A. What Laws and Policies Protect Individuals with Disabilities?

There are a multitude of federal laws intended to protect individuals with disabilities. Some of these laws include:

• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 20 U.S.C. § 1400, et. seq.;
• The Fair Housing Act 42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.; and
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 42 U.S. Code § 12101 et seq.

Additionally, there are various services and programs that directly impact individuals with disabilities, some of which are the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Social Security benefits, and special education.

DFPS Developmental Disability Specialists are the main point of contact for information about serving children with disabilities in the child welfare system. Responsibilities for the Developmental Disability Specialist are outlined in the CPS Policy Handbook § 6411.31.[94]

DFPS also has a policy dealing with Preparation for Long-Term Care or Support in Adulthood for Youth with Disabilities found in the CPS Policy Handbook § 10340.[95]