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Disability Rights

August 2007

People with limb loss have particular information needs. Topic of the Month is a resource guide of information relevant to amputees. Click on the links below to access articles and Web sites directly. Many of the books and videos can be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan.

Many more resources can be found by searching our online library. Please feel free to share this resource with those who may find this useful. We also welcome your comments and topic suggestions! Contact us via e-mail at library@amputee-coalition.org.

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Books and Printed Material

The Americans With Disabilities Act: Your Employment Rights as an Individual With Disability. [Washington, D.C.]: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1991. This booklet explains the part of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 that prohibits job discrimination. This part of the law is enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and state and local civil rights enforcement agencies that work with the Commission.

Barrier-Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide for Wheelers and Slow-Walkers / Candy Harrington; photographs by Charles Pannell. New York, NY: Demos Medical Pub., c2005. ISBN: 1-932603-09-3. Find and book an accessible room, cruise, ground transportation, and overseas travel. Learn disability laws and rights, locate the right travel agent, protect your wheelchair when you travel, and be ready for the changes in security that affect the way maneuver through airports.

Code of Federal Regulations: [Title] 28, Part 36, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations and in Commercial Facilities. [Washington, DC: 1994]. This is a reprint of the text of Title 28, Part 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The content is accessibility regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, including accessibility requirements and drawings with specific measurements, which need to be used to make bathrooms, public buildings, etc. accessible to people with disabilities.

A Guide to Disability Rights Laws / U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 2005. This booklet looks at various laws related to people with disabilities. Contact numbers are included for those who would like more information on a particular law.
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm

Federal Register. Part IV, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in State and Local Government Services; Final Rule. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1991. This rule implements subtitle A of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Public Law 101-336, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public entities.

Mental and Physical Disability Law Reporter. Washington, D.C.: American Bar Association, c1984-. ISSN: 0883-7902. Serial. Published since 1976, the Reporter provides timely summaries of reported legal developments over a two-month period in 22 subject areas covering disability discrimination law and civil and criminal mental disability law.

Negotiating the Special Education Maze: A Guide for Parents & Teachers / Winifred Anderson, Stephen Chitwood, Deidre Hayden. 3rd ed. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, 1997. ISBN 0-933149-72-7. Negotiating the Special Education Maze is a tool aimed at parents and teachers for developing an effective education program for their child or student. Every step is explained, from eligibility and evaluation to the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and beyond. This edition covers changes in disability laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It reviews early intervention services for children from birth to age three, and for parents and teachers who have young adults with special needs, it also covers transitioning out of school.

No Pity: People With Disabilities Forging a New Civil Rights Movement / Joseph P. Shapiro. New York: Times Books, c1994. ISBN: 0-8129-2412-6. For those wanting to understand the background against which the American with Disabilities Act was framed, this is an excellent primer. At the same time, seasoned veterans of the movement will find in it a refreshing review of the personalities and activities of the Disabilities Civil Rights Movement. For parents seeking a glimpse of possibilities for their child, this book cannot fail to inspire.

Nothing About Us Without Us: Disability Oppression and Empowerment / James I. Charlton. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000. ISBN 0-520-22481-7. This book looks at the disability rights movement from a global perspective and places it within the context of other liberation and human rights movements.

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Amputee Coalition Articles

Accessibility Continues to Leap Forward / Christina DiMartino. Knoxville, TN: Amputee Coalition, 2003. Article from inMotion, July/August 2003. This article looks at ways that accessibility in the U.S. needs to be improved for people with disabilities. The author takes a close look at New York City, describing areas that have been improved and areas that still need work.
http://www.amputee-coalition.org/inmotion/jul_aug_03/access.html

Beating the System: One Family's Successful Fight with State Bureaucracy / Scott McNutt. Knoxville, TN: Amputee Coalition, 2006. Article from inMotion, January/February 2006. This article discusses one impact of the 2005 Supreme Court decision on the case of Schaffer v. Weast. The ruling states that parents who dispute a school system's special-education plans for a child have the legal obligation of proving that the plan will not provide the appropriate education for their child. According to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), all children with disabilities are entitled to an education appropriate to their needs, but the Supreme Court ruling means that parents will bear the burden of proof. The Castro family went to court and won in Connecticut to help their daughter (a congenital arm amputee) get the most appropriate state-level early educational intervention possible.
http://www.amputee-coalition.org/inmotion/jan_feb_06/beating_the_system.html
http://www.amputee-coalition.org/inmotion/jan_feb_06/beating_the_system.pdf
Spanish: http://www.amputee-coalition.org/spanish/inmotion/jan_feb_06/beating_the_system.html
Spanish: http://www.amputee-coalition.org/spanish/inmotion/jan_feb_06/beating_the_system.pdf

Knowing Your Rights: Hotel Stays Without Reservation / Casey Patrick. Knoxville, TN: Amputee Coalition, 1999. Article from inMotion, May/June 1999. From business travel to family vacations, Americans ‑ including many of the nearly 50 million with disabilities ‑ faithfully leave their own comfortable beds and baths to stay in hotels and motels. It may not be vital to control which pastel poster will inevitably hang above the bed or which sliver of face soap will appear in the bathroom, but details related to accessibility are not a matter of taste. They are your rights.
http://www.amputee-coalition.org/inmotion/may_jun_99/rights.html

NLLIC Amputee Coalition Fact Sheet: Citizen's Patrol Unit: Tips for Voluntary Enforcement of Disabled Parking Laws and Ordinances / NLLIC staff. Revised 2006 edition. Knoxville, TN: Amputee Coalition, [200-]. Handicapped parking spaces allow individuals with disabilities the opportunity to access the same businesses that the general population enjoys. Unfortunately, not everyone understands the needs or respects the rights of people with disabilities. One approach used by many communities to keeping designated handicapped parking spaces available for those who are legally entitled to their use is the local Citizen Patrol Unit.
http://www.amputee-coalition.org/fact_sheets/parkingfacts.html
http://www.amputee-coalition.org/fact_sheets/parkingfacts.pdf
Spanish (2002): http://www.amputee-coalition.org/spanish/fact_sheets/parkingfacts.html
Spanish (2002) http://www.amputee-coalition.org/spanish/fact_sheets/parkingfacts.pdf

NLLIC Amputee Coalition Fact Sheet: Travel Information for People With Disabilities / by NLLIC Staff. Revised 2006 edition. Knoxville, TN: Amputee Coalition, 2002. Basic information about a broad spectrum of travel issues for those with disabilities, including your rights. The information comes from a wide variety of sources, and includes references to where additional information can be found.
http://www.amputee-coalition.org/fact_sheets/travel.html
http://www.amputee-coalition.org/fact_sheets/travel.pdf

Parenting With a Disability / Casey Patrick. Knoxville, TN: Amputee Coalition, 1999. Article from inMotion, March/April 1999. About one-third of parents with disabilities have experienced some form of discrimination, according to a recent survey of 1,175 respondents conducted by Berkeley Planning Associates. But there are organizations and groups that can help defend parents' rights and quell attitudes grounded in misunderstanding. This article takes a look at some of these organizations.
http://www.amputee-coalition.org/inmotion/mar_apr_99/parenting.html

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Videos and Electronic Media

ADA Technical Assistance CD-ROM / U.S. Department of Justice and Civil Rights Division and Disability Rights Section. [Washington, D.C.] The Dept., 2001. CD-ROM. The U.S. Department of Justice presents a collection of its publications focusing on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation. The publications include legal documents, FAQs, and technical assistance manuals regarding ADA for businesses and state and local governments.

The Americans With Disabilities Act: Is It Working? / A presentation of Films for the Humanities & Sciences. Princeton, N.J.: Films for the Humanities & Sciences, 2001. DVD. During the 1980s, a new civil rights movement got underway ‑ for people with disabilities. In this program, Larry Paradis, executive director of Disability Rights Advocates, speaks with NewsHour correspondent Spencer Michels about the importance of litigation in pressuring companies and communities to comply with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. But are such legal actions actually undermining support for the ADA? Richard Baier, president of the Building Owners and Managers Association International, Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL); and others present their points of view.

Disability Resource Library: A Comprehensive Collection of Disability Laws, Guidelines, Settlements, Reports, and More. [New Smyrna Beach, FL]: DND Press, 2002. ISSN: 0-9721965-0-1. CD-ROM. A comprehensive collection of disability related documents including the complete texts of major disability laws, regulations, government reports, guides and more. All are categorized, indexed and fully searchable.

When Billy Broke His Head ‑ And Other Tales of Wonder / a presentation of Independent Television Service; produced & directed by Billy Golfus, David E. Simpson; written & narrated by Billy Golfus; National Disability Awareness Project. Boston, MA: Fanlight Productions, c1994. ISBN: 1-57295-136-2. DVD. A documentary about how the handicapped experience life in the United States. Personal interviews portray realities, hardships and coping mechanisms in the face of government bureaucracy and overwhelming odds.

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Online Resources and Organizations

Americans with Disabilities Act: ADA Home Page. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, [200-]-. ADA information from the Department of Justice. Includes links to a variety of sources including technical assistance, enforcement, certification and mediation.
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm

Americans With Disabilities Act Technical Assistance Program. McLean, VA: Cherry Engineering Support Services, Inc., [200-]-. This Web site is a comprehensive resource for information on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
http://www.dbtac.vcu.edu/

The Council for Disability Rights. Chicago, IL: The Council. [199-]-.
On national, state, and local levels, the Council for Disability Rights advances the rights of people with disabilities. The Council promotes public policy and legislation, public awareness through education, and provides information and referral services.
http://www.disabilityrights.org/newstoc.htm

DisabilityInfo.gov: The New Freedom Initiative's Online Resources for Americans With Disabilities. Washington, DC: 2002-. This is a comprehensive Federal website of disability-related government resources.
http://www.disabilityinfo.gov

DREDF: Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc. Berkeley, CA: Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund Inc., 2001-. DREDF is a national law and policy center dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities through legislation, litigation, advocacy, technical assistance and education and training of attorneys, advocates, persons with disabilities, and parents of children with disabilities.
http://www.dredf.org/

Justice for All E-mail Network. TNET Services, 1996-1998. An e-mail network formed to defend and advance disability rights and programs in the 104th Congress. One JFA goal is to work with national and state organizations of people with disabilities to get information from Washington, DC, out to grassroots.
http://www.jfanow.org/

National Council on Disability. Washington, DC: National Council on Disability, [200-]-. The NCD is an independent federal agency making recommendations to the President and Congress on issues affecting 54 million Americans with disabilities. Links provided to several NCD reports, as well as other resources.
http://www.ncd.gov/

U.S. Access Board: A Federal Agency Committed to Accessible Design for People With Disabilities. Washington, DC: The Access Board, 2002-. The Access Board is an independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. The site includes accessibility guidelines and standards; Technical assistance, training and research; publications and information about how to file a complaint about access to federally funded facilities.
http://www.access-board.gov/

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Washington, DC: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1994-. Information made available by the U.S. EEOC. Includes Federal laws prohibiting job discrimination, news releases, statistics and related web sites.
http://www.eeoc.gov/