Rights & Laws
Disability rights exist. They’re not charity or accommodation—they’re legal protections and human rights that you have, whether you know about them or not. This section explains your rights at federal, state, international, and regional levels, and how to advocate for yourself and your community.
About This Section
Section titled “About This Section”Every disabled person has rights: to be included in decisions affecting us, to access healthcare and education, to work, to access public spaces, to organize, and to self-determine. These rights are codified in law, policy, and international agreements.
Many disabled people don’t know their rights. Many know them but don’t know how to advocate for them. This section translates legal language into plain language, provides concrete steps for filing complaints and appeals, and centers disability justice approaches to advocacy that go beyond individual rights to community liberation.
Pages in This Section
Section titled “Pages in This Section”Introduction to disability rights across different regions and frameworks. Includes the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), regional human rights systems, and how disability rights are understood globally.
The disability rights movement—often led by Disabled people of color, Mad people, and multiply-marginalized disabled people—has a rich, radical history. Understanding this history is essential to understanding disability justice and current advocacy.
Overview of major federal disability laws: the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, Fair Housing Act, Air Carrier Access Act, Voting accessibility, and web accessibility standards. Each has its own detailed page.
State disability laws vary significantly. Find your state and learn what rights you have beyond federal law.
Rights frameworks outside the U.S., including CRPD, Marrakesh Treaty (copyright and disabilities), regional human rights systems, and country-by-country rights guides.
How to advocate for your rights: filing ADA complaints, Section 504 complaints, Fair Housing complaints, workplace discrimination claims. Includes working with legal aid, organizing strategies, and disability justice principles.
Detailed Law Pages
Section titled “Detailed Law Pages”Each major U.S. law has its own comprehensive page with plain language explanations, specific applications, and how to enforce your rights:
The most comprehensive disability rights law in the U.S. Covers employment, public accommodations, government services, telecommunications, and more. Includes Title I (employment), Title II (government services), and Title III (public accommodations).
Civil rights law prohibiting discrimination in federally funded programs. Critical for education (schools that receive federal funds must accommodate students) and healthcare.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Section titled “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)”Federal law requiring free, appropriate public education and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for disabled students. Covers evaluation, placement, discipline, and parent rights.
Federal law prohibiting housing discrimination and requiring accessibility modifications and reasonable accommodations in housing.
Federal law requiring airlines to provide accessibility accommodations and ensuring your disability-related equipment travels with you safely.
Summary of additional state-specific laws, many of which go beyond federal protections.
Quick Guide: Which Law Covers My Situation?
Section titled “Quick Guide: Which Law Covers My Situation?”Employment
Section titled “Employment”- Private employer (15+ employees): ADA Title I →
- Federal employee: ADA Title I
- School or university employee: ADA Title I + Title IX →
- Contractor or employee benefits: Section 504 →
- State-specific protections: State laws →
Education
Section titled “Education”- Public school (K-12): IDEA → and Section 504 →
- College or university: ADA Title II → and Section 504 →
- Private school: ADA Title III → (some apply)
Housing
Section titled “Housing”- Any housing receiving federal funding: Fair Housing Act →
- HUD housing (public housing): Fair Housing Act →
- Landlord won’t modify for access: Fair Housing Act →
- Landlord discriminates based on disability: Fair Housing Act →
Healthcare
Section titled “Healthcare”- Hospital or clinic receiving federal funding: Section 504 →
- Insurance discrimination: ADA →
- Communication access denied: ADA →
Public Accommodations (Stores, Restaurants, Entertainment, Transportation)
Section titled “Public Accommodations (Stores, Restaurants, Entertainment, Transportation)”- Inaccessible building or services: ADA Title III →
- Public transit: ADA Title II →
- Air travel: ACAA →
How to File a Complaint
Section titled “How to File a Complaint”Different agencies handle complaints depending on the law:
ADA Complaints: File with the Department of Justice, HHS, Department of Education, or FTC depending on the sector.
Section 504 Complaints: File with the relevant federal agency (HHS for healthcare, Department of Education for schools, etc.).
Fair Housing Complaints: File with HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development).
IDEA Complaints: File with your state Department of Education.
Step-by-step guide to filing →
Understanding the CRPD (UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)
Section titled “Understanding the CRPD (UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)”The CRPD is the first UN human rights treaty to focus specifically on disability. It establishes that disabled people are rights-holders, not charity cases. Key principles include:
- Dignity and autonomy: Recognition of disabled people’s right to self-determination
- Equality and non-discrimination: Equal protection under law
- Participation and inclusion: Disabled people must be included in decisions affecting us
- Accessibility: Reasonable accommodations and modifications of society
- Equality of opportunity: Not just removing barriers, but creating opportunity
While the U.S. has not ratified the CRPD, many countries have, and it influences disability policy globally.
Disability Justice Approach to Advocacy
Section titled “Disability Justice Approach to Advocacy”Beyond individual complaint-filing, disability justice asks: How do we transform systems? How do we center the most marginalized? How do we build collective power?
Disability justice advocacy might mean:
- Organizing at a community level
- Working with other marginalized communities
- Creating alternative systems (like independent living centers)
- Using direct action and protest
- Building political power
- Creating cultural change
Disability justice principles in advocacy →
Legal Aid and Free/Low-Cost Legal Support
Section titled “Legal Aid and Free/Low-Cost Legal Support”You don’t need to hire a lawyer. Resources include:
- Legal aid organizations: Free legal help for low-income people
- Disability advocacy organizations: Often provide free legal consultation
- Pro bono lawyers: Lawyers providing free services
- Law school clinics: Law students supervised by professors
- State bar associations: Can connect you with resources
From Every Section: Know Your Rights
Section titled “From Every Section: Know Your Rights”Every section of this wiki includes relevant rights information:
- Employment rights in employment section →
- Education rights in education section →
- Healthcare rights in healthcare section →
- Housing rights in housing section →
- Transportation rights in transportation section →
International Advocacy
Section titled “International Advocacy”Disability rights frameworks and advocacy strategies differ by country. This wiki is expanding to cover:
- Canada: Canadian Human Rights Act, provincial laws
- UK: Equality Act 2010, reasonable adjustments
- EU: European Accessibility Act, Equality Directives
- Australia: Disability Discrimination Act
- South Africa: Equality Act
- Many more regions
Contributing to Rights Resources
Section titled “Contributing to Rights Resources”Have experience filing a complaint? Know about a disability rights law that should be explained? Represent a specific community?
We welcome contributions, especially from disabled people, people of color, Mad people, and those navigating multiply-marginalized identities in disability rights systems.
Contribute to This Page
Section titled “Contribute to This Page”Have lived experience or expertise that could strengthen this page? We especially welcome perspectives on models not well represented here, including those from the Global South and Indigenous communities.
This page centers disabled people’s expertise and is informed by disabled-led organizing globally. For questions or to suggest additions, see How to Contribute.