Using the Amer. with Disabilities Act to Protect the Rights of Individuals in TANF Programs: Manual For NonLitigation Advocacy

Date:
Author:
National Center for Law and Economic Justice

From the introduction to the manual: 

"This manual provides basic information for lawyers and advocates on how to use federal disability rights laws to improve access to welfare benefits for people with disabilities."  It does not address litigation issues, instead "[t]his manual is intended for individuals engaging in informal advocacy on behalf of individuals and in
policy advocacy, not for those engaging in litigation."

The manual is a resource tool for lawyer and non-lawyer advocates engaging in informal and policy advocacy. It explains who is protected by the ADA and what welfare agencies must do to comply with the ADA; discusses Policy Guidance issued by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the application of the ADA to welfare programs; contains easy-to-understand examples of key ADA requirements; provides many examples of reasonable modifications advocates can seek on behalf of their clients with disabilities; discusses welfare agencies' obligation to screen and assess clients to identify their disabilities; identifies a number of ways the ADA can be used in informal and policy advocacy; contains chapters on many other important topics; and appendices with helpful web sites, relevant court decisions and settlements, summaries of complaints filed with OCR and resolutions of those complaints, and best practices from welfare programs around the country on serving clients with disabilities.