Accessibility is not a luxury – it’s a necessity and, in many instances, required by law. Laws around disability in the United States go back to the Rehabilitation Act of 1978, which prevented federal agencies from discriminating on the basis of disability. That same year, the organization ADAPT held the first protest for wheelchair-accessible buses in Denver, CO. After years of activism from people across the nation, the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990. The ADA not only prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability across sectors but also mandates many accessibility features, including in transportation, and the ADA guides much of the regulation around disability in the U.S. today. For help understanding ADA regulations related to transportation or regulations beyond the ADA in the U.S. and abroad, browse the resources below.
What is the ADA?
Summary of the ADA written by the ADA National Network
Reinvigorating Implementation and Enforcement of the Rehab Act
Blog celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Rehab Act
Guide to Disability Rights Laws
Outline of several important disability rights laws, including the ADA, Fair Housing Act, Air Carrier Access Act, Help America Vote Act, and more (ADA.gov)
Plain Writing Act of 2010
Requirements and guidelines for using plain language (PlainWriting.gov)
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2)
Guidelines for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities
Section 504 of the Rehab Act
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on disability
Section 508 of the Rehab Act
Information about Federal IT accessibility and meeting your responsibilities under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
International Law
International Disability Rights
The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund has collected a database of disability rights laws by country since 2000
How A Law To Protect Disabled Americans Became Imitated Around The World
Discover the international legacy of the Americans with Disabilities Act