Under State and Federal Law, government agencies, also known as public entities, must provide individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in or benefit from its programs. Services provided to persons with disabilities must be as effective in affording equal opportunity to obtain the same result, to gain the same benefit, or to reach the same level of achievement as those provided to others. The laws apply to all state and local Government programs, activities and services regardless of funding sources.
For public entities, program access is not limited to making facilities physically accessible. Adhering to program access requirements includes effective communication practices, proper public meeting protocols, accessible signage, the designation of a responsible employee to serve as contact for concerns or grievances and other aspects of program services that mere physical accessibility does not fulfill.
Public entities are required to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to ensure effective communications with individuals with disabilities, unless doing so would result in a fundamental alteration to the program or service or in an undue burden. Auxiliary aids include taped texts, Brailled materials, large print materials, captioning and other methods of making audio and visual media available to people with disabilities.
The effective communication rules applies to public entities using the Internet for communications regarding their programs, goods or services since they must be prepared to offer those communications via an accessible medium.
Also, public entities must adhere to all non-discrimination laws and regulations regarding employment of people with disabilities.
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California Department of Fair Employment and Housing
The Mission of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing is to protect the people of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations, and from the perpetration of acts of hate violence.
http://www.dfeh.ca.gov
Employment/Public Accommodations/Hate Violence:
1-800-884-1684 (Within California)
1-916-227-0551 (Outside California)
The U.S. Department of Justice Americans with Disabilities Act Technical Assistance Program
The ADA requires the Department to provide technical assistance to businesses, State and local governments, and individuals with responsibilities and rights under the law.
http://www.ada.gov/
Toll-Free ADA Information Line:
800-514-0301 (voice)
800-514-0383 (TDD)
Disability Access Services, California Department of Rehabilitation
The Section serves as a centralized resource for providing public information, training, and technical assistance on FEHA, ADA, and other related disability laws to state entities, agencies, and One-Stop service delivery systems serving persons with disabilities and employers.
E-mail: adatf@dor.ca.gov
Voice (916) 558-5755
TTY (916) 558-5758
The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
The leading national law and policy center in disability civil rights-- DREDF--founded in 1979 by a unique alliance of adults with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities. DREDF's name was chosen to associate and align with the tradition of other civil rights legal defense funds, starting with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
http://www.dredf.org
510-644-2555 Voice/TTY
Pacific Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC)
Provides information, problem solving assistance and referrals for implementing the ADA and Accessible Electronic and Information Technology (E&IT).
http://www.adapacific.org
1-800-949-4232 (Voice &TDD)
510-848-2980 (Voice)
510-848-1840 (TDD)
Access Board
The Access Board is an independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. It operates with about 30 staff and a governing board of representatives from Federal departments and public members appointed by the President. Key responsibilities of the Board include: Developing and maintaining accessibility requirements for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and for electronic and information technology; providing technical assistance and training on these guidelines and standards; enforcing accessibility standards for federally funded facilities.
http://www.access-board.gov/
(202) 272-0080 (v)
(202) 272-0082 (TTY)
(202) 272-0081 (fax)
(800) 872-2253 (v)
(800) 993-2822 (TTY)
Disability Direct
As part of President Bush's New Freedom Initiative, his comprehensive plan to reduce barriers to full community integration for people with disabilities, the Department of Labor, in collaboration with other Federal agencies, is in the process of expanding and improving the DisabilityDirect.gov web portal. Accordingly, the existing site will be shut down for a brief period while the new site is under construction. Please join our subscriber list to learn more about the new site as it becomes available.
http://www.disability.gov/
Protection and Advocacy
An organization that works in partnership with people with disabilities, offers several publications dealing with individuals with disabilities and transportation. For more information see the Protection and Advocacy website.
http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/
