The Department of the Treasury is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
The Department of the Treasury programs and activities are accessible to persons with disabilities.
Your Rights
If you are a qualified person with a disability, and experience difficulties accessing our services or participating in our programs because of your disability, you can request a reasonable accommodation under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, in order to be able to receive the services or participate in the program. You can make your request for an accommodation directly to the program office.
What Is Section 504?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability. The nondiscrimination requirements of the law applies to organizations that receive financial assistance from any Federal department or agency, including the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Section 504 prohibits organizations and the Department from excluding or denying individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to receive program benefits and services. It defines the rights of individuals with disabilities to participate in, and have access to, program benefits and services.
The Rehabilitation Act was the first major national law offering protection against disability discrimination and is the precursor to the Americans with Disabilities Act. The law was signed on September 26, 1973. Initially, the Rehabilitation Act prohibited discrimination in federal employment based on disability. The protections under the Rehabilitation Act have since expanded to prohibit discrimination based on disability in federally conducted programs; in programs that receive federal financial assistance; and to require the federal Government to use and purchase accessible electronic and information technology.
Who Is Protected from Discrimination?
Section 504 protects qualified individuals with disabilities. Under this law, individuals with disabilities are defined as persons with a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities. People who have a history of, or who are regarded as having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, are also covered. Major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for one's self, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working, performing manual tasks, and learning.
In addition to meeting the above definition, for purposes of receiving services, qualified individuals with disabilities are persons who meet normal and essential eligibility requirements of a program.
Reasonable accommodation
Reasonable accommodation means the Department or its recipient is required to take reasonable steps to accommodate your disability unless it would cause the entity an undue burden. A recipient of federal financial assistance may not, on the basis of disability:
- Deny qualified individuals the opportunity to participate in or benefit from federally funded programs, services, or other benefits.
- Deny access to programs, services, benefits or opportunities to participate as a result of physical barriers.
To file a program discrimination complaint, send a complaint letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Director, Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W., Washington, DC 20220 or crcomplaints@treasury.gov.