Rehabilitation Act 1973
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was the first significant federal law addressing disability rights in the United States. It established the vocational rehabilitation system, introduced the first federal non-discrimination mandate for disability (Section 504), and later added the technology accessibility requirements of Section 508. It remains the parent statute for both Sections 504 and 508.
What the law requires
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is one of the most important pieces of disability legislation in US history. While its civil rights provisions (Sections 501, 503, 504, and later 508) receive the most attention, the Act's original purpose was to establish a comprehensive national program for vocational rehabilitation — helping people with disabilities prepare for and obtain employment.
Vocational Rehabilitation (Title I): The Act funds state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies that provide services to people with disabilities to help them achieve employment. Services include assessments, counseling, job training, education, assistive technology, and job placement. Every state has a VR agency; some have separate agencies for people who are blind or visually impaired. Funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act framework.
Section 501 — Federal employer obligations: Federal agencies must have affirmative action programs for the hiring, placement, and advancement of individuals with disabilities. Federal agencies must also provide reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants with disabilities.
Section 503 — Federal contractors: Federal contractors and subcontractors receiving contracts over $10,000 must take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities. Since 2014, contractors must set a 7% utilization goal for people with disabilities in each job group.
Section 504 — Non-discrimination in federally funded programs: (See the dedicated Section 504 entry for full detail.) Section 504 was the first federal anti-discrimination provision for people with disabilities, preceding the ADA by 17 years.
Section 508 — Electronic and information technology accessibility: (See the dedicated Section 508 entry for full detail.) Added in 1998, this section requires federal agencies' electronic and information technology to be accessible.
The Act as a historical milestone: The Rehabilitation Act is often cited as the moment when federal disability policy shifted from a charity/medical model toward a civil rights model. The disability rights movement's famous protest of the delayed HEW regulations implementing Section 504 — including a 28-day sit-in at the San Francisco Federal Building in 1977 — is a landmark event in the history of disability activism.
Who it protects
Individuals with disabilities receiving federal benefits or seeking services from federally funded programs (vocational rehabilitation, Section 504); federal employees (Section 501); employees of federal contractors (Section 503); and users of federal electronic information systems (Section 508).
Who must comply
Federal agencies (Sections 501, 508), federal contractors (Section 503), and recipients of federal financial assistance (Section 504). Private employers not receiving federal money are not covered.
What it does NOT cover (common misunderstandings)
The Rehabilitation Act does not apply to private companies that do not receive federal funding. The ADA, enacted in 1990, extended similar protections to the private sector.
Vocational rehabilitation services under Title I are not entitlements for all people with disabilities — state VR agencies have order of selection procedures that may prioritize individuals with the most significant disabilities when resources are limited.
How to enforce your rights
- Section 501 (federal employment): EEOC, then Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) or federal court
- Section 503 (federal contractors): Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)
- Section 504: Relevant federal agency Office of Civil Rights or DOJ; private lawsuits
- Section 508: Agency Section 508 coordinator, DOJ; private lawsuits in some circuits
Recent updates
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA) reauthorized the vocational rehabilitation system with emphasis on competitive integrated employment (CIE) for people with disabilities, reducing the use of sheltered workshops and sub-minimum wage employment under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. WIOA requires pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities and focuses VR resources on real jobs in integrated settings.