Online tool helps further equality and full access for people with disabilities

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor provides a tool to help America's employers ensure their employment policies and practices do not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities.

The online Disability Nondiscrimination Law Advisor, available at https://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/odep/, helps employers quickly and simply determine which federal disability nondiscrimination laws apply to their business or organization and their responsibilities under them. It asks users to answer a few relevant questions in order to take into account relevant variables, such as nature of organization, size of staff and whether the business or organization receives federal financial assistance. Based on the responses provided, the advisor then generates a customized list of federal disability nondiscrimination laws that likely apply, along with easy-to-understand information about employers' responsibilities under them.

The laws addressed by the Disability Nondiscrimination Law Advisor include:

Titles I and II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 Section 188 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (as it pertains to federal financial assistance) Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended The Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended The advisor also can help employees, job applicants and people applying for or participating in federally funded programs learn more about their rights under these laws. In addition, it includes a Guide on Employing People with Disabilities that outlines resources available to help employers comply with disability nondiscrimination laws.

The Disability Nondiscrimination Law Advisor is one of a series of Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses, or "elaws," Advisors developed by the Labor Department's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, working with other department agencies, to help employers and employees understand federal employment laws. To access this set of advisors, visit the elaws website at www.dol.gov/elaws. To learn more about the Labor Department's efforts to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities, visit www.dol.gov/odep.