Congress finds that—
(1) millions of Americans have one or more physical or mental disabilities and the number of Americans with such disabilities is increasing;
(2) individuals with disabilities constitute one of the most disadvantaged groups in society;
(3) disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to—
(A) live independently;
(B) enjoy self-determination;
(C) make choices;
(D) contribute to society;
(E) pursue meaningful careers; and
(F) enjoy full inclusion and integration in the economic, political, social, cultural, and educational mainstream of American society;
(4) increased employment of individuals with disabilities can be achieved through the provision of individualized training, independent living services, educational and support services, and meaningful opportunities for employment in integrated work settings through the provision of reasonable accommodations;
(5) individuals with disabilities continually encounter various forms of discrimination in such critical areas as employment, housing, public accommodations, education, transportation, communication, recreation, institutionalization, health services, voting, and public services; and
(6) the goals of the Nation properly include the goal of providing individuals with disabilities with the tools necessary to—
(A) make informed choices and decisions; and
(B) achieve equality of opportunity, full inclusion and integration in society, employment, independent living, and economic and social self-sufficiency, for such individuals.
The purposes of this chapter are—
(1) to empower individuals with disabilities to maximize employment, economic self-sufficiency, independence, and inclusion and integration into society, through—
(A) comprehensive and coordinated state-of-the-art programs of vocational rehabilitation;
(B) independent living centers and services;
(C) research;
(D) training;
(E) demonstration projects; and
(F) the guarantee of equal opportunity; and
(2) to ensure that the Federal Government plays a leadership role in promoting the employment of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with severe disabilities, and in assisting States and providers of services in fulfilling the aspirations of such individuals with disabilities for meaningful and gainful employment and independent living.
It is the policy of the United States that all programs, projects, and activities receiving assistance under this chapter shall be carried out in a manner consistent with the principles of—
(1) respect for individual dignity, personal responsibility, self-determination, and pursuit of meaningful careers, based on informed choice, of individuals with disabilities;
(2) respect for the privacy, rights, and equal access (including the use of accessible formats), of the individuals;
(3) inclusion, integration, and full participation of the individuals;
(4) support for the involvement of a parent, a family member, a guardian, an advocate, or an authorized representative if an individual with a disability requests, desires, or needs such support; and
(5) support for individual and systemic advocacy and community involvement.
(Pub. L. 93–112, §2, Sept. 26, 1973, 87 Stat. 357; Pub. L. 95–602, title I, §122(a)(1), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2984; Pub. L. 99–506, title I, §101, Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1808; Pub. L. 102–569, title I, §101, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4346.)
The content of Pub. L. 93–516, Dec. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1617, including provisions thereof which amended various sections of this chapter and enacted provisions set out as notes under this section, was originally contained in H.R. 14225, 93rd Congress, Second Session, which was pocket-vetoed during the 31-day intrasession adjournment of the 93rd Congress for the Congressional elections in November, 1974.
Pursuant to an order of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (Kennedy v. Jones, D.C.D.C. 1976, 412 F.Supp. 353), H.R. 14225 was deemed to have become law without the approval of the President on Nov. 21, 1974, and was given the designation Pub. L. 93–651. Therefore, for purposes of codification, this chapter should be deemed to have been amended by Pub. L. 93–651, Nov. 21, 1974, 89 Stat. 2–3, in exactly the same manner as it was amended by Pub. L. 93–516, Dec. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1617.
Prior similar provisions were contained in former section 31 of this title.
1992—Pub. L. 102–569 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “The purpose of this chapter is to develop and implement, through research, training, services, and the guarantee of equal opportunity, comprehensive and coordinated programs of vocational rehabilitation and independent living, for individuals with handicaps in order to maximize their employability, independence, and integration into the workplace and the community.”
1986—Pub. L. 99–506 inserted “, for individuals with handicaps in order to maximize their employability, independence, and integration into the workplace and the community”.
1978—Pub. L. 95–602 substituted provision declaring that the purpose of this chapter is to develop and implement, through research, training, services, and equal opportunity guarantee, comprehensive and coordinated programs of vocational rehabilitation and independent living for provision declaring the purpose of this chapter was to provide a statutory basis for the Rehabilitation Services Administration and to authorize a wide range of programs designed to improve rehabilitation methods, services, and facilities, increase the number and skill of trained personnel, and provide employment opportunities for the handicapped.
Section 138 of title I of Pub. L. 102–569, as amended by Pub. L. 103–73, title I, §102(3), Aug. 11, 1993, 107 Stat. 718, provided that:
“(a)
“(b)
Section 1006 of Pub. L. 99–506 provided that: “Except as otherwise provided in this Act [see Short Title of 1986 Amendment note below], this Act shall take effect on the date of its enactment [Oct. 21, 1986].”
Pub. L. 103–73, §1, Aug. 11, 1993, 107 Stat. 718, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 753 and 753a of this title, amending sections 706, 718 to 718b, 721 to 723, 725, 730 to 732, 744, 761a, 762, 771a, 777, 777a, 777f, 783, 791, 792, 794e, 795l, 796, 796c, 796d to 796e–2, 796f to 796f–4, and 796k of this title, sections 1431, 4301 to 4305, 4331, 4332, 4351, 4353 to 4357, 4359, 4359a, and 4360 of Title 20, Education, and section 46 of Title 41, Public Contracts, enacting provisions set out as notes under section 725 of this title and section 4301 of Title 20, and amending provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the ‘Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1993’.”
Section 1(a) of Pub. L. 102–569 provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992’.”
Pub. L. 102–52, §1, June 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 260, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 720, 732, 741, 761, 771, 772, 774, 775, 777, 777a, 777f, 785, 792, 795f, 795i, 795q, 796i, and 1904 of this title and section 1475 of Title 20, Education] may be cited as the ‘Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1991’.”
Section 1(a) of Pub. L. 99–506 provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 716, 717, 752, 794d, 795j to 795q, and 796d–1 of this title and section 2000d–7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, amending this section and sections 702, 705, 706, 711 to 715, 720 to 724, 730 to 732, 740, 741, 750, 751, 760 to 761b, 762, 762a, 770 to 777b, 777f, 780, 781, 783, 785, 791 to 794, 794c, 795, 795d to 795i, 796a, 796b, 796d to 796i, and 1904 of this title, and section 155a of Title 36, Patriotic Societies and Observances, repealing section 751 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 706, 730, 761a, and 795m of this title and section 1414 of Title 20, Education] may be cited as the ‘Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1986’.”
Pub. L. 98–221, §1, Feb. 22, 1984, 98 Stat. 17, provided: “That this Act [enacting sections 780a and 1901 to 1906 of this title, amending sections 706, 712 to 714, 720 to 722, 730, 732, 741, 761 to 762a, 771, 772, 774, 775, 777, 777a, 777f, 780, 781, 783, 791, 792, 794c, 795a, 795c, 795f, 795g, 795i, 796e, and 796i of this title and sections 6001, 6012, 6033, 6061, and 6081 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, repealing section 777c of this title, enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1901 of this title and amending provisions set out as a note under section 713 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Rehabilitation Amendments of 1984’.”
Section 1 of Pub. L. 95–602 provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 710 to 715, 751, 761a, 761b, 762a, 775, 777 to 777f, 780 to 785, 794a to 794c, 795 to 795i, and 796 to 796i of this title and section 6000 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, amending this section, sections 702, 706, 709, 720 to 724, 730 to 732, 740, 741, 750, 760 to 762, 770 to 774, 776, and 792 to 794 of this title, section 1904 [now 3904] of Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits, and sections 6001, 6008 to 6012, 6031 to 6033, 6061 to 6065, 6067, 6081, and 6862 of Title 42, repealing sections 764, 786, and 787 of this title and section 6007 of Title 42, omitting sections 6041 to 6043 of Title 42, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 713 and 795 of this title and sections 6000 and 6001 of Title 42, and repealing a provision set out as a note under section 6001 of Title 42] may be cited as the ‘Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services, and Developmental Disabilities Amendments of 1978’.”
Pub. L. 94–230, §1, Mar. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 211, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 720, 732, 741, 761, 771, 772, 774, 775, 783, 785, and 792 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 720 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Rehabilitation Act Extension of 1976’.”
Pub. L. 93–516, title I, §100, Dec. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1617, provided that: “This title [amending sections 702, 706, 720 to 722, 732, 741, 750, 761, 762, 771, 772, 774 to 776, 783, 785, and 792 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 702 of this title] shall be known as the ‘Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974’.”
An identical provision is contained in Pub. L. 93–651, title I, §100, Nov. 21, 1974, 89 Stat. 2–3. See Codification note above.
Section 1 of Pub. L. 93–112 provided that Pub. L. 93–112, which enacted this chapter and repealed sections 31 to 41c and 42–1 to 42b of this title, may be cited as the “Rehabilitation Act of 1973”.
Section 601 of title VI of Pub. L. 93–112, as added by Pub. L. 95–602, title II, §201, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2989, and amended by Pub. L. 102–569, title I, §102(p)(34), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4360, provided that: “This title [adding subchapter VI of this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Employment Opportunities for Handicapped Individuals Act’.”
[Section 102(p)(34) of Pub. L. 102–569 which directed the substitution of “Disabilities” for “Handicaps” in section 601 of Pub. L. 93–112, set out above, could not be executed because the word “Handicaps” did not appear.]
Pub. L. 93–516, title III, Dec. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1631, as amended by Pub. L. 94–224, §§1, 2, Feb. 27, 1976, 90 Stat. 201, authorized the President to call a White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals not later than Dec. 7, 1977, to develop recommendations and stimulate a national assessment of problems, and solutions to such problems, facing individuals with handicaps, and established a National Planning Advisory Council to provide guidance and planning for the Conference which Council would cease to exist 120 days after submission of a final report to the President, such report to be submitted not later than 120 days following the date on which the Conference was called.
Identical provisions are contained in Pub. L. 93–651, title III, Nov. 21, 1974, 89 Stat. 2–16. See Codification note above.
Ex. Ord. No. 11758, Jan. 15, 1974, 39 F.R. 2075, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 11784, May 30, 1974, 39 F.R. 19443; Ex. Ord. No. 11867, June 19, 1975, 40 F.R. 26253; Ex. Ord. No. 12608, Sept. 9, 1987, 52 F.R. 34617, provided:
By virtue of the authority vested in me by section 301 of title 3 of the United States Code and as President of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
This section is referred to in section 706 of this title.