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Disability Rights Section

About Us

Our Mission: To advance the nation's goal of equal opportunity, integration, full participation, inclusion, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities through enforcement, regulation, and technical assistance. ​

The Disability Rights Section (DRS) works to achieve equal opportunity for people with disabilities in the United States by implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and coordinating with federal agencies on the consistent implementation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504). The Section also enforces the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA). The Section's enforcement, regulatory, coordination, and technical assistance activities, along with an innovative mediation program, provide a multi-faceted and dynamic approach for carrying out this mission.

Section Information

Chief
Rebecca Bond

Contact
Tel: (202) 307-0663
Fax: (202) 307-1197
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
4CON, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20530

ADA Information Line
Talk with an ADA Specialist
Voice: 800-514-0301
TTY: 1-833-610-1264
M, Tu, W, F: 9:30am - 12pm and 3pm - 5:30pm ET, Th: 2:30pm - 5:30pm ET

Americans with Disabilities Act

Proposed Title II Rule on Accessibility of Medical Diagnostic Equipment Published

The Department of Justice published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) explaining how we propose updating the regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to lay out specific requirements for the accessibility of medical diagnostic equipment (MDE).  The NPRM proposes to adopt specific technical standards that State and local governments would have to follow to meet their existing obligations under Title II of the ADA for MDE accessibility.  The NPRM asks the public for comments about this proposal.  Below are some key documents:

  • Fact Sheet:  This document provides a high-level summary of the NPRM.  It is designed to provide introductory information about our proposal to help get readers oriented.
  • NPRM:  The NPRM provides more details about our proposal.  It is published in the Federal Register.  If you need information in an alternative format, you can call the ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (voice) or 1-833-610-1264 (TTY).
  • Benefit-Cost Analysis:  This is an analysis of the benefits and costs of the proposed rule, also called the Preliminary Regulatory Impact Analysis (PRIA).
  • Press Release

Proposed Title II Web Accessibility Rule Published 

The Department of Justice published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) explaining how we propose updating the regulations under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to add more specific requirements about web and mobile app accessibility.  The NPRM proposes a specific technical standard that State and local governments would have to follow to meet their existing obligations under Title II of the ADA for web and mobile app accessibility.  The NPRM asks the public for comments about this proposal.  Below are some key documents:

  • Fact Sheet:  This document provides a high-level summary of the NPRM. It is designed to provide introductory information about our proposal to help get readers oriented.
  • NPRM: The NPRM provides more details about our proposal. It is published in the Federal Register. If you need information in an alternative format, you can call the ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or 1-833-610-1264 (TTY).
  • Benefit-Cost Analysis:  This is an analysis of the benefits and costs of the proposed rule, also called the Preliminary Regulatory Impact Analysis (PRIA).
  • Press Release   

Enforcement

The Disability Rights Section (DRS) enforces the ADA through lawsuits and settlement agreements to achieve greater access, inclusion, and equal opportunity for people with disabilities. Broadly speaking, DRS enforces ADA matters that involve:

  • Employment (Title I)
  • State and local governments’ services, programs, and activities (Title II)
  • Businesses and nonprofits open to the public (Title III)

Our Cases and Other Enforcement Matters

2021 - Present

Go to our cases page on justice.gov/CRT

2006 - 2020

Go to our cases page on archive.ADA.gov

Regulations

DRS is responsible for developing DOJ’s regulations under Titles II and III of the ADA that explain the rights of people with disabilities and the obligations of those covered by the law.

ADA Technical Assistance

DRS operates a robust ADA technical assistance program to help educate the public about their rights and responsibilities under the ADA, which includes:

  • ADA.gov is designed to better empower people to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as understand their rights and others’ rights, by creating and maintaining a website that is modern and user-centered.
  • ADA Information Line has accessibility specialists that are available to answer questions from individuals, businesses, and state/local governments.

ADA Mediation Program

DRS oversees the ADA Mediation Program, which assists DOJ resolve ADA complaints through voluntary alternative dispute resolution.

Disability Rights Section News
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