Federal Agency Finalizes Rule For Disability Protections In Historic Move

Source: Huff Post

May 3, 2024, 05:48 PM EDT


The Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday finalized a rule to bolster disability protections outlined in federal law and address issues that disabled people have faced for decades, even after the protections were originally established.

The rule updates Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The federal legislation, passed in 1973 and championed by disability rights activists, prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity that receives federal funding or is conducted by a federal agency. This includes programs in elementary and secondary schools, nursing homes and hospitals.

The update aims to strengthen civil rights protections in health care and social services for disabled people by clarifying obligations for nondiscriminatory treatment that were not stated in the original regulation.

HHS said that the rule “addresses discrimination in medical treatment, adds enforceable standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment, and ensures accessible web content and mobile apps.”

Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/section-504-rehabilitation-act-proposed-disability-protections-finalized_n_6635340fe4b00b1eab534d23