guidance on the term "service animal" and the service animal provisions in the Department’s new regulations.
A Guide to Disability Rights Laws. A 21-page booklet that provides a brief overview of ten Federal laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities and provides information about the federal agencies to contact for more information. (Spanish, Cambodian, Chinese, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Tagalog and Vietnamese editions available from the ADA Information Line.)
Disability Rights Laws (HTML)
Disability Rights Laws (PDF)
Disability Rights Laws (En Español)
Ill-Prepared: Health Care’s Barriers for People with Disabilities, November 2011 – This Equal Rights Center (ERC) report reveals that less than 25 percent of medical service providers they investigated were compliant with accessibility standards required under federal law.
Rocking the Cradle: Ensuring the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and Their Children (pdf), September 27, 2012 - This report by the National Council on Disability explores the pervasive prejudices faced by parents with disabilities by exposing the disparate treatment often encountered by parents with disabilities and their children within court and service systems and offers draft model state and federal statutory language to correct the discrimination faced by parents with disabilities in the United States. (html) (docx)
Statement of the Department of Justice on Enforcement of the Integration Mandate of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Olmstead v. L.C., U. S. Department of Justice, June 22, 2011 - DOJ has created this technical assistance guide to assist individuals in understanding their rights and public entities in understanding their obligations under the ADA and Olmstead. (HTML version)