Resources for Family Members with Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Relatives: Legal Resources

Federal civil rights laws play an important role in achieving equal access and equal opportunities nationwide. The NAD was actively engaged in the passage of key civil rights laws, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Today, the NAD is actively engaged in the passage of other key civil rights laws, such as the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. The NAD also engages in national public policy development through a wide range of activities, including engagement in the regulatory process of federal agencies and the pursuit of enforcement actions through agencies and the courts.

The information on this page includes both the law itself as well an a breakdown and explanation, in accessible languages of the different sections (titles) of this federal law.

Places of public accommodation must give persons with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in and to benefit from their services. They cannot provide unequal or separate benefits to persons with disabilities. They must modify their policies and practices when necessary to provide equal access to services and facilities.

IDEA is a law tht ensures that students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing receive an appropriate education. Included in this law is development of and Individualized Education Program (IEP) and an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).

This section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a law that ensures that individuals with disabilities will not be excluded from participation in programs that receive federal financial assistance as in public schools, for example.

The Department of Justice published revised final regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for title II (State and local government services) and title III (public accommodations and commercial facilities) on September 15, 2010, in the Federal Register. These requirements, or rules, clarify and refine issues that have arisen over the past 20 years and contain new, and updated, requirements, including the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design (2010 Standards).

"The best form of advocacy for Deaf and hard of hearing people is self-advocacy, fighting for your rights! You must be aware of the laws that protect your civil rights and be aware of how to exercise those rights,"
This site, presented by the Deaf-Hearing Communicatiion Center, is a comprehensive overview and practical guide to the ADA. Be sure to scroll down the the bottom of the page for links to sites on other laws concerning people with disabilities.

Resources include:
United Nations CRPD
IDEA, ADA and 504 laws
ED Deaf Students Education Services (57 FR 49274, October 30, 1992)
National Association of the Deaf
Conference of Education Administrators for
Schools and Programs of the Deaf
World Federation of the Deaf