Laws & Regulations

Find, review and submit comments on federal documents that are open for comment and published in the Federal Register, the government's legal newspaper.

Fact sheet regarding epilepsy in the workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidance on enforcing ADA provisions as they relate to psychiatric disabilities.

Information on the Occupational Safety & Health Administration's (OSHA) four-pronged program to address musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace.

Provides information and addresses misconceptions regarding hiring people recovering from substance abuse.

This document provides the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) position under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on pre-employment disability-related questions and medical examinations.

Report from the National Council on Disability regarding the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, which was passed in 1980 to enable the Department of Justice (DOJ) to protect the rights of people residing in state institutions.

Information regarding implementation of MMA benefits and reforms. Reforms under the MMA include more affordable health care, prescription drug coverage to all people with Medicare, expanded health plan options, improved health care access for rural Americans and preventive care services.

USCIS Form N-648 from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for applicants seeking an exception from the English and U.S. history and government (civics) requirements for naturalization based on physical or developmental disability or mental impairment.

Promotes the ABA's commitment to justice and the rule of law for persons with mental, physical and sensory disabilities and to promote their full and equal participation in the legal profession.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has revised its Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law poster. This new version shows current federal employment discrimination law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008. The poster was revised to add information about the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 which is effective November 21, 2009. The new poster can be downloaded in PDF format.

Proposed regulations implementing section 411 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACT Act), which substantially amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act with a new section restricting the circumstances under which consumer reporting agencies may furnish consumer reports that contain medical information about consumers.

Provides a brief overview of 11 federal laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities and provides information about the federal agencies to contact for more information.

Provides information on the FMLA, which allows employees to balance their work and family responsibilities by taking unpaid leave for certain reasons.

Information on how HIPAA regulations affect practices for community treatment providers, consumers, single state agencies, public and private payers of alcohol, substance abuse and mental health services and professional and trade associations.

Fact sheet from the Department of Health and Human Services on the rights of people with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA. This link opens a PDF document.

Information on rights covered under the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998.

On November 21, 2009 Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) took effect. GINA prohibits discrimination by health insurers and employers based on individuals' genetic information. Genetic information includes the results of genetic tests to determine whether someone is at increased risk of acquiring a condition (such as some forms of breast cancer) in the future, as well as a person's family medical history. For more information about Title I provisions of the law relating to health coverage visit The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008: Information for Researchers and Health Care Professionals.

Fact sheet on Title IV of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which provides opportunities for the Department of Health and Human Services, its partner agencies and states to improve the nation's health care through HIT by promoting the use of electronic health records (EHR).

Provides information about CHIPRA (Public Law 111-3), which reauthorized the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through FY 2013. CHIPRA maintains health coverage for the millions of children who rely on CHIP and provides resources for states to reach millions of additional uninsured children. A fact sheet on CHIPRA is available from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The United Spinal Association and the National Spinal Cord Injury Association have issued a guide on healthcare and insurance reforms that explains how they improve the lives of people with disabilities. The Impact of Health Care Reform on People with Disabilities has information about insurance market reforms; mandatory health plan coverage provisions; home- and community-based services; Medicare outpatient therapy caps and Medicaid eligibility requirements; and the new standards that ensure medical equipment in doctors' offices and other medical facilities are accessible. For more information on this subject read Health Reform for Americans with Disabilities in PDF format.

Provides the full text of both the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. Includes a section-by-section analysis of these laws and a summary of some of the immediate benefits of this legislation.

HealthCare.gov lets consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to information about quality, affordable health care coverage. HealthCare.gov is a database of health coverage options--from Medicare to the Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan, and information from more than 1,000 private insurance plans. HealthCare.gov answers questions that relate to people with disabilities and health care, and also has information about insurance plans and community services in every state. Take a video tour of this website.