Disability Rights Library
You're not alone, and you have rights. Here's what protects you and what you can do next.
This library covers disability discrimination, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA Titles I, II and III), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, California's Unruh Act and FEHA, housing and reasonable accommodations, transportation and paratransit, medical care, work, and benefits. Each entry links to the official law and shows how to file a complaint with the EEOC, the U.S. Justice Department, HUD, HHS Office for Civil Rights, or the California Civil Rights Department.
Not legal advice. Laws change. For advice on your situation, contact a lawyer, Disability Rights California, or the agency listed.
Find your rights by topic. Each entry gives the right in plain language, the law, the official link, the agency, and how to file a complaint.
How your rights show up in daily life
- Work: You can ask for a reasonable accommodation, like a changed schedule or special equipment, and an employer cannot fire or punish you for asking. (ADA Title I; FEHA) Learn more about work
- School: Public schools must not exclude students with disabilities. Many students get a 504 plan, or special education services under IDEA. (Section 504; ADA Title II) Learn more about school, opens in new tab
- Health care: Doctors, clinics and hospitals must communicate effectively with you, for example with a free sign language interpreter. (ADA Title III; Section 504; ACA Section 1557) Learn more about health care
- Getting around: Public transit must be accessible, and paratransit must be offered if you cannot use the regular bus or train. Airlines must help you board. (ADA Title II; Air Carrier Access Act) Learn more about getting around
- Home: You can ask a landlord for a reasonable accommodation, like an assistance animal in a no-pet building. (Fair Housing Act; FEHA) Learn more about home
- Family and community: Stores, restaurants, parks, city programs and events must let you take part on equal terms, with you and your family. (ADA Titles II and III; Unruh Act) Learn more about family and community
Discrimination
Discrimination means being treated worse, left out, or refused a reasonable change because of a disability. Write down what happened, when, and who was involved, and keep copies of letters and emails.
Discrimination at work: ADA Title I
Your right: Employers with 15 or more workers cannot treat you worse because of a disability, and must give reasonable accommodations unless it causes undue hardship.
The law: ADA Title I (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
How to file: Start a charge online through the EEOC Public Portal, or read how to file. Official filing page for Discrimination at work: ADA Title I, opens in new tab
Deadline: EEOC: 180 days, extended to 300 days where a state agency enforces a similar law (California does).
Government services: ADA Title II
Your right: State and local governments, including cities, counties, courts, public schools and public transit, cannot exclude you because of a disability and must make their programs accessible.
The law: ADA Title II (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
How to file: Report a civil rights violation to the Justice Department online. Official filing page for Government services: ADA Title II, opens in new tab
Businesses and public places: ADA Title III
Your right: Businesses open to the public, like stores, restaurants, hotels, doctors' offices and theaters, must give equal access and effective communication.
The law: ADA Title III (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
How to file: Report a civil rights violation to the Justice Department online. Official filing page for Businesses and public places: ADA Title III, opens in new tab
Federally funded programs: Section 504
Your right: Any program that gets federal money cannot exclude you, deny you benefits, or discriminate against you because of a disability.
The law: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: The federal agency that funds the program (for example HUD for housing, HHS for health care, the Department of Education for schools)
How to file: For housing, file with HUD. For health care, file with HHS Office for Civil Rights. For schools, file with the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights. Official filing page for Federally funded programs: Section 504, opens in new tab
Health care discrimination: HHS Office for Civil Rights
Your right: Hospitals, clinics, insurers and health programs that get federal money cannot discriminate because of disability.
The law: Section 504; ACA Section 1557 (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
How to file: File with HHS OCR. Official filing page for Health care discrimination: HHS Office for Civil Rights, opens in new tab
Housing discrimination: HUD
Your right: Landlords and housing programs cannot discriminate because of disability and must consider reasonable accommodation requests.
The law: Fair Housing Act; Section 504 (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
How to file: File a housing discrimination complaint with HUD online. Official filing page for Housing discrimination: HUD, opens in new tab
California: Unruh Civil Rights Act
Your right: Every business in California must give full and equal service to people with disabilities.
The law: Cal. Civil Code 51 (Unruh Act) (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: California Civil Rights Department (CRD)
How to file: Submit an intake form to CRD online. Official filing page for California: Unruh Civil Rights Act, opens in new tab
Deadline: CRD: in most non-job cases, within one year of the date you were last harmed.
California: FEHA (jobs and housing)
Your right: California employers with 5 or more workers, and housing providers, cannot discriminate because of disability and must accommodate.
The law: Cal. Government Code 12940 and 12955 (FEHA) (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: California Civil Rights Department (CRD)
How to file: Read how CRD complaints work, then submit an intake form. Official filing page for California: FEHA (jobs and housing), opens in new tab
Deadline: CRD: job cases within three years of the date you were last harmed; most other cases within one year.
Housing
Fair Housing Act
Your right: Landlords and housing providers cannot discriminate because of disability. You can ask for reasonable accommodations (rule changes, like an assistance animal in a no-pet building) and reasonable modifications (physical changes, like grab bars).
The law: Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.; 24 CFR Part 100 (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
How to file: File a housing discrimination complaint with HUD online. Official filing page for Fair Housing Act, opens in new tab
Section 504 in federally funded housing
Your right: Public housing and other HUD-funded housing programs must not exclude you because of disability, must make reasonable accommodations, and must provide accessible units and communication.
The law: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; 24 CFR Part 8 (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: HUD
How to file: Ask the housing provider in writing first; you can also file with HUD. Official filing page for Section 504 in federally funded housing, opens in new tab
California Fair Employment and Housing Act (housing)
Your right: California law bans housing discrimination because of disability and requires reasonable accommodations and modifications.
The law: Cal. Government Code 12955 (FEHA) (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: California Civil Rights Department (CRD)
How to file: File an intake form with CRD online. Official filing page for California Fair Employment and Housing Act (housing), opens in new tab
Deadline: CRD: generally within one year of the last harm.
Transportation
ADA paratransit
Your right: Public transit agencies with fixed-route bus or rail must offer comparable paratransit service to people who cannot use the regular system because of disability.
The law: ADA Title II; 49 CFR Part 37 (Subpart F) (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) / Federal Transit Administration; your local transit agency
How to file: Complain to your transit agency first. In Fresno, paratransit is Handy Ride. Official filing page for ADA paratransit, opens in new tab
Section 504 in DOT-funded transportation
Your right: Transportation programs that get DOT money must not discriminate because of disability.
The law: Section 504; 49 CFR Part 27 (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: U.S. DOT
How to file: Complain to the transit provider; you can also report ADA violations to the U.S. Justice Department. Official filing page for Section 504 in DOT-funded transportation, opens in new tab
Air Carrier Access Act
Your right: Airlines must not discriminate because of disability. They must give free help boarding, changing planes and getting off, and must accept wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
The law: Air Carrier Access Act, 49 U.S.C. 41705; 14 CFR Part 382 (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: U.S. DOT
How to file: At the airport, ask for the airline's Complaints Resolution Official (CRO); airlines must have one available. Official filing page for Air Carrier Access Act, opens in new tab
California disabled parking placard
Your right: California DMV issues disabled person parking placards and plates. The application is form REG 195, signed by a licensed medical professional.
The law: California DMV, form REG 195 (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: California DMV
How to file: Official REG 195 application (PDF page). Official filing page for California disabled parking placard, opens in new tab
Medical and Health Care
ACA Section 1557
Your right: Health programs that get federal money, including most hospitals, clinics and insurers, cannot discriminate because of disability.
The law: Affordable Care Act Section 1557; 45 CFR Part 92 (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
How to file: File online with the HHS OCR Complaint Portal. Official filing page for ACA Section 1557, opens in new tab
Section 504 and ADA Title II in health care
Your right: Health and social-service programs that get federal money, and all state and local government health programs, must be accessible, make reasonable changes, and give free auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters.
The law: Section 504; ADA Title II (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: HHS Office for Civil Rights
How to file: How to file a civil rights complaint with HHS. Official filing page for Section 504 and ADA Title II in health care, opens in new tab
ADA Title III: private doctors and clinics
Your right: Private doctors' offices, hospitals and clinics are public accommodations. They must provide equal access and effective communication.
The law: ADA Title III; 28 CFR Part 36 (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: U.S. Department of Justice
How to file: File an ADA complaint with the Justice Department. Official filing page for ADA Title III: private doctors and clinics, opens in new tab
California Unruh Civil Rights Act
Your right: All California businesses, including medical offices, must give full and equal service to people with disabilities.
The law: Cal. Civil Code 51 (Unruh Act) (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: California Civil Rights Department
How to file: File an intake form with CRD online. Official filing page for California Unruh Civil Rights Act, opens in new tab
Deadline: CRD: generally within one year of the last harm.
Employment
ADA Title I
Your right: Employers with 15 or more workers cannot discriminate because of disability and must give reasonable accommodations unless it causes undue hardship.
The law: ADA Title I; 29 CFR Part 1630 (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
How to file: File online through the EEOC Public Portal. Official filing page for ADA Title I, opens in new tab
Deadline: EEOC: 180 days, extended to 300 days where a state agency enforces a similar law (California does).
Rehabilitation Act Section 501 (federal jobs)
Your right: Federal agencies cannot discriminate against employees or applicants with disabilities and must accommodate them.
The law: Rehabilitation Act Section 501 (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: Your agency's EEO office / EEOC
How to file: Contact your agency's EEO Counselor. Official filing page for Rehabilitation Act Section 501 (federal jobs), opens in new tab
Deadline: Federal workers: generally contact an EEO Counselor within 45 days.
Rehabilitation Act Section 503 (federal contractors)
Your right: Federal contractors cannot discriminate because of disability and must take affirmative action to hire and keep workers with disabilities.
The law: Rehabilitation Act Section 503 (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: U.S. Dept. of Labor, OFCCP
How to file: Contact OFCCP through the Section 503 page. Official filing page for Rehabilitation Act Section 503 (federal contractors), opens in new tab
California FEHA (employment)
Your right: California employers with 5 or more workers cannot discriminate because of disability and must accommodate and talk with you in good faith (the interactive process).
The law: Cal. Government Code 12940 (FEHA) (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: California Civil Rights Department
How to file: File an intake form with CRD online. Official filing page for California FEHA (employment), opens in new tab
Deadline: CRD employment cases: within three years of the last harm.
Vocational Rehabilitation (DOR)
Your right: The California Department of Rehabilitation helps people with disabilities prepare for, get and keep jobs. If you disagree with DOR, the Client Assistance Program (CAP) can help for free.
The law: Rehabilitation Act Title I; WIOA (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)
How to file: Get free help with a DOR dispute from the Client Assistance Program. Official filing page for Vocational Rehabilitation (DOR), opens in new tab
WIOA job services
Your right: America's Job Centers offer job search, training and support services, including for people with significant barriers to employment.
The law: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: U.S. Dept. of Labor
How to file: Ask your local America's Job Center; report disability discrimination to the EEOC or CRD. Official filing page for WIOA job services, opens in new tab
Benefits
Social Security Disability (SSDI) and SSI
Your right: SSDI pays monthly benefits if a disability stops or limits your work and you have enough work history. SSI is for people with limited income and resources.
The law: Social Security Act Titles II and XVI (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: Social Security Administration (SSA)
How to file: If denied, you can appeal; ask SSA for a Request for Reconsideration (form SSA-561) or a hearing (form HA-501). Official filing page for Social Security Disability (SSDI) and SSI, opens in new tab
Medi-Cal
Your right: Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid health coverage for people with low income, including many people with disabilities.
The law: California Medi-Cal program (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: California Dept. of Health Care Services (DHCS)
How to file: Disagree with a county or DHCS decision? Ask for a state hearing. Official filing page for Medi-Cal, opens in new tab
Deadline: State hearing: 90 days from the notice (late requests need a good reason).
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
Your right: IHSS helps pay for in-home care so eligible people with disabilities can stay safely at home.
The law: California IHSS program (official source, opens in new tab)
Agency: California Dept. of Social Services (CDSS) and your county
How to file: Disagree with a county IHSS decision? Ask for a state hearing. Official filing page for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), opens in new tab
Deadline: State hearing: 90 days from the county notice.
Questions? Ask EMILY or see Technical Assistance. Links checked October 16, 2026.