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Civil Rights

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) promotes and ensures that people have equal access to and opportunity to participate in certain health care and human services programs without facing unlawful discrimination. OCR carries out this mission by enforcing Federal laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age and, in certain circumstances, sex and religion, in programs and activities that receive financial assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services.  OCR also enforces a Federal law and regulation that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in health care and social service programs of state and local governments.

OCR Promotes and Ensures Compliance with the Civil Rights Laws through Various Activities:

  • Investigating complaints filed by individuals alleging that they have or someone else has been discriminated against on a prohibited basis;
  • Conducting compliance reviews of  covered entities that OCR believes may not be in compliance with the law;
  • Providing technical assistance to covered entities to help them understand how they can voluntarily comply with the law; and
 

The Americans with Disabilities Act 

In celebration of the 19th Anniversary of the ADA, President Obama issued a Proclamation announcing that the U.S. would join 141 other nations in signing of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on July 30th, 2009.  Remarks by the President on UN Convention & ADA Proclamation. Learn about OCR's effort to ensure ADA compliance and promote community living for persons with disabilities.

  • Conducting outreach nationwide to help individuals and covered entities understand rights and obligations under the laws that OCR enforces.

OCR’s legal authorities include:  Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; titles VI and XVI of the Public Health Service Act (Hill-Burton Community Services Provisions); the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act (MEPA), as modified by Section 1808 of the Small Business Job Protection Act; and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.  We also have limited authority under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and certain other nondiscrimination statutes and regulations, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex and religion.  To learn more about regulations enforced by OCR.

OCR does not generally enforce laws and regulations that apply to housing, police or law enforcement, the courts, prisons or employment. To learn more on civil rights enforcement in other Federal agencies.