The Civil Rights Division Disability Rights Section carries out the Department’s responsibilities for enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure access to, and nondiscrimination by, businesses (e.g., hotels, restaurants, theaters, stores), State and local government programs and activities (e.g., public meetings, public hospitals, public education, public transportation, law enforcement, courts), and State and local government employment services.

The Civil Rights Division also carries out the Department’s responsibilities for enforcing Federal laws that prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in housing and protect the rights of people with disabilities confined in public institutions.

Hotline/How to file a complaint

ADA Information Line

1-800-514-0301 or 1-800-514-0383 (TTY)

Staffed Service: M, Tu, W, F 9:30-5:30; Th 12:30-5:30 ET

Automated Service: 24 hours

• How to file an ADA complaint

The ADA Home Page provides an extensive collection of publications, legal briefs, settlement agreements, training videos, and an interactive online course on the ADA along with information about ADA enforcement, mediation, technical assistance, and certification activities, proposed changes in ADA requirements, and links to other sites which have ADA information.

The ADA Business Connection provides ADA publications and information of particular interest to businesses.

Enforcing the ADA is a quarterly status report on ADA enforcement, mediation, technical assistance, certification, and regulatory activities.

Disability Rights Online News is a bi-monthly report highlighting major accomplishments under the ADA and other disability rights laws.

Find answers to questions about employment rights under the ADA in A Guide for People with Disabilities Seeking Employment (HTML). Adobe Acrobat PDF.

Through the ADA Mediation Program the Department refers appropriate ADA disputes to mediators at no cost to the parties. The Department uses professional mediators who have been trained in the legal requirements of the ADA.

Learn about ten other Federal laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities and which agency to contact for more information in A Guide to Disability Rights Laws (HTML). Adobe Acrobat PDF.

The ADA Website at www.ada.gov provides extensive information about the ADA along with links and contact information for other agencies that provide ADA information.

See Uphold Civil Rights & Liberties for information about laws that prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in housing and protect the rights of people with disabilities confined in public institutions.