Federal Disability Resources
Federal Executive Departments
Department of Education – Supports and legal protections for people with disabilities include:
- Protecting students with disabilities under Section 504
- Ensures education for all students through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS)
Department of Health & Human Services
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS)
- Health Insurance Marketplace – Healthcare.gov
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)
- Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP)
Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Housing Rights for People with Disabilities
- Rental Assistance – Housing Choice Voucher Program
Department of Veterans Affairs
Independent Federal Agencies
U.S. Access Board – Advances accessibility through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards. Created in 1973 to ensure access to federally funded facilities, the Access Board is now a leading source of information on accessible design. They develop and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, public right-of-way, information and communication technology, and medical diagnostic equipment under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and other laws. It also provides technical assistance and training on these requirements and continues to enforce accessibility standards that apply to federally funded facilities under the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA).
Social Security Administration
SSA administers the Social Security social insurance program, which includes benefits for Retirement, Disability, Survivors, and Families. They manage Supplemental Security Income (SSI), enroll people in Medicare, and issue Social Security numbers and cards.