Americans with Disabilities Act Technical Assistance Letters

810

January 11, 2000

The Honorable Max Cleland

United States Senator

75 Spring Street, S.W.

Suite 1700

Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Dear Senator Cleland:

This is in response to your request for assistance on behalf of your constituent, xxx xxxx xxxx xxxxx of Rossville, Georgia. xxx xxxxx is disabled and seeks financial assistance to purchase a van.

Staff of the Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights Division, carefully reviewed xxx xxxxxxx request. Our Department enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Both these laws are considered to be civil rights statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability; they do not provide financial assistance for persons with disabilities.

There are numerous other federal statutes to provide financial and other support to persons with disabilities, and to protect them from discrimination. We have enclosed a summary of federal programs targeted to assist persons with disabilities that was published by the Department of Education several years ago (Enclosure 1). Separate chapters in this publication describe income, housing, education, health, and transportation assistance programs. xxx xxxxx should contact the federal, state, or local agencies that directly administer these programs in his area. Also enclosed is a list of organizations within Georgia that serve persons with disabilities (Enclosure 2).

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Department of Education, administers most federal special education and rehabilitation programs to assist persons with disabilities. OSERS may have additional information and suggestions for xxx xxxxx with respect to Georgia's programs to assist persons with disabilities. xxx xxxxx may contact OSERS by writing to:

Ms. Judith Heumann

Assistant Secretary

Office of Special Education and

Rehabilitative Services

Department of Education

Room 3006

330 C Street, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20202

Telephone: (202) 205-5465

The following state government resource in Georgia also may provide xxx xxxxx with information about obtaining the transportation and other financial assistance that he is seeking. He may contact:

Georgia Department of Human Resources

2 Peachtree Street, N.W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Telephone: (404) 657-9358

or

Tools for Life

Georgia Department of Human Resources

Telephone: 1-800-497-8665

I hope this information is responsive to your inquiry.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Department if we can be of assistance in other matters.

Sincerely,

Bill Lann Lee

Acting Assistant

Attorney General

Civil Rights Division

Enclosures