Does the US really need fewer disability accessibility legal requirements? A recent article in Disability Scoop highlighted how the U.S. Department of Energy is planning to issue new regulations that would remove accessibility requirements for new construction and construction alterations.
These regulations would undermine the impact of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which was the first disability civil rights legislation in the United States aimed at promoting inclusion, access, and equal opportunity when it was passed in 1973. You can read about the first disability legislation in the Federal Register.
The new regulations will have the full force of law unless the Department of Energy receives a large number of significant adverse comments from the public. That means comments that are strongly opposed to the rule and show a good reason for the opposition. The disability community must speak up against any regulations that will roll back the gains of the disability rights movement.
We, along with our partners at Virtual Ability, urge our US community members and friends to submit comments to the Department of Energy before the end of the day on Monday, June 16, strongly opposing an attempt to roll back disability accessibility requirements.
When you write a comment, you should include the following information:
- Introduce yourself
- Explain your personal and professional experience with disability and accessibility, including any relevant credentials
- Explain why it is important to make buildings accessible
- State that your comment is “a significant adverse comment” on the regulation
Our colleagues at the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) have created a great template to help you write a strong comment. You can download them using the provided links. You can use a plain language template or you can use a standard language template.
When you have prepared your comment, you must submit it in two places online:
- First, submit your comment here: https://www.regulations.gov/document/DOE-HQ-2025-0015-0001
- Second, submit your comment here: https://www.regulations.gov/document/DOE-HQ-2025-0024-0001
If you would prefer to watch or listen to detailed instructions for how to submit a comment, watch DREDF’s recorded webinar here: https://dredf.org/disability-community-briefing-defending-section-504-and-civil-rights/
Public comments must be submitted by 11:59pm EST / 8:59pm SLT on Monday, June 16, 2025 to count.
BEST advocates for the full inclusion of all people with disabilities in every part of society. Requiring accessibility in new construction or in renovation will help make sure people with disabilities can access government offices, schools, banks, and workplaces.
Please submit your comments opposing any roll back of accessibility requirements.