Legal/Rights


Jobs Accommodation Network (JAN)

Information about accommodations for work and how to ask for them. Other information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is included. This is from the Job Accommodation Network (JAN).

Visit the Job Accommodation Network website

What Youth Need to Know if They Are Questioned by the Police

This fact sheet contains a brief summary for parents of youth with disabilities at risk for arrest by police at school or in the community to help them be prepared.

Visit the PACER Center website

Age of Majority Resources

A number of resources regarding the Age of Majority, when educational rights are transferred to a student are available. They are provided by the Iowa Department of Education in multiple languages.

Visit the Iowa Department of Education website

Dear Colleague Letter: Access to Accelerated Programs

The Office of Civil Rights explains the rights of students with disabilities to have access to accelerated programs offered by their public-school district.

Visit the Office of Civil Rights website

Reasonable Accommodations in the Workplace

This fact-sheet describes what reasonable accommodations in the workplace are and how to ask for them. From the ADA National Network, a nation-wide resource.

Visit the Americans with Disabilities Act Technical Assistance website

Comparison of the Individuals with Disabilities Act(IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), and The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

A chart comparing the rights of people with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) is provided on the Iowa IDEA information website.

Visit the Iowa IDEA Information (i3) website

National Resource Center for Supported Decision Making

Here you will find information about Supported Decision Making and what that means. Guardianship and other options are explained. This site includes videos, webinars, documents and forms that help explain those options.

Visit the National Resource Center for Supported Decsion Making website

Transfer of Rights

The Iowa Department of Education provides a decision tree and charts about the Age of Majority. It helps to explain what rights transfer under certain circumstances.

Visit the Iowa Department of Education website

The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability created this workbook to help youth with disabilities and the adults working with them to make decisions about whether or not to disclose their disability. It discusses the impact of that decision on the youth's education, employment, and social lives.

Visit the The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability website

Assisting Students with Disabilities

Iowa's Client Assistance Program outlines the type of accommodations that may be available in the college setting. The process for getting accommodations is described, including frequently asked questions.

Visit the Iowa Department of Human Rights website

On Your Own: Legal Rights and Responsibilities as an Adult

Learn about all the rights, responsibilities and consequences that come with being an adult. This includes voting, work, housing, marriage, loans, etc.

Visit the Iowa State Bar Association website

The 411 on Disability Disclosure: A Workbook for Families, Educators, Youth Service Professionals, and Adult Allies Who Care About Youth with Disabilities

This workbook can help adults support youth with disabilities to understand their disability. It describes who, what and when it is appropriate to discuss details about their disability with.

Visit the The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability website

Waiting Lists and Public Housing

Tips about public housing wait lists are available in multiple languages.

Visit the Iowa Legal Aid website

Questions and Answers on Transcripts for Students with Disabilities Attending Public Schools

This answers questions about what schools can include about a student's disability on school report cards and transcripts. This guidance is from The Office of Civil Rights.

Visit the Office of Civil Rights website

Disability Disclosure

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability provides many handouts for youth around disclosing their disability.

Visit the The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability website

A Consumer's Guide to Fair Housing

This document describes the housing rights that people with disabilities have. It also describes what can be done if those rights have been violated. It was developed by multiple disability organizations in Iowa.

Visit the Housing and Urban Development website

Guardianship and Conservatorship in Iowa

The legal processes and responsibilities around guardianship, conservatorship and substitute decision making in Iowa are described by Iowa's Developmental Disabilities Council.

Visit the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council website

ADA Overview

An overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act is provided by the ADA National Network. It is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The law covers jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public.

Visit the Americans with Disabilities Act Technical Assistance website

Transition to Postsecondary Education for HS Educators

The Office of Civil Rights provides information to help educators advise students about the process of transitioning from high school to college.

Visit the Office of Civil Rights website

Housing Rights and Persons with Disabilities

Iowa legal Aid provides information about accommodations to rental housing and how to make a complaint if a landlord does not follow the law.

Visit the Iowa Legal Aid website

About Supported Decision Making

Information around options to support decision making are provided on this website. It includes stories and resources for self-advocates, attorneys and supporters.

Visit the SupportedDecisions.org website

Age of Majority FAQ for Parents and Guardians

The Iowa Department of Education answers commonly asked questions in this document about the Age of Majority, the age when the decision-making rights switch from parents to students.

Visit the Iowa Department of Education website

Your Legal Disability Rights

The "Your Legal Disability Rights" webpage provides information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Includes voter rights and protections against discrimination and harassment in the workplace.

Visit the USA.gov website

Age of Majority Guidance- Student Version

Frequently Asked Questions about the Age of Majority are answered for students by the Iowa Department of Education in this document. Includes definition of terms and outline of rights

Visit the Iowa Department of Education website

Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education

Accommodations in college may look different than they were in high school. The Office of Civil Rights explains students' rights and process for getting accommodations in the college setting.

Visit the Office of Civil Rights website

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Disability

The federal nondiscrimination laws that provide housing protections for individuals with disabilities are outlined.

Visit the Housing and Urban Development website

Dependent Adult Protective Services

Dependent Adult Protective Services (APS) receives reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of dependent adults. Frequently Asked Questions and the toll-free phone number to report concerns is provided from the Iowa Department of Human Services.

Visit the Iowa Department of Human Services website

Client Assistance Program

The Client Assistance Program (CAP) can assist anyone who is not satisfied with the services that they have received from Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Iowa Department for the Blind or Iowa's Independent Living Centers.

Visit the Department of Human Rights website

Special Needs Trusts, Special Needs Planning and Guardianship

Experts in estate planning offer their expertise to families regarding special needs trusts, supported decision-making, alternatives to guardianship, healthcare proxies, power of attorney and more.

Visit The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel website

Guidance on 4+ Services

The Iowa Department of Education defines and outlines the duties of school districts to provide Special Education services to students beyond the fourth year of high school.

Visit the Iowa Department of Education website

Transition to Adulthood Webinar Series

The University of Iowa's Child Health Specialty Clinics offers a webinar series on Transition Planning for families of youth with special needs. Topics include: School Transition Planning, Applying for Social Security, Estate Planning, Promoting Self Determination, A Youth and Parent Panel, Guardianship and Shared Decision Making, and a screening of the Intelligent Lives Documentary with Guided Discussion.

Visit the Child Health Specialty Clinics website

Suggest or Request a Resource

Searching for a resource but can't find it? Please fill out our form to let us know what information would be helpful to you.

Complete The Form

Youth Transitioning from Juvenile Justice Facilities

This collection of resources includes informational briefs, webinars, toolkits and curricula from a wide variety of sources including the U.S. Department of Education, the The National Juvenile Defender Center, etc.

Visit the Center for Parent Information and Resources website

UNDERSTANDING HIPAA: What Parents Need to Know About Privacy & Their Adult Child's Health Information

The HIPPA law is described with a focus on what is and isn't allowed for parents with adult children.

View the resource from the National Family Support Technical Assistance Center

Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities

Learn about the 504 accommodations that are available to students in the college setting, along with how these accommodations might look different than what was available in high school.

Go to the U.S. Department of Education website

How to Avoid Predatory Lease Agreements

People looking to sign a lease agreement on their own are may be vulnerable to predatory clauses and arrangements. Find out what to look out for before signing.

Visit the iProperty Management website:

ASK AN EXPERT: GUARDIANSHIP AND CONSERVATORSHIP

Jennifer Donovan - Public Guardian at Iowa Department on Aging covers Guardianship and Conservatorship and the changes effective 1/1/2020.

View the webinar

ASK AN EXPERT: ALTERNATIVES TO GUARDIANSHIP

Jennifer Donovan - Public Guardian at Iowa Department on Aging covers Alternatives to Guardianship.

View the webinar