Discrimination
based on Disability
Race,
Color, and National Origin Discrimination
Age
Discrimination
Sex
Discrimination
How
to file a complaint
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The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) coordinates the enforcement
by Commerce Bureaus of various statutes that prohibit discrimination in
programs that receive Federal financial assistance, and that prohibit
discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by Federal
agencies.
OCR reviews proposed regulations, policies, and procedures
developed by Commerce Bureaus to implement civil rights requirements to
assure consistent, effective, and efficient enforcement. The Division
also reviews plans submitted by these agencies describing their civil
rights enforcement goals, activities, and past progress, and reviews workload
and performance data on their enforcement activities. The Division also
provides technical assistance and training to improve the enforcement
programs of individual Bureaus, including assistance on implementing the
new Executive Order on Environmental Justice.
OCR also investigates complaints for which the Department
of Commerce is the designated agency for administrative enforcement and
seeks to resolve claims through the use of alternative dispute resolution
techniques, if appropriate, in lieu of full field investigations. In other
cases, formal findings of compliance or noncompliance are issued. If voluntary
compliance cannot be achieved where the noncompliance is found, the Compliance
Division may refer cases for litigation to the Department of Justice.
Discrimination based on Disability
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
as amended, prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities
in programs the Commerce Department provides with financial assistance
or conducts. The Commerce implementing regulations are 15 C.F.R. Part
8b, Prohibition of Discrimination Against the Handicapped in Federally
Assisted Programs Operated by the Department of Commerce, and 15 C.F.R.
Part 8c, Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in
Programs or Activities Conducted by the Department of Commerce.
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
as amended, requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information
technology (EIT) be accessible to persons with disabilities, including
employees and members of the public. The law applies to all Federal
agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use EIT. As amended
in 1998, the law directed the Access
Board to create binding, enforceable standards that spell out what
makes EIT products accessible to persons with disabilities. Federal
agencies must use these standards in all their EIT acquisitions. If
a person with a disability discovers that a Federal agency has failed
to comply with section 508, he or she can file an administrative complaint
or a civil law suit. Complaints and lawsuits can only be filed against
products that are procured. The complaint process is the same as that
used for section 504. Individuals may also file a civil action against
an agency.
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Race, Color, and National Origin
Discrimination
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as
amended, prohibits discrimination against people due to their
race, color, or national origin in the conduct of programs that receive
Federal financial assistance. The Commerce implementing regulation is
15 C.F.R. Part 8a, Nondiscrimination in Federally-Assisted Programs
of the Department of Commerce--Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964.
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Age Discrimination
- The Age Discrimination Act. This statute
makes it illegal to discriminate against people due to their age in
the conduct of programs that receive Federal financial assistance. The
Commerce implementing regulation is 15 C.F.R. Part 20, Nondiscrimination
on the Basis of Age in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial
Assistance.
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Sex Discrimination
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,
as amended. This statute makes it illegal to discriminate against
people due to their gender in the conduct of educational programs that
receive Federal financial assistance. The Commerce policy on implementation
of this statute is under development.
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HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT
- Complaints about race, color, national origin,
age, sex, or disability discrimination involving recipients of Federal
financial assistance: File your complaint with the Director,
Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 6012, 14th
Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20230. OCR staff
are available to provide assistance with filing complaints by calling
202-482-4993 (V/TTY).
- Complaints about disability discrimination in
programs conducted by the Commerce Department and it's Bureaus: File
your complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer of the
Bureau conducting the program or the Director, Office of Civil Rights,
at the above address. OCR staff are available to provide assistance
with filing complaints by calling 202-482-4993 (V/TTY).
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