ACLU: American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio
Keeping America Safe and Free
free speech voting rights death penalty immigrant rights government spying all issues
RSS Feeds
Email Alert (get information on the issues)
Calendar (see a full list of events)
Join Now (raise public awareness)
Donate Now (make a tax deductible gift)

Disability Rights

Updated 10.02.07 The Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted in 1990 to prohibit discrimination against citizens with "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities."

Even though the law has been in effect for over 15 years, the need for advocacy and activism has not waned.

In July 2007, the U.S. Senate introduced the Fair Pay Restoration Act, which addresses wage disparity based on disability, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and age. Read more on the national ACLU website. go»

Resources

The Ohio Legal Rights Service can assist in concerns about discrimination in the schools or workplace, help with medical decisions, and assist with other disability-related legal issues. 

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) oversees compliance with Section II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (section 504), both of which prohibit discrimination based on disability. OCR investigates complaints of discrimination and, when necessary, enters into enforcement agreements in troubled school districts.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The EEOC investigates complaints of employment discrimination.

The Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice oversees enforcement of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which applies to all “public accommodations.”

ADA Watch is a national campaign to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities.

The ADA and IT Technical Assistance Centers provides an overview of the historical context of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

For national news updates on disability rights, visit the National Disability Rights Network. Through training and technical assistance, legal support, and legislative advocacy, the National Disability Rights Network works to create a society in which people with disabilities are afforded equal opportunity.

To learn more about what ACLU affiliates across the country are doing to protect and expand the rights of people with disabilities, visit the disability rights section of the national ACLU website.