Introduction

This quick topic guide was created for students conducting introductory research in the area of disability law. This guide, while not comprehensive, provides a listing of the more important, current and relevant materials available in this subject area, including primary and secondary sources covering the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA).

Introductory Resources

Disability Law: An Overview

• An overview of disability law, primarily the ADA, including links to related federal and state statutes, state judicial decisions, conventions and treaties, and key internet sources.

Federal Disability Law in a Nutshell KF480.Z9 T83

• "An overview of the major federal laws pertaining to discrimination against people with disabilities." Covers the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, the Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Understanding Disability Law KF480.Z9 W43

• Analysis of "the Fourteenth Amendment, the Americans with Disabilities Act," the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, "section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Fair Housing Act Amendments, and other laws, as they relate to controversial issues of disability rights."
  

Understanding the New Disability and Genetic Discrimination Laws KF3469 .U53

• Guide of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008. Includes the laws and enforcement prrovisions, as well as their relationship with other federal and state laws.

For more introductory resources, consult the Disability Law Treatise Finder.

Primary Law Resources

ADA Legal Documents, U.S. Department of Justice.

Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

• Links to text, regulations and fact sheets.

Emily A. Benfer, The ADA Amendments Act: An Overview of Recent Changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act, Am. Constitutional Soc. Law Pub. Policy (Sept. 20, 2009).

Disabilities Law Database
Available online from BNA Bloomberg Labor & Employment Law Resource Center.

• Includes federal and state cases (with a legal overview for each state), statutes, regulations, and agency documents.

Disability Law in the United States: A Legislative History of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Available online from HeinOnline.

• Comprehensive collection of legislative history documents.

Law of Disability Discrimination Handbook: Statutes and Regulatory Guidance KF480 .C652.

• Statutes and regulations on the topic of disability discrimination law. Companion to The Law of Disability Discrimination treatise below.

Lexis

• Americans with Disabilities Act File (EDLAW:ADAALL), a combined legislative file containing Americans with Disabilities Act Federal Court Cases, Federal Register Documents, Administrative Agency Decisions, Presidential Documents, Congressional Record Information, Committee Reports and Public Laws, including the ADA.

Westlaw

• Legislative History - Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Arnold and Porter Legislative History File (ADA-LH), a "comprehensive legislative history of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101-336, compiled by Arnold & Porter, including the text of bills, committee reports, hearing transcripts and other documents." Includes Cases, Code of Federal Regulations, Federal Register and Statutes.

Treatises and In-Depth Resources

Americans with Disabilities Act Handbook KF3469 .P47 (now cancelled)

• Definitions and analyses of statutory and regulatory requirements, organized by topic.
  

Americans with Disabilities Act Manual
Available online from BNA (Disabilities Law (Analysis)) and Bloomberg Law (Search & Browse > BNA Manuals > Disabilities Law Manual).

• Comprehensive source for guidance in Americans with Disabilities Act provisions. Bloomberg Law version includes extensive primary source documents and appendices.

Americans with Disabilities: Practice and Compliance Manual
Available online from Westlaw.

• Covers the rights of persons with disabilities in employment, housing, education, transportation, public spaces, and telecommunication systems. It covers the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Civil Rights Act. Forms are included at the end of most chapters.

Law of Disability Discrimination KF480 .C65

• Treatise providing an in-depth study of the ADA and related legal provisions.

News and Current Awareness

@ABADisability

• Follow the American Bar Association Commission on Disability Rights on Twitter.

Disabilities Law Database
Available online from BNA Bloomberg Labor & Employment Law Resource Center.  

• Includes news, analysis and reports, as well as federal and state cases (with an overview of the law in each state), statutes, regulations, and agency documents.

DisAbility Rights Galaxy 

• Public awareness and advocacy blog of DisAbility Rights Washington (DRW) of Seattle. Includes articles, videos, discussion boards, etc., on disability law topics.

National Disability Law Reporter
Available online from Lexis.

• Provides text of the most recent disability law decisions, major relevant federal statutes and regulations, and federal and state opinions.
  

Government Resources

Americans with Disabilities Act Web Site

• Official Department of Justice web site for the American with Disabilities Act. Contains links to various ADA information resources including ADA publications, design standards, and new and proposed legislation.

Last updated 03/07/2013 (BRM)