This document summarizes information about Centers for Independent Living and disability rights laws. Centers for Independent Living are non-profit organizations run by people with disabilities that promote consumer control and independent living. They believe people with disabilities are experts in their own needs. The document also discusses the history of the disability rights and independent living movements. Major laws that promoted disability rights and independent living include the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibit discrimination based on disability.

1. Road to Independence
Disability Laws

2. Center for Independent Living
 Centers for Independent Living are community-based,
cross-disability, non-profit organizations that are
designed and operated by people with disabilities.
Ed Roberts, Father
of Independent
Living Movement

3. We Practice What We Preach!
More than 51% of our
staff and board members
have a disability.
We didn’t just learn our mission; We live it!

4. Independent Living Philosophy
 Emphasis on consumer control, the idea that people with
disabilities are the best experts on their own needs, having crucial
and valuable perspective to contribute and deserving of equal
opportunity to decide how to live, work, and take part in their
communities, particularly in reference to services that powerfully
affect their day-to-day lives and access to independence.

5. Independent Living Philosophy
Everyone has the right and ability to live
independently.
Independence does not necessarily
mean living alone.
Independence is asserting control and
ownership of one’s life by taking an
active role.

6. Barriers in the United States

7. Barriers to Community Inclusion
Three major types of discrimination have been
identified in society over the last century:
• Attitudinal: negative language, misconceptions of people
with disabilities
• Programmatic: lack of accommodations (i.e. TTY,
interpreters)
• Architectural: physical barriers

8. History of the Disability
Rights/Independent Living Movement

9. Disability Rights Movement

10. Independent Living Movement

11. Major Disability Rights Laws

12. 12
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
 Authorizes formula grant programs of vocational
rehabilitation, supported employment, independent
living, and client assistance.
 Also authorizes a variety of training and service
discretionary grants administered by the Rehabilitation
Services Administration.
 Section 504 is one of the nation’s first laws barring
discrimination base on disability.
 Simply made it illegal for recipients of federal funds
to discriminate on the basis of disability.
 Modeled on Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964.

13. 13
Rehab Act – Sec. 504
 Applies to:
 Almost all public school districts
 Public and most private colleges and universities.
 Health and social services, programs.
 Public housing authorities, cities and towns that
receive Community Development Block Grants or
other federal funds, private for profit or non-profit
housing developers, and student housing.
 Transportation services
 Applies to the Corporation for National Service

14. 14
Rehab Act - employment
 Section 501 requires affirmative action and
nondiscrimination in employment by Federal
agencies of the executive branch.
 Section 503 requires affirmative action and
prohibits employment discrimination by Federal
government contractors and subcontractors with
contracts of more than $10,000.
 Section 508 - all electronic and information
technology developed, maintained, procured, or
used by the Federal government must be accessible
to people with disabilities, including employees.

15. Americans with Disabilities Act
 The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, State and local
government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and
telecommunications.
 Passed in 1990; signed into law by George W. Bush.
 Title I: Employment (15 or more employees)-recruitment, hiring, training, pay, social activities
 Title II: State and Local Governments- equal access to all programs, services, and activities; Public
Transportation
 Title III: Public Accommodations- prohibits exclusion, segregation, and unequal treatment
 Title IV: Telecommunications Relay Services
www.ada.gov

16. Questions