Twenty years ago, a minuscule advisory body in the Department of Education (ED), known then as the National Council on the Handicapped, was elevated to the status of an independent federal agency. The legislation that made what is now called the National Council on Disability (NCD) independent also gave it an ambitious agenda that greatly exceeded…

This pamphlet for people with disabilities provides basic information on the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that concern protection from discrimination in employment. Using simple language, the pamphlet provides the following information: what the ADA is, who the ADA is for, who the ADA is not for, how the ADA can help the…

Key issues surrounding a public broadcasting licensee's obligation to provide access to television programs to the hearing impaired are examined in the context of two recent court decisions. Background of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Federal Communications Commission's concern regarding the hearing impaired are considered. (MSE)

This article examines the tension between the principles underlying the inclusion of students with disabilities and those underlying school choice, particularly market competition and parental autonomy. It examines findings from five states and a case study of a school-choice system that indicate the exclusion of students with disabilities.…

Previous findings on employer knowledge about learning disabilities were compared to 25 employers from Pennsylvania and Virginia. Findings indicate that employers are continuing to make efforts to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 regulations but have little knowledge or experience with it in terms of learning disabilities.…

Presents a brief overview of the sociological forces shaping the discourse of disability; examines the part that public libraries have played, or failed to play, in addressing issues of exclusion as they relate to people with disabilities. Focuses on Australia's deaf community and its particular informational needs. The low impact of the…

H.R. 5490 (98th Congress, Second Session) has been offered as an answer to the Supreme Court's ruling in "Grove City College v. Bell" (1984) that Title IX's sex discrimination prohibitions are program-specific, not institution-specific. It would also amend three other statutes prohibiting discrimination in Federally funded programs on…

This brief paper uses a question-and-answer format to summarize requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 related to employment of people with learning disabilities (LD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Questions address the following topics: (1) what is meant by LD and ADHD; (2) eligibility requirements…

The problems and special opportunities that face the college candidate with learning disabilities are discussed. It is suggested that Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act has not succeeded in forcing the vast majority of colleges and universities to establish special programs for students with learning disabilities. (MLW)

Analyzes existing legislation, regulations, and case law interpreting statutory mandates to provide a survey of the current status of employment rights for the handicapped. Suggests an administrative framework to alleviate weaknesses in existing governmental programs. Available from Marshall-Wythe School of Law of the College of William and Mary,…

This article delineates legal protections prohibiting employment discrimination of individuals with learning disabilities. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Title V) and Americans with Disabilities Act (Title I) are described, fundamental concepts are discussed, and strategies are presented for ensuring that these laws are relied upon appropriately…

This article describes two major laws affecting special education--Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. It identifies the agencies charged with enforcement of these laws, and lists printed and organizational resources that address specific questions about these laws and their application in…

Australian laws and regulations such as the Disability Services Act reflect the importance of ensuring that persons with disabilities receive appropriate services. A tension exists, however, between policy formulation and service provision, which is influenced by disagreements on government's role in service funding, lobby groups, and the tendency…

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) are two major pieces of social legislation that impact private and public employers, including school districts. Public school employers must have thorough awareness of the legal requirements of both laws and must analyze the ways in which those requirements…

In administering its 300-plus programs, HEW begins the enforcement of a wide-ranging law to protect the rights of more than 36 million handicapped individuals living in the United States. (Editor)