Become familiar with important disability legislation
Several significant pieces of federal legislation have resulted from the advocacy of groups focused on disability issues. Journalists covering disability, health care, education, or government issues should become familiar with this legislation: the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975 (IDEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Each has implications for reporters’ beats from local government to education to health.
The Rehabilitation Act began to be enforced in the 1980s and “prohibits discrimination based on disability in Federal employment and federally funded programs and services, by Federal contractors, and in the availability and use of Federal agencies’ electronic and information technology,” according to the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. That independent federal agency works to improve people’s access to all parts of society—from physical to educational.
Soon after the Rehab Act, IDEA was passed and, when enforced, guarantees free and public education to U.S. children and young people with disabilities. The ADA is the broadest civil rights legislation for people with disabilities and applies to society as a whole, not just the federal government as the Rehab Act does.
The U.S. Department of Justice, which enforces parts of the ADA, summarizes it this way: “The ADA prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation. It also mandates the establishment of Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD)/telephone relay services.”
Basically, except for some businesses and organizations with exemptions, the ADA applies to much of U.S. society. In addition to being a disability rights story, the ADA is also a business story. A number of U.S. businesses fought against complying with the ADA’s accessibility and employment requirements because they contended it would be expensive. However, many businesses qualify for tax incentives to help with any costs associated with complying with the ADA, and the U.S. Dept. of Justice provides information for businesses on how to accommodate customers with disabilities.
For more information on The Rehabilitation Act of 1973:
http://www.access‑board.gov/about/Rehab%20Act.htm.
For more information on The Americans with Disabilities Act: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm.
For information about "Reaching out to customers with disabilities":
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/reachingout/intro1.htm.
Beth Haller, Towson University, Towson, Md.