UCSC -EEO/AA

Laws Covering Disabilities in Employment

UCSC has long been covered by the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and requires affirmative action in employment. The Federal Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), prohibit employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in the private sector, and in state and local governments. The ADA also prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in many more areas of public life - in employment, public services, public accommodations, and telecommunications.

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) is the largest state civil rights agency in the country. It was established by the Legislature in 1959 as the Division of Fair Employment Practices. In 1980, DFEH was established as an independent department charged with enforcing California's comprehensive employment, housing, public accommodations and public service non-discrimination laws, as well as the State's bias-related hate violence law.

DFEH's statutory mandate is to protect the people of California from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations pursuant to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, Government Code section 12900, et seq., the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Civil Code section 51, et seq., and the Ralph Civil Rights Act, Civil Code section 51.7.