Timeline of Laws

By Jasmineperez_3

  • Vocational Rehabilitation Amendment of 1954

    Targeting people who could return to work with assistance; but had intellectual disabilities, this amendment helped thousands of people obtain employment and funded more than 100 university-based rehabilitation programs. Later it contributed to funding for research, which lead into the creation of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

  • Higher Education Act of 1965

    Providing financial assistance for people with physical disabilities entering college or university. This benefits people today by financially helping them when entering into higher education.

  • Voting Rights Act

    People with disabilities are able to have assistance in voting in elections. This is beneficial today because it is able to gives those with a disability a voice in their potential officials.

  • The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504)

    Section 504 was the first federal civil rights protection for people with disabilities that they can not be excluded from the participation, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance such as hospital, schools, welfare and government offices. This helps people today by giving them equal opportunities which they might not have had as those without disabilities.

  • Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975

    This act required all public schools accepting federal funds to provide access to education for children with physical and mental disabilities. Public schools were required create an educational plan with parent's input that closely mirrors the educational experience of non-disabled students. It is now referred as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This contributes to todays students by giving them a fair chance at an education which they would not have been able to have before.

  • Civil Rights of Institutionalized Person Act

    This allows people with disabilities can file civil suits in the U.S. Justice Dept. if their rights were being violated. This is helpful today because it is giving people who have disabilities a voice to state when their rights were ignored or violated.

  • Job Training Partnership Act of 1982

    This Act established federal assistance to prepare youth and unskilled adults, who have disabilities, to enter into the labor force. This is very beneficially in today, because it give people with disabilities the proper training and time needed to be successful in their field of work. This is also able to help open doors for growth in their job by having been trained at their pace to fully understand the expectations.

  • Fair Housing Act

    This was amended to protect people with disabilities from housing discrimination, modifications to existing buildings and outlined accessibility to newly constructed housing units. This expanded the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This is something which we see everywhere today and is a vital part of establishments. Being able to have accommodations for people with a disability makes it to where they are able to go anywhere in a building they so need to without having to “figure it out”.

  • Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA)

    Congress passed the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), enforcing that people with disabilities would receive consistent and nondiscriminatory treatment when traveling by air. This is very important today because it is able to open up door for disabilities to travel without feeling uncomfortable. Needing to travel for medical appointments and family reasons is very common and it a luxury most people have. Having this passed makes it to where those with a disability have one less thing to worry about.

  • Department of Transportation

    Airline website pages, which have core travel information and services, must be accessible by 2015 and all pages on airline websites must must be readily available to people with disabilities by 2016. This also included airport kiosks to access boarding tickets and how planes handle wheelchairs. This is beneficial because it allow people with disabilities to be able to move around with ease and not have to worry about needing to get somewhere which they are not able to access.