The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was the first legislation to address the notion of equal access for individuals with disabilities through the removal of architectural, employment, and transportation barriers . It also created rights of persons with disabilities through affirmative action programs.
Why is the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 important?
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was the first law to provide equal access for people with disabilities by removing architectural, employment, and transportation barriers . Section 501 and 503 of the law prohibits federal agencies from discriminating against individuals with disabilities.
Why is the Rehabilitation Act important?
The Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by Federal agencies , in programs receiving Federal financial assistance, in Federal employment, and in the employment practices of Federal contractors.
How is the Rehabilitation Act enforced?
If a state or local government employer receives federal financial assistance, an individual with a disability who is employed by or applies for employment with that employer is protected by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, enforced by the federal agency that provided the federal financial ...
What are the main provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990?
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 covers federal contractors and programs receiving federal funds. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination in employment, public services, public accommodations and telecommunications .
Who does the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protect?
Section 504 of the Rehab Act prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities by any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance or by any program or activity conducted by a federal executive agency or the U.S. Postal Service.
What does a rehabilitation do?
What is rehabilitation? Rehabilitation is care that can help you get back, keep, or improve abilities that you need for daily life . These abilities may be physical, mental, and/or cognitive (thinking and learning). You may have lost them because of a disease or injury, or as a side effect from a medical treatment.
What disabilities are in Section 7 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act?
The major concern is with section 7(B)(i), cited above, which asserts that a handicapped individual “has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of such person's major life activities.” Federal regulations further define which persons are covered by this language.
What disabilities are covered under the Rehabilitation Act?
Some examples of impairments which may substantially limit major life activities, even with the help of medication or aids/devices, are: AIDS, alcoholism, blindness or visual impairment, cancer, deafness or hearing impairment, diabetes, drug addiction, heart disease, and mental illness .
Is 504 a civil rights law?
OCR, a component of the U.S. Department of Education, enforces Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, (Section 504) a civil rights statute which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities .
What is the disability Act 2020?
July 26, 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Signed into law in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush, this landmark civil rights legislation increases access and opportunity for people with disabilities across community life, including employment .
What are three requirements of the Rehabilitation Act?
Requirements common to these regulations include reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities; program accessibility; effective communication with people who have hearing or vision disabilities ; and accessible new construction and alterations. Each agency is responsible for enforcing its own regulations.
What are three examples of disability discrimination?
- Example #1: Not Hiring A Candidate Because of His Disability. ...
- Example #2: Failing to Accommodate An Employee's Disability. ...
- Example #3: Harassing Someone With A Disability. ...
- Example #4: Asking An Applicant to Take A Medical Exam Before A Job Offer Has Been Made.
What are two differences between the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the ADA?
The main difference with the Rehabilitation Act is that it covers instances where federal money is involved . ... So, the ADA has far fewer restrictions than the Rehabilitation Act. This was a major groundbreaking act for disabled individuals. Both of these acts define a disabled individual in the same way.
Who is protected under the American disability Act?
To be protected by the ADA, one must have a disability , which is defined by the ADA as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.
Is anxiety protected under ADA?
Essentially any chronic condition which significantly limits a bodily function is going to qualify, and cognitive thinking and concentration are bodily functions. In most cases, chronic stress and anxiety disorders are covered by the ADA .
