DHS is committed to nondiscrimination for persons with disabilities in its programs and activities, through enforcement and compliance with requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, including Section 504 of the Act which states:
"No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States...shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance or under any program or activity conducted by any Executive agency..." 29 U.S.C. § 794.
Consistent with the principles of Section 504, the Department has issued the policy and guidance listed below to ensure nondiscrimination for individuals with disabilities in programs and activities conducted by and assisted by DHS. This policy and guidance was developed between 2013 and 2016. The Department will undertake a review and update its policy and guidance. For more information, please contact CRCL at crcl@hq.dhs.gov.
- Enforcement of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Conducted by the Department of Homeland Security
- DHS Management Directive on Nondiscrimination for Individuals with Disabilities in DHS-Conducted Programs and Activities
- DHS Instruction on Nondiscrimination for Individuals with Disabilities in DHS-Conducted Programs and Activities
- DHS Component Self-Evaluation and Planning Reference Guide
Under DHS Directive 065-01 and in coordination with the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, each DHS Component and office that interacts with the public developed its own individual Disability Access Plan for strengthening compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Components developed these plans to address potential barriers and gaps in disability access identified in their self-evaluations. Additional Component Plans will be posted here once they have been prepared in an accessible PDF format.
- DHS Disability Access Component Highlights
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CISOMB)
- DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL)
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
- Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO)
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC)
- Federal Protective Service (FPS)
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- DHS Office of Partnerships and Engagement (OPE)
- DHS Office of Public Affairs (OPA)
- DHS Privacy Office (PRIV)
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
- U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
- CRCL's Antidiscrimination Group engages in policy work to ensure nondiscrimination based on race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), disability, sex, and age in DHS programs and activities in accordance with federal civil rights laws and regulations. The Antidiscrimination Group provides technical assistance to DHS Components, coordinates with federal partners on implementing laws, and engages with community stakeholders.
- The DHS Disability Access Working Group was established to further the Department's commitment to the principles of the Rehabilitation Act in DHS programs and activities. Through this Working Group, Components work together to share strategies for effective communication, program accessibility, physical accessibility, and reasonable accommodations and modifications for individuals with disabilities; and then coordinate the use of these approaches across the Department.
- DHS Commemorates the 40th Anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act, Blog by Acting Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Officer Tamara Kessler (September 2013)
- DHS Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act, Blog by Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Officer Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia (September 2023)
- Readout: DHS Disability Stakeholder Listening Session (September 2023)
- Guide to Interacting with People Who Have Disabilities
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Transportation Security Administration
- U.S. Department of Justice
- Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability and Inclusion
- Web Accessibility Initiative
- ADA.gov
- Section 508.gov
- U.S. Access Board
- National Council on Disability
Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
2707 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., SE
Mail Stop #0190
Washington, DC 20528-0190
Phone: 202-401-1474 | 1-866-644-8360 (toll free)
TTY: 202-401-0470 | 1-866-644-8361 (toll free)
Fax: 202-401-4708
E-mail: crcl@dhs.gov