Annex B GOVERNMENT RESOURCES

This listing of government resources (provided by the U.S. Access Board) may be helpful in developing integrated emergency plans that fully consider the needs of people with disabilities.

A variety of organizations in the public and private sectors provide information on accessibility and accessible design. These links are provided for information purposes only; NFPA and the U.S. Access Board make no warranty, expressed or implied, that the information obtained from these sources is accurate or correct.

ADA Document Portal (http://adata.org/ada-document-portal)
This website, sponsored by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), makes available more than 3,400 documents related to the ADA, including those issued by federal agencies with responsibilities under the law. It also provides extensive document collections on other disability rights laws and issues.

Air Carrier Access Act (http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/538801.pdf)
The Air Carrier Access Act prohibits discrimination by air carriers on the basis of disability. This act is enforced by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which maintains a hotline for complaints: (202) 366-2220 (voice); (202) 366-0511 (TTY).

Department of Education (http://www.ed.gov)
The U.S. Department of Education funds 10 regional Disability Business Technical Assistance Centers (http://www.adata.org) to provide technical assistance on the ADA. For assistance related to civil rights, contact the department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in Washington D.C. (http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html)  or the OCR enforcement office serving your state or territory.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/disabilities/sect504faq)
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued the Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines, which cover multifamily housing and are available on HUD’s website (http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/disabilities/fhefhag.cfm). Information is also available on how to file a complaint with HUD under the Fair Housing Act (http://www.hud.gov/complaints/housediscrim.cfm). HUD's website also addresses access under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/disabilities/504keys.cfm).

Department of Justice's ADA Website (http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm)
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) website offers technical assistance on the ADA Standards for Accessible Design and other ADA provisions that apply to businesses, nonprofit service agencies, and state and local government programs. It also provides information on how to file ADA-related complaints. Many of its technical assistance letters are available online (http://www.ada.gov/ta-pubs-pg2.htm).

DOJ maintains an ADA hotline: 800-514-0301 (voice); 800-514-0383 (TTY).

Department of Transportation (https://www.transportation.gov/)
(See Federal Transit Administration.)

Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (http://www.dol.gov/odep/)
In the fiscal year 2001 budget, Congress approved a new Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) for the Department of Labor. Programs and staff of the former President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities have been integrated in this new office. The mission of ODEP, under the leadership of an Assistant Secretary, is to bring a heightened and permanent long-term focus on the goal of increasing employment for persons with disabilities through policy analysis, technical assistance, and development of best practices, as well as outreach, education, constituent services, and promoting ODEP's mission among employers.

Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (http://www.adata.org)
Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), the Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs) provide information, materials, technical assistance, and training on the ADA to employers, people with disabilities, and other entities with responsibilities under the ADA. The national toll-free number, 1-800-949-4232 (voice and TTY), automatically routes calls to the closest center.

DisabilityInfo.Gov
This website is a one-stop interagency portal for information on federal programs, services, and resources for people with disabilities, their families, employers, service providers, and other community members.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (http://www.disability.gov)
The EEOC offers technical assistance on the ADA provisions that apply to employment and provides information on how to file ADA complaints.

Employment questions: 800-669-4000 (voice); 800-669-6820 (TTY)

Employment documents: 800-669-3362 (voice); 800-800-3302 (TTY)

Federal Communications Commission (http://www.fcc.gov/cib/dro)
The FCC offers technical assistance on ADA telephone relay service requirements. The FCC also has jurisdiction over compliance with Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act.

Relay service — documents and questions: 202-418-0190 (voice); 202-418-2555 (TTY)

Relay service — legal questions: 202-634-1798 (voice); 202-418-0484 (TTY)

Complaints and enforcement: 202-632-7553 (voice); 202-418-0485 (TTY)

Federal Register (https://www.federalregister.gov/)
This site not only contains the Federal Register, but many Government Publishing Office documents can also be accessed. It is a gateway site with access to most documents available from the Government Publishing Office (see Government Publishing Office).

Federal Relay Service (https://www.federalrelay.us/)
The Federal Relay Service (FRS) provides telecommunications services for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing or who have speech disabilities, to aid them in communicating and conducting business with employees in the federal government. The FRS provides domestic and international coverage to the public and to federal agency personnel seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Federal Transit Administration (http://www.fta.dot.gov/civilrights/12325.html)
The Federal Transit Administration regulates and enforces requirements of the ADA that cover transportation facilities and systems. The FTA maintains a technical assistance line on ADA questions: 1-866-377-8642 (voice); 1-800-877-8339 (TTY).

FirstGov.gov (http://www.firstgov.gov)
This is the official U.S. gateway to all government information and is the catalyst for a growing electronic government. This site provides a powerful search engine and links to information from the federal government, local and tribal governments, and nations around the world.

General Service Administration Public Buildings Service (http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/193773)
The GSA's Public Buildings Service manages the Accessibility Program for GSA. This program provides liaison and technical staff support to the Administrator and Deputy Administrator concerning accessibility complaints against GSA facilities.

Government Accounting Office (http://www.gao.gov)
Reports can be downloaded or ordered directly from this site, including those on status of business, schools’ compliance with the ADA, civil rights issues, and transportation issues.

Government Publishing Office (http://www.access.gpo.gov/)
The Government Publishing Office maintains its own web page with access to the Federal Register, Congressional Record, legislation, and other documents. Access through a Federal Depository Library gateway (such as the Federal Registry) is sometimes easier.

Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov)
Established by a consortium of federal agencies, this website allows users to find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all federal grant-making agencies. It contains information on more than 900 grant programs offered by 26 federal agencies.

Internal Revenue Service (https://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/For-ADA-Anniversary-IRS-Spotlights-Tax-Benefits-and-Services-for-People-With-Disabilities ) The IRS provides information about tax code provisions including tax credits (Section 44) and deductions (Section 190) for businesses that comply with the ADA. These provisions are explained in Publication 907 which can be accessed online (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p907.pdf) or ordered by calling the number below.

Tax code information: 800-829-1040 (voice); 800-829-4059 (TTY)

To order Publication 907: 800-829-3676 (voice); 800-829-4059 (TTY)
Within Washington D.C.: 202-622-3110 (voice); (for TTY, use relay service)

Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (KTDRR) at www.ktdrr.org

(Formerly National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR))
The purpose of the Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (KTDRR) is to make it easier to find, understand, and use the results of research that can make a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities. In collaboration with several national and international partners, the Center on KTDRR carries out integrated training, dissemination, utilization, and technical assistance activities to (a.) increase use of valid and relevant evidence-based research findings that inform decision-making and (b.) increase the understanding and application of knowledge translation principles.

National Council on Disability (http://www.ncd.gov)
The Council is a federal agency which provides recommendations to the President and Congress on overall policy issues affecting persons with disabilities. The Council developed the concept and much of the statutory language which formed the ADA.

National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

 (http://acl.gov/Programs/NIDILRR/About/About.aspx )
NIDILRR plays a unique role in that its target population includes all disability types and all age groups. While other federal research entities fund prevention, cure, and acute rehabilitation research, NIDILRR also invests in rehabilitation research that is tied more closely to longer-term outcomes, such as independence, community participation, and employment

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (http://www.nist.gov/)
NIST was established by Congress "to assist industry in the development of technology ... needed to improve product quality, to modernize manufacturing processes, to ensure product reliability ... and to facilitate rapid commercialization ... of products based on new scientific discoveries." An agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Technology Administration, NIST's primary mission is to promote U.S. economic growth by working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurements, and standards.

National Science Foundation (http://www.nsf.gov)
The National Science Foundation is an independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting science and engineering through programs involving almost 20,000 research and education projects in science and engineering. Some projects focus on technology and people with disabilities.

Office of Disability Employment Policy (Department of Labor) (http://www.dol.gov/odep/)
The Office of Disability Employment Policy at the Department of Labor (previously the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities) answers employment questions and funds the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) (http://www.jan.wvu.edu), which provides advice on accommodating employees with disabilities.

Employment questions: 202-376-6200 (voice); 202-376-6205 (TTY)

Job Accommodation Network: 800-526-7234 (voice and TTY)

Regulatory Information Service Center (http://reginfo.gov)
The Regulatory Information Service Center has established the reginfo.gov site to assist users who want to find information about federal, state, and local regulations. The Center is a federal government office located in the General Services Administration, with responsibility for gathering and publishing information on federal regulations.

Smithsonian Institution Accessibility Program (http://www.si.edu/accessibility)
This site provides information on accessibility to the Smithsonian Institution and access maps of museums on and near the National Mall, with specific guidance to those designing exhibits in the Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Exhibition Design (http://www.sifacilities.si.edu/ae_center/pdf/Accessible-Exhibition-Design.pdf).

Thomas (http://thomas.loc.gov)
This is the site operated by the Library of Congress where one can obtain status and full text of current and previous years’ legislation, as well as the Congressional Record.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) (https://www.tsa.gov/)
The TSA is within the Department of Transportation and is responsible for protecting the nation’s transit system. The TSA has issued guidance to air travelers,, including those with disabilities, on new security screening procedures (https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures).

Usability.gov (http://www.usability.gov)
This site is designed to provide current and accurate information on how to make websites and other user interfaces more accessible and useful for people with disabilities. Information is provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the federal government's principal agency for cancer research. This site also links to a variety of quality websites and resources on usability, accessibility, and related topics.

U.S. House of Representatives (http://www.house.gov)
This site provides links to House bills passed and pending, hearing schedules, and other resources.

U.S. Senate (http://www.senate.gov)
This site provides links to Senate bills passed and pending, hearing schedules, and other resources.

Vocational Rehabilitation State Offices (http://askjan.org/cgi-win/TypeQuery.exe?902)
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), a state-supported division of services, assists people with disabilities who are pursuing employment. VR helps those people to secure gainful employment commensurate with their abilities and capabilities through local job searches and awareness of self-employment and telecommuting opportunities.

The White House (http://www.whitehouse.gov)
This site provides access to Presidential speeches and press releases, and links to Executive Branch agencies.