Some Constitutive Federal Laws for the Disabled

The United States Federal Government has provided enough laws that ensure equal opportunity for people with disabilities. These provisions are waged in order to strike the imbalance growing out from the difference in physical and psychological attributes among people.

These laws are all aimed at approximating equality for all regardless of their personal circumstances and physical defects. This is not only mandated by law but also developed as an obligation.

The Federal Law has provided constitutive rules addressing this concern. In fact, there are many federally mandated laws for the disabled. To name a few of these pertinent laws would be illuminating, thus:

Federal Disability Laws

•    The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability program

It is the largest of several Federal programs managed by the Social Security Administration that assists people with disabilities. SSDI pays benefits to people who are unable to work because of a disability. On the other hand, SSI pays benefits to individuals who have both limited income and resources.  It is a provision that is primarily based on financial need.

•    Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq.

It is a federal law that provides civil rights protection to persons with disabilities in the area of employment, public accommodations, and services made available by state and local governments, transportation and telecommunications. 

The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability by calling for the removal of communication and architectural barriers. 

•    Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq.

A federal law that prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin. It covers private housing, housing that receives Federal financial assistance, and State and local government housing. 

In brief, its mandate against unlawful discrimination covered the following activities: any aspect of selling or renting housing, including financing, zoning practices, new construction design, and advertising.

•    The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ,as amended (Section 501 29 U.S.C. § 791, Section 503 29 U.S.C. § 793, Section 504 29 U.S.C. § 794 and Section 508 29 U.S.C. § 794d)

It is a law that prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs conducted by Federal agencies; in programs, which received Federal financial assistance; in Federal employment; and in the employment practices of Federal contractors. 

It focuses on requiring non-discriminatory actuations in federal employment and guaranteeing affirmative actions for the disabled.

•    Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq.

It is a federal law that requires public schools to make available to all eligible and disabled children (age three – twenty one) a special education and related services including a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment appropriate to their individual needs.

•    Telecommunications Act of 1996 47 U.S.C. §§ 255, 251(a)(2)

It is the law that ensures people with disabilities easy access to a broad range of telecommunication products and services. Manufacturers of telecommunication equipment and providers of telecommunication services are required to provide accessibility of equipment and services for use of persons with disabilities.

•    Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984
42 U.S.C. §§ 1973ee et seq.

Physical accessibility of polling places across the US (for federal Elections), availability of registration and voting aids for disabled and elderly voters are partly mandated by these federal laws all for the benefit of the disabled and elderly sector.

The pertinent federal disability laws given above are just some of the laws provided for the disabled sector waged by the US government. With all of these guarantees, the public can glean that equality has been approximated, in a way.

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