Federal Agencies and Organizations
The Federal agencies and organizations listed below provide guidance on and/or help enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related disability rights laws.
Primary Federal Entities with ADA Responsibilities
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
- Enforces and provides information, technical assistance, and guidance on the Title I (Employment) provisions of the ADA and other federal laws against job discrimination and harassment.
- Complaints of discrimination under Title I are filed with the EEOC.
- Contact information:
- 800-669-4000 (voice)
- 800-669-6820 (tty)
- 844-234-5122 (ASL video phone)
- infor@eeoc.gov (email)
- EEOC Field Offics and Jurisdictional Map
U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (ADA.gov)
- 800-514-0301 (voice)
- 800-514-0383 (TTY)
- Complaints of discrimination under Title II or III are filed with the DOJ. (Except, as noted below, complaints about public transit are filed with the Federal Transit Administration Office of Civil Rights, and complaints about public education are filed with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.)
U.S. Department of Transportation
The Federal Transit Administration Office of Civil Rights (OCR)
- Ensures public transit providers comply with all nondiscrimination requirements, including those under the ADA.
- Hotline for questions or concerns about public transportation for persons with disabilities:
- 888-446-4511 (voice)
- TTY: Use relay service
- Complaints of discrimination (including those based on disability) against a public transit provider are filed with the OCR. (Complaints about private transit providers are filed with the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.)
Office of Aviation Consumer Protection
- Provides information on passengers’ rights (including individuals with disabilities) to fly free from discrimination.
- 202-366-2220 (voice)
- TTY: Use relay service
Additional Department of Transportation information:
The U.S. Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the U.S. Access Board, develops standards under the ADA for transportation vehicles.
U.S. Access Board
- Develops accessibility guidelines and standards under the ADA, Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), and Rehabilitation Act.
- Enforces the ABA.
- Provides guidance documents and accessibility animations.
- Contact Information:
- 800-872-2253 (voice)
- 800-993-2822 (tty)
- info@access-board.gov (email)
- Questions on the Guidelines and Standards:
- 800-872-2253 (voice)
- 800-993-2822 (tty)
- ta@access-board.gov (email)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Disability Rights Office
- Enforces the Title IV (Telecommunications) provisions of the ADA.
- Addresses disability-related matters, including access to telecommunications services and equipment; hearing aid compatibility; access to advanced communications services and equipment; access to Internet browsers built into mobile phones; telecommunications relay services; the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program; and accessible video programming and video programming apparatus.
- Complaints of discrimination under Title IV are filed with the FCC.
- Contact Information:
- 202-418-2517 (voice)
- 844-432-2275 (videophone)
- DRO@fcc.gov (email)
Additional Federal Entities with ADA and Related Disability Rights Laws Responsibilities
U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
- Enforces the Title II (State and Local Government) provisions of the ADA as they apply to public schools, including institutions of higher education, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
- Complaints of discrimination under Title II that involve public schools are filed with the OCR.
- National OCR Contact Information:
- 800-421-3481 (voice)
- 800-877-8339 (tty)
- OCR@ed.gov (email)
- Regional OCR Enforcement Offices Contact Information:
o Denver Office – for Arizona
- 303-844-5695 (voice)
- 800-877-8339 (tty)
- OCR.Denver@ed.gov (email)
o San Francisco Office – for California
- 415-486-5555 (voice)
- 800-877-8339 (tty)
- ocr.sanfrancisco@ed.gov (email)
o Seattle Office- for Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Basin
- 206-607-1600 (voice)
- 800-877-8339 (tty)
- OCR.Seattle@ed.gov (email)
Additional Department of Education Information:
The Department of Education also enforces the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and funds education and vocational rehabilitation services for children with disabilities.
- The IDEA makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities and ensures special education and related services to those children. Information and resources from the Department and grantees are available on the IDEA website.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Civil Rights (OCR)
- Enforces the Title II (State and Local Government) provisions of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as they apply to health care and social services programs, activities, and services.
- Complaints of discrimination under Title II that involve health care and social services programs, activities, and services are filed with the OCR.
- National OCR Contact Information:
- 800-368-1019 (voice)
- 800-537-7697 (tty)
U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Civil Rights (OCR)
- Enforces the Title II (State and Local Government) provisions of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as they apply to federal parks and recreation programs, activities, and services.
- Complaints of discrimination under Title II that involve federal parks and recreation programs, activities and services are filed with the OCR.
- National OCR Contact Information:
- (202) 208-3100 (voice)
- Dial 7-1-1 to access relay service
- feedback@ios.doi.gov (email)
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
- National DOL Contact Information:
- 866-487-2365 (voice)
Office of Disability Employment Policy
- Assists workers with disabilities and employers in understanding their protections and obligations under the ADA, through policy development, outreach and education, and technical assistance.
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)
- Ensures employers doing business with the Federal Government comply with discrimination laws and regulations.
- Complaints of discrimination against an employer doing business with the Federal Government are filed with the OFCCP.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Office of Equal Rights (OER)
- Serves the Agency and the Nation by supporting a discrimination-free workplace and equal access to FEMA programs and services, for all disaster survivors.
- National OER Contact Information:
- 202-212-3535 (voice)
- FEMA-EqualRights@FEMA.dhs.gov (email)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL)
- Supports the Department's mission to secure the nation while preserving individual liberty, fairness, and equality under the law.
- National CRCL Contact Information:
- 866-644-8360 (voice)
- 866-644-8361 (tty)
- crcl@dhs.gov (email)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Enforces the Fair Housing Act (FHA) which protects people from discrimination (including people with disabilities) when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities.
- Oversees the Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST initiative which promotes compliance with the FHA design and construction requirements.
- Complaints of discrimination under the FHA are filed with HUD.
- National HUD Contact Information:
- 202-708-1112 (voice)
- 202-708-1455 (tty)