ADA Document Center

This website contains online copies of fact sheets, regulations, technical assistance manuals and guidelines related to the ADA, including extensive list of links to other general disability-related web pages.

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is a national organization that focuses on legal advocacy for the civil rights and human dignity of people with mental illness.

California Department of Fair Employment And Housing

The mission of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing is to protect the people of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations, and from the perpetration of acts of hate violence.

Phone: (Voice) 800-884-1684 or (TTY) 800-700-2320

Child Care and the ADA

Child care centers whether privately or publicly operated must conform to ADA standards in order to meet the needs of special children.This website is under the U.S. Department of Justice.

Child Care Law Center

The Child Care Law Center (CCLC) is a national nonprofit legal services organization that uses legal tools to make high quality, affordable child care available to every child, every family and every community. It is the only organization in the country devoted exclusively to the complex legal issues that affect child care.

Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF)

Founded in 1979 by people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities, the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc. (DREDF) is a national law and policy center dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities through legislation, litigation, advocacy, technical assistance, and education and training of attorneys, advocates, persons with disabilities, and parents of children with disabilities.

DREDF is also the Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) for Alameda, Contra Costa, and Yolo counties in Northern California. Their parent advocates provide technical assistance to parents to help guide them through the special education process. If parents live in these counties and have a child with a disability (0-22 years) or suspect their child may have an undiagnosed disability, they can call DREDF for assistance with obtaining services the child needs to receive a free appropriate public education. If you live outside of DREDF’s service area, go to www.taalliance.org/Centers to find the PTI closest to you.

2212 Sixth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
Phone (Voice & TTY): 800-348-4232 or 510-644-2555
Fax: 510-841-8645
E-mail: info@dredf.org

Protection and Advocacy, Inc.

Protection and Advocacy, Inc., (PAI) is a nonprofit agency that works with people with disabilities – to protect, advocate for and advance their human and legal rights. PAI strives to create a barrier free, inclusive society that values diversity and each individual. PAI began protecting the rights of Californians with disabilities in 1978. It now provides advocacy services to people with disabilities under seven federal statutes and two state contracts. PAI has four regional offices located in Sacramento, San Diego, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area.

United States Access Board

The Access Board is an independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. Created in 1973 to ensure access to federally funded facilities, the Board is now a leading source of information on accessible design. The Board develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and for electronic and information technology. It also provides technical assistance and training on these requirements and on accessible design and continues to enforce accessibility standards that cover federally funded facilities.

1331 F Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004-1111
Phone: 800-872-2253

United States Department of Justice

The USDOJ home page on the Americans with Disabilities Act has a wealth of information, including links to federal agencies with ADA responsibilities in addition to ADA publications. A “What’s New” section is available as is “ADA Standards for Accessible Design.”

Phone: (Voice) 800-514-0301 or (TTY) 800-514-0383

Unruh Civil Rights Act

The Unruh Civil Rights Act is California’s primary civil rights law that guarantees full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges or services in all business establishments to all persons regardless of medical condition or disability. The California law incorporates ADA but provides even more expansive protections. Private child care programs, such as family child care homes and centers whether serving infants and toddlers, preschoolers or schoolagers, are considered business establishments under Unruh. People who feel they have been discriminated against may either file private lawsuits through a private attorney or they can file a complaints with the Caliornia Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the agency charged with enforcing the Unruh Civil Rights act, within one year of the violation.

Wrightslaw

Parents, advocates, educators, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for accurate, up-to-date information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities. The website contains articles, cases, newsletters, and resources about dozens of topics in the Advocacy Libraries and Law Libraries.