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Individuals With Disabilities

Last Updated: | Blog

DHS Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act

On September 26, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) joins the Nation in celebrating the milestone 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act) — the landmark civil rights law prohibiting disability discrimination in the activities of the federal government.

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Close Memo Regarding CBP's Treatment of Children with Disabilities

On September 10, 2020, CRCL issued a Recommendation Memorandum to CBP following an investigation of several CRCL complaints concerning the separation of children with disabilities from their families. CRCL found that existing CBP measures and guidelines did not fully address the factors that CBP should consider when separating a child with a disability from his or her parent or guardian, and that CBP documentation was often inadequate.

Last Updated: | Publication

DHS Technology Accessibility Issue Reporting Form

This form is used to assist you with reporting a technology accessibility issue or initiating a complaint under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. You should use this form if you are an individual with a disability, and because of that disability, you are having difficulty accessing ICT provided by the Department.

Last Updated: | Publication

Follow-Up Memo Regarding CBP's Treatment of Children with Disabilities

This memorandum is a follow up to CBP's response to the September 10, 2020 memorandum from CRCL and the DHS Office of the General Counsel, titled "CBP's Treatment of Children with Disabilities." As set forth in the memorandum, CRCL investigated several  complaints alleging that CBP separated children with disabilities from their parents or legal guardians and offered eight policy recommendations. CBP responded on January 28, 2021.

Last Updated: | Publication

The CIS Ombudsman's Webinar Series: 2021 Annual Report

July 14, 2021, the Office of the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman hosted a webinar highlighting its 2021 Annual Report to Congress.

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Complaints, Compliance Reviews, and Designated Staff

This presentation provides information on what is needed to complete the DHS Civil Rights Evaluation Tool, which may assist recipients in meeting their administrative requirements.

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Recommendations Memo to CBP Concerning Treatment of Children with Disabilities

This memorandum provides policy recommendations to protect the well-being of children with disabilities and promote the family unity of families including children with disabilities “to the greatest extent operationally feasible” while in (CBP custody. Accordingly, this memorandum provides policy recommendations with an aim to reinforce existing CBP policy as stated in CBP’s National Standards on Transportation, Escort, Detention, and Search (TEDS) (October 2015) to maintain family unity to the greatest extent operationally feasible.

Last Updated: | Publication

DHS Component Disability Access Plans

DHS Component Disability Access Plans

Last Updated: | Publication

Reasonable Accommodation Guidance for DHS Recipients

The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties provides technical assistance and guidance to DHS recipients in meeting their obligations under federal civil rights laws, which includes providing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. The following documents provide information that can assist recipients in developing a reasonable accommodation notice and process for persons with disabilities.  A reasonable accommodation is a change of or modification to afford a qualified individual with a disability full enjoyment of a recipient’s programs or activities, unless modifications of policies, practices, and procedures would fundamentally alter the nature of the program, service, or activity, or result in undue financial and administrative burdens to the recipient.

Last Updated: | Publication

Recommendations for Emergency Managers for Disaster Assistance to Survivors with Disabilities

Following DHS listening sessions in many communities heavily impacted by natural disasters in 2017 and 2018, the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties makes the following recommendations to state, local, territorial, and tribal emergency managers to improve the delivery of disaster assistance to disaster survivors with disabilities.  The recommendations are grouped by major areas DHS covered in the listening sessions.