North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project
Current Priorities & Resources: Agency Priorities: Accessibility
In 2004 Congress found that "some 43,000,000 Americans have one or more physical or mental disabilities, and this number is increasing as the population as a whole is getting older." Unfortunately, in the past society has tended to isolate and segregate individuals with disabilities. P&A advocates for individuals to live in the least restrictive environment. Recognizing that full participation in community activities and services may be limited by accessibility barriers, P&A is currently advocating in the disability-related areas of:
- public accommodations including physical access, communications, reasonable modifications, auxiliary aids and services, service animals, and schools
- public transportation including discrimination in public transportation, safety issues, and service animals
- housing including reasonable accommodations, architectural barriers, harassment, landlord-tenant, and eviction
- accessibility to the voting system
On the 10th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Wally Itrich from Dickinson, North Dakota told his story and said, "because of the ADA, I feel like a real part of my community." You can read Wally's story, one of several on the national ADA website. These stories tell how working together to support all citizens, builds a better community for everyone.
Resources
American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, state and local
government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation. This site provides information
and many resources relating to the ADA.
Public Accommodations
ADA for Title III
The Department of Justice's regulation implementing Title III of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination on the
basis of disability in "places of public accommodation" (businesses and non- profit agencies that serve the
public) and "commercial facilities" (other businesses); includes minimum standards for ensuring accessibility
when designing and constructing a new facility or altering an existing facility.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
A national law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability; applies to employers
and organizations (including many hospitals, nursing homes, mental health centers, and human service programs) that
receive financial assistance from any Federal department or agency.
Disabilityinfo.gov
The federal government's one-stop Web site for people with disabilities, their families, employers, veterans and
service members, workforce professionals and many others.
North Dakota Department of Labor
Responsible for enforcing the N.D. Human Rights Act which prohibits discrimination because of a person's race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, age (forty or older), physical or mental disability, martial status or receipt
of public assistance. The department is authorized to investigate complaints of housing discrimination and public accommodations.
Transportation
NDinfo.org
A website which provides a transportation service directory enabling an individual to access information about
available transit services across the state of North Dakota.
Small Rural and Urban Transit Center (SURTC)
The purpose of SURTC is to increase the mobility of residents through improved public transportation. The site includes
a multi-county transit system map.
Housing
Fair Housing of the Dakotas
Provides assistance to individuals pursuing legal rights and remedies related to fair housing.
Voting
HAVA (Help America Vote Act)
Provides HAVA information as it pertains to N.D. residents.
North Dakota Secretary of State
Provides election and voting information for N.D. citizens.
North Dakota Association of Counties (NDaCO)
Provides quick access to information concerning legislators, including how to contact them.
Voting: It's Your Right! A video about voting in ND and the rights of voters with disabilities
