Disability Rights

Despite the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act nearly 20 years ago, people with disabilities continue to face discrimination in employment, education, and housing. The ACLU continues to support affirmative policies promoting employment for people with disabilities, as well as inclusive and appropriate education for students with disabilities.

Seclusion Rooms in Ohio

For years, Ohio schoolchildren — many of them disabled — have been routinely isolated in cell-like seclusion rooms or physically restrained by educators with little or no oversight from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE).  …

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For years, Ohio schoolchildren — many of them disabled — have been routinely isolated in cell-like seclusion rooms or physically restrained by educators with little or no oversight from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE).  Click here to learn more about the problem of seclusion and restraint in Ohio.

In 2013, ODE finally took the important step of creating draft rules to govern the use of seclusion and restraint in Ohio Schools. These draft rules are a step in the right direction, but they do not go far enough.

On March 12, 2013, the ACLU of Ohio delivered testimony to the Ohio State Board of Education, asking for a number of revisions to the draft rules. These revisions would make the rules more specific, and apply them to charter schools as well as traditional public schools. Click here to read our testimony, along with the testimony of other child advocates.

 

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Rights of Voters with Disabilities

On June 29, 2011, the Ohio legislature passed House Bill 194, which makes a variety of misguided changes to Ohio’s voting system. The bill includes a provision that poll workers are no longer required to assist voters. However, …

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On June 29, 2011, the Ohio legislature passed House Bill 194, which makes a variety of misguided changes to Ohio’s voting system. The bill includes a provision that poll workers are no longer required to assist voters. However, the Americans with Disabilities Act still requires poll workers to assist voters with disabilities if they need help completing their ballot.

More information about voting is available through our Voting Rights page or the Ohio Legal Rights Service.

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Despite the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act nearly 20 years ago, people with disabilities continue to face discrimination in employment, education, and housing. The ACLU continues to support affirmative policies promoting employment for people with disabilities, as well as inclusive and appropriate education for students with disabilities.

Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted in 1990 to provide legal protections to the millions of Americans who are vulnerable to discrimination because of physical or mental disabilities. However, since its passage, the courts had dramatically narrowed the scope …

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The Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted in 1990 to provide legal protections to the millions of Americans who are vulnerable to discrimination because of physical or mental disabilities. However, since its passage, the courts had dramatically narrowed the scope of the ADA.

On January 1, 2009 the ADA Amendments Act went into effect. The law clarifies the original intent of Congress in passing the ADA and restores some of the civil rights that had been eroded by subsequent judicial decisions. On March 24, 2011, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced final regulations for the Act.

Read the ACLU press release supporting the ADA Amendments Act.

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