Laws, Rights & Other Legal Issues

General Topics / Issues

• Abuse & Disability
• Advocacy & Public Policy
• Air Travel Rights and Regulations for People with Disabilities
• Employment for People with Disabilities
• Estate Planning
• Home Ownership for People with Disabilities
  
  

Specific Legislation

• ADA - The Americans with Disabilities Act
  
Gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion.

• Air Carrier Access Act
  Prohibits discrimination in air transportation.
  
• The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)
  Requires access to facilities designed, built, altered, or leased with Federal funds.
• Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act
  Ensures that the rights of persons in institutions are protected.
• COBRA - Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act in 1986
  Allows individuals opportunity to continue temporarily their group health care coverage under certain circumstances.
  
• Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act
  Ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families have access to services and supports.
  
• IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
  Guarantees right to a free, appropriate, public education for students with disabilities.
  
• FERPA - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
  Protects the privacy of student education records
  
• Fair Housing Act
  Defines discrimination in housing against persons with disabilities
  
• FMLA - Family & Medical Leave Act
  
Requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave

• HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
  Protects health insurance coverage for workers and their families when they change or lose their job
  
• Medicaid
  Joint State/Federal health care program for people with disabilities and others.
  
• Mental Health Parity Act
  Aims to ensure that mental health benefits offered by group health plans are on par with medical and surgical benefits.
  
• National Voter Registration Act
  Agencies that provide services to people with disabilities also must offer voter registration.
  
• Rehabilitation Act  - Section 504
  Nondiscrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
  
• Rehabilitation Act  - Section 508
  Requires Federal agencies to make their electronic information accessible to people with disabilities.
  
• Social Security Disability Services
  Provides income benefits to individuals with disabilities meeting certain criteria. 
• Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act
  Provides grants to states for assistive technology programs for individuals who have disabilities.
• Telecommunications Act of 1996
  Requires telecommunications products and services to be accessible to people with disabilities.
  
• Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act
  Requires accessibility at registration facilities and polling places for Federal elections
• Workforce Investment Act
  Establishes a national workforce preparation and employment system that must serve customers with disabilities.

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Last Updated June 2, 2009 by familyvillage@waisman.wisc.edu
Document Source: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/legal/