What is the Rehabilitation Act of 1973?

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal law that works to protect the civil rights of individuals with disabilities in the United States. The law is most commonly known for prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability in programs that receive federal funds. In California, this means that any program or organization that receives federal funds must offer reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities who are qualified to participate. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 also requires that employers provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, making it illegal for employers to refuse to hire someone with a disability on the basis of their disability. Additionally, the act also prohibits retaliation and forbids employers from discriminating on the basis of someone’s association with a person with a disability. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 also includes Section 504, which states that “no otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States…shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” This portion of the law has been instrumental in advocating for individuals with disabilities and bringing attention to their civil rights. In California, this portion of the law is particularly important in ensuring that people with disabilities are afforded the same basic civil rights as other individuals.

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What is the Rehabilitation Act of 1973?

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