| People with disability are protected by both state and | | | | as contact for grievances or concerns |
| federal laws. In the state of California, there are | | | | • Other aspects of program services not |
| existing states and federal laws that help ensure | | | | limited to physical accessibility |
| protection of the rights of people with disabilities. This | | | | To ensure effective communications with disabled |
| article will discuss some of these laws so that people | | | | individuals, public entities are required to equip suitable |
| will be aware, not only those that are disabled, but also | | | | auxiliary aids and services. |
| the citizens. | | | | Auxiliary aids include the following: |
| Disability laws for: | | | | • Brailled materials |
| • Private and non-profit businesses | | | | • Taped texts |
| The Federal and state law give disabled people the | | | | • Captioning |
| right to gain full and equal access to everyday | | | | • Large print materials |
| activities usually done in establishments where the | | | | Government agencies or public entities must rely to all |
| general public is invited, such as: | | | | non-discrimination laws concerning employment of |
| • Enjoying a meal at a restaurant | | | | individuals with disabilities. |
| • Buying an item at the grocery store | | | | • Employment |
| • Getting their car serviced in stations | | | | According to the state and federal law, individuals with |
| • Watching a movie in a theater | | | | disability have the right to have an opportunity to |
| • Exercising at the health club | | | | participate in the process of employment. |
| Businesses that serve the public are subject to the | | | | The California disability rights law gives protections in |
| Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA and other | | | | regards to employment, separate from those in ADA. |
| disability rights laws. | | | | Also, California's definition of disability is much broader |
| According to the Title III of ADA, private and non-profit | | | | than the standard of the Federal. |
| businesses, sometimes referred to as Public | | | | The law pertains to non-profit and private businesses, |
| Accommodations, have responsibilities for newly | | | | and also to the government. |
| constructed or altered facilities and already existing | | | | Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) |
| ones. They may also have obligations in housing, | | | | The law that deals with the rights of persons with |
| employment and other areas that are protected from | | | | disabilities and the responsibilities of employers in the |
| discriminatory practices. | | | | state of California is the Fair Employment and Housing |
| Some of the public accommodations include the | | | | Act or FEHA. This law prohibits discrimination because |
| following: | | | | of an individual's disability in all aspects of housing. It |
| • Theaters | | | | also provides protection from discriminatory practices |
| • Restaurants | | | | or harassment in employment. |
| • Schools | | | | Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act |
| • Private museums | | | | The Federal law that is concerned with disabled |
| • Recreation facilities | | | | individuals' rights is the Title I of the Americans with |
| • Shops | | | | Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Title I requires |
| • Bars | | | | employers to provide an equal opportunity for disabled |
| • Stores | | | | individuals who are qualified to benefit from all |
| • Hotels | | | | employment-related opportunities that are available to |
| • Service establishments | | | | others who do not have any disabilities. This applies to |
| • Government agencies | | | | employers who have 15 or more employees. |
| Under the state and federal law, government agencies, | | | | There are still a lot of state disability laws, and also |
| or sometimes referred to as public entities, must give | | | | federal laws, that has not been discussed but too |
| an equal opportunity to disabled individuals to benefit | | | | many to contain in this article. |
| from or take part in its programs. Regardless of | | | | To sum it all up, these laws were created to protect |
| funding sources, the laws apply to all state and local | | | | the rights of persons with disabilities, their right to live a |
| government activities, services, and programs. | | | | normal life, that they should not be hindered because |
| Program access for public entities is not limited only to | | | | of their impairments to do what everyone else does |
| making the facilities physically accessible to disabled | | | | as long as they have the capacity to do so. |
| individuals but also include the following: | | | | For concerns regarding social security disability benefits |
| • Proper protocols for public meeting | | | | and claims, you can consult with our experienced |
| • Effective communication practices | | | | social security lawyers. You can visit our website to |
| • Accessible signage | | | | avail of our free case evaluation. |
| • Designation of a reliable employee to serve | | | | |