The Statute
Concepts of the Statute
Key Cases
Relevant NC Statutes
Case Study
100

The first federal law prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities in programs and employment relating to the federal government

What is the Rehabilitation Act of 1973?

100

This maintains that people with disabilities must have the same chances in employment and programs as people without disabilities.

What is Equal Opportunity?

100

This questioned whether an educational institution can refuse admission to a disabled applicant to a clinical program when the disability prevents safe or effective participation.

What is Southeastern Community College v. Davis (1979)?

100

This prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, housing, and public services.

What is the North Carolina Persons with Disabilities Protection Act (NCPDPA) 

100

The EEOC filed suit against this government organization in 2024.

What is NASA?

200

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was the foundation for this later law that further protected people with disabilities.

What is the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990?

200

A person who meets job requirements and can perform essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

Who is a qualified individual?

200

This case questioned whether a state entity has waived its eleventh amendment sovereign immunity by accepting federal funds under a statute like 504, thus permitting private suits seeking money damages under the rehabilitation act.

What is Atascadero State Hospital v. Scanlon (1985)?

200

The North Carolina Persons with Disabilities Protection Act (NCPDPA) applies to state and local govenments as well as employers with this many employees.

What is fifteen or more?

200

In the EEOC v. NASA (2024), an employee requested this.

What is remote work flexibility and schedule adjustments?

300

This requires federal agencies to implement affirmative action plans for the hiring, placement, and advancement of individuals with disabilities.

What is Section 501?

300

The requirement that employers and agencies must adjust work environments or practices to support individuals with disabilities unless doing so causes undue hardship. 

What is reasonable accomodation?

300

This case questioned whether “primary alcoholism” is a “handicap” under 504, and whether the VA’s regulation that treats primary alcoholism as willful misconduct (thus barring educational benefit extensions) violates the rehabilitation act.

What is Traynor v. Turnage (1988)?

300

The North Carolina Persons with Disabilities Protection Act (NCPDPA) does this when compared to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

What is mirrors?

300

EEOC held NASA failed to provide reasonable accommodation under Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act.

What is the ruling of EEOC v. NASA (2024)?

400

This prohibits disability discrimination by federal contractors and subcontractors and mandates affirmative action programs to employ and advance qualified individuals with disabilities.

What is Section 503?

400

This requires federal agencies and contractors must actively recruit, hire, and promote qualified individuals with disabilities.

What is Affirmative Action?

400

This case questioned what primary damages are available under 504 (and ADA) in private suits — specifically, whether punitive damages can be awarded.

What is Barnes v. Gorman (2002)?

400

This handles complaints at the state level and many cases are dual-filed with EEOC for federal review.

What is the NC Office of Administrative Hearings, Civil Rights Division?

400

As part of the settlement of their case, NASA agreed to this.

What is policy revisions and manager training on disability accomodation?

500

This requires all federal agencies to make electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.

What is Section 508?

500

Section 508 requires federal programs and agencies to make this accessible.

What is electronic communication and information technology?

500

This case questioned whether emotional distress damages are recoverable in private enforcement actions under 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

What is Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller, P.L.L.C. (2022)?

500

Employers in NC must comply with both federal Rehabilitation Act obligations and this.

What is state-level anti-discrimination laws?

500

Federal employers must engage promptly in the interactive process when an employee requests accommodation.

What is the Key Takeaway from EEOC v. NASA (2024)?