National Council on Disability

Address: 1331 F Street, NW Suite 850
Washington, DC 20004 Phone: (202) 272-2004 Fax: (202) 2722022 Email: ncd@ncd.gov Website: http://www.ncd.gov/

"Who We Are

NCD is a small, independent federal agency charged with advising the President, Congress, and other federal agencies regarding policies, programs, practices, and procedures that affect people with disabilities. NCD is comprised of a team of fifteen Senate-confirmed Presidential appointees , an Executive Director appointed by the Chairman, and eleven, full-time professional staff.
NCD's Mission

NCD's mission is to be a trusted advisor, in collaboration with people with disabilities to:

    The President
    The Congress
    Federal entities
    State, tribal communities, and local governments; and
    Other entities and organizations

NCD fulfills its advisory roles regarding disability policies, programs, procedures, and practices that enhance equal opportunity by:

    Convening stakeholders  to acquire timely and relevant input for recommendations and action steps
    Gathering and analyzing data and other information
    Engaging and influencing current debates and agendas
    Identifying and formulating solutions to emerging and long-standing challenges; and
    Providing tools to facilitate effective implementation

History of NCD

NCD has a proud history. First established as a small advisory Council within the Department of Education in 1978, NCD was transformed into an independent agency in 1984 and charged with reviewing all federal disability programs and policies. In 1986, NCD recommended enactment of an Americans with Disabilities Act, and then drafted the first version of the bill introduce in the House and Senate in 1988. Since enactment of the ADA in 1990, NCD has continued to play a leading role in analyzing the needs of people with disabilities, crafting policy solutions, and advising the President and Congress.

A more comprehensive history of the agency is detailed in NCD's 1997 publication titled Equality of Opportunity: The Making of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Authorizing Statute

NCD was statutorily created in 1978 through amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 780 et seq.). The authorizing statute specifies the agency's duties, administrative powers, appropriations, and parameters regarding NCD Council and staff."