Major Federal Legislation for People with Disabilities 1917   Enactment of Vocational Rehabilitation Act to provide services to disabled veterans 1935   Social Security Act established benefits for aged, blind and crippled children 1948   Congress mandated that discrimination against people with disabilities is prohibited            by the U.S. Civil Service Commission. 1950   Social Security amendments establish a federal/state program of aid to totally and            permanently disabled 1954   Social Security Act amendments extend social security coverage to persons with work            related disabilities and requires recipients of Security disability benefits to be referred            to vocational rehabilitation 1958   Social Security disability benefits extended to dependents of disabled workers 1963   Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health             Centers Act allows grants for the construction of public and other             nonprofit community mental health centers 1968   The Architectural Barriers Act prohibited construction of             inaccessible facilities with government funds.  Requires most             buildings designed, altered, or constructed after 1969 and using             federal funds to be accessible to people with physical disabilities 1970   The Developmental Disabilities Services and Facilities             Construction Act amendments authorize grants for planning,             services, and facility construction for persons with developmental             disabilities 1973   The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-112)Section 502            established the Architectural and transportation Barriers             Compliance Board (ATBCB) as a federal agency Section 503 prohibited private sector contractors that do business with the federal government from employment discrimination against persons with disabilities Section 504 provided discrimination protection fro people with disabilities by programs receiving federal assistance Rehabilitation Act expands rehabilitation services to more severely handicapped clients, requires agencies to develop individualized written plans for each client served with annual reviews and requires focus of rehabilitation agencies to be on severely disabled 1975   The Education of all Handicapped Children Act (Public Law             94-142) provided America's children with disabilities free public             education in the least restrictive environment possible-a crucial             step toward mainstreaming children with disabilities 1975   Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act             authorizes a three-year extension of state grants for planning and             implementing programs for developmentally disabled and             provides a bill of rights for persons with developmental disabilities 1977   Enforcement regulations of Section 504 were signed by the             Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, Joseph Califano,                    after nationwide demonstrations and a month-long occupation of a             San Francisco Federal building by people with disabilities 1986   Education of the Handicapped Act amendments mandate             services for preschoolers with disabilities and assists states to             develop comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and statewide system             of early intervention services for children from birth to age three 1987  Housing and Community Development Act requires HUD to             dedicate at least 15 percent of loan money for use in developing             housing for persons with disabilities 1988   Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities             Act (Public Law 100-407) assists states to develop             comprehensive, consumer responsive programs of technology             related assistance and to extend the availability of technology to             individuals with disabilities and their families Fair Housing Act amendments extend prohibitions against discrimination in housing to individuals with disabilities 1989   The Civil Rights of Institutionalized Person Act allowed the Justice             Department a free hand in investigating institutions serving people             who are mentally retarded and mentally impaired 1990   Americans with Disabilities Act (Public Law 101-336) guarantees             equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in employment,             public accommodations, transportation, state and local             government services, and telecommunications Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (Public Law 103-230)  amendments reauthorized grants to support the planning, coordination and delivery of specialized services to persons with developmental disabilities, provides funding for a protection and advocacy system, and  expands the act to include persons with mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)  amendments changed the name from Education for All Handicapped Act, but access to appropriate public education remained the focus of this law. 1997   Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) amendments             reinforced the provision of public education as well as ensured             that students improve and increase their educational             achievements.  The Act's commitment to educating students with             disabilities in regular classrooms with their typical peers was             strengthened, and it was stated that students with disabilities             would participate in State and district assessment programs.              Also strengthened were:  parent participation, transition planning,             and voluntary mediation as a means of resolving controversies.  1998   Workforce Investment Act (Public Law 105-220)  ensures that             employees with disabilities have access to and use of information             and data that is comparable to that of other employees.  This also             applies to members of the public seeking information or services             from a Federal department or agency. 1999   Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act  encourages             states to expand Medicaid coverage to additional people with            disabilities who are employed and to offer those who earn more             that 250 % of the federal poverty level the option to "buy-in" to             Medicaid by paying a premium. Provided States with more             flexibility in setting Medicaid income, asset and resource limits for             workers with disabilities.  Provided individuals with disabilities the             option of keeping Medicare Part A coverage, without cost, and             Medicare Part B coverage, for the standard premium, while             working for up to eight years. Created a Medicaid buy-in             demonstration project to provide medical assistance to workers             with impairments who would ultimately qualify for disability income             payments if their illness would worsen because of lack of access             to health care. 2000  Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act             (Public Law 106-402) reauthorized the Councils on             evelopmental Disabilities, the P&A Systems, the University             Centers for Excellence, and programs of national significance.  In             addition, the legislation authorizes separate grants for family             support and a program of direct support for workers who assist             individuals with developmental disabilities.