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Civil Rights and You
Ask for the accommodation you need!
Federal and state laws provide disability rights for people with hearing loss. Some of the laws are listed below:
- California Unruh Act, 1959
- Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), July 26, 1990
The ADA is one of America’s most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life: enjoy employment opportunities, participate in Federal, State, and local government programs and services and purchase goods and services.
Modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin—and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973—the ADA is an “equal opportunity” law for people with disabilities.
To be protected by the ADA, one must have a disability, which is defined by the ADA as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment. The ADA does not specifically name all of the impairments that are covered.1
You may find interest in the following links to the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division’s ADA.gov website.
Effective Communications (2020), Revised ADA requirements
This 7-page publication provides guidance on the Department’s 2010 regulations relating to communicating effectively with people who have vision, hearing, or speech disabilities.
ADA Frequently Asked Questions
Thousands of answers to your most pressing ADA questions in an easy-to-use, searchable format.
Guidance on Web Accessibility (2022)
How to insure that your website and training materials meet ADA requirements.
How to File an ADA Complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice
You can file an Americans with Disabilities Act complaint alleging disability discrimination against a State or local government or a public accommodation (including, for example, a restaurant, doctor’s office, retail store, hotel, etc.) by mail, fax, or email.
Revised ADA Requirements: Service Animals (2020)
This publication provides guidance on the term “service animal” and the service animal provisions in the Department’s new regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions on effective communication for students with hearing, vision, or speech disabilities in public elementary and secondary schools (2014)
This 30-page document, issued jointly by the Justice Department and the U.S. Department of Education, explains public schools’ responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to meet the communication needs of students with hearing, vision, or speech disabilities.
ADA: Know Your Rights – Returning Service Members with Disabilities (2010)
This 28-page booklet is designed to provide military service members who have been seriously wounded in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom a basic understanding of their rights under the ADA and where to turn for additional information and assistance.
Title I – how the ADA protects people with disabilities in employment
Title II – How the ADA protects people with disabilities in State and local governments
1. introduction from ADA.gov homepage
Effective Communications
(2020), Revised ADA requirements
This 7-page publication provides guidance on the Department’s 2010 regulations relating to communicating effectively with people who have vision, hearing, or speech disabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions for Students
This 30-page document, issued jointly by the Justice Department and the U.S. Department of Education, explains public schools’ responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to meet the communication needs of students with hearing, vision, or speech disabilities
How to File a Complaint
You can file an Americans with Disabilities Act complaint alleging disability discrimination against a State or local government or a public accommodation (including, for example, a restaurant, doctor’s office, retail store, hotel, etc.) by mail, fax, or email.