excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under” any program or
activity that either receives Federal financial assistance or is conducted by any Executive agency or
the United States Postal Service.
Each Federal agency has its own set of section 504 regulations that apply to its own programs.
Agencies that provide Federal financial assistance also have section 504 regulations covering
entities that receive Federal aid. Requirements common to these regulations include reasonable
accommodation for employees with disabilities; program accessibility; effective communication
with people who have hearing or vision disabilities; and accessible new construction and
alterations. Each agency is responsible for enforcing its own regulations. Section 504 may also be
enforced through private lawsuits. It is not necessary to file a complaint with a Federal agency or to
receive a “right-to-sue” letter before going to court.
For information on 504, contact:
Disability Rights Section
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 66738
Washington, D.C. 20035-6738
(800) 514-0301 (voice)
(800) 514-0383 (TDD)
Architectural Barriers Act
The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) requires that buildings and facilities that are designed,
constructed, or altered with Federal funds, or leased by a Federal agency, comply with Federal
standards for physical accessibility. ABA requirements are limited to architectural standards in new
and altered buildings and in newly leased facilities. They do not address the activities conducted in
those buildings and facilities. Facilities of the U.S. Postal Service are covered by the ABA. For more
information, contact:
The U.S. Architectural and Transportation
Barriers Compliance Board
1331 F Street, N.W. (Suite 1000)
Washington, D.C. 20004-1111
(800) 872-2253 (voice)
(800) 993-2822 (TDD)