Office of Civil Rights

The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is dedicated to upholding civil rights laws and regulations before, during, and after disasters. Our vision is to fully integrate civil rights into all aspects of FEMA’s culture and work.

OCR is FEMA’s leader in advancing and enforcing civil rights for employees, disaster survivors, and the public. OCR manages and provides:

• The Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) administrative process;
• FEMA’s Affirmative Employment Program;
• Reasonable Accommodations for FEMA employees and job applicants with disabilities;
• Language Access Services for disaster survivors;
• Reasonable Modifications to FEMA programs and services for disaster survivors with disabilities; and
• Resources and training to FEMA grant recipients and the public.

The Office of Civil Rights was formerly known as the Office of Equal Rights. The name changed May 1, 2024.

Internal Civil Rights Division

The Internal Civil Rights Division is dedicated to protecting the civil rights of current and future FEMA employees. It supports:

• Equal Employment Opportunity;
• Reasonable Accommodations; and
• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs and initiatives

Graphic

Download the OCR organizational chart.

External Civil Rights Division

The External Civil Rights Division is responsible for training, technical assistance, compliance, and enforcement of civil rights obligations in connection with public-facing FEMA programs and services, including those conducted by FEMA program offices and directorates or by recipients of FEMA funding. The External Civil Rights Division supports:

• Reasonable Modifications;
• Auxiliary Aids and Services;
• Language Access Services; and
• The Civil Rights Complaint Administrative Process.

Learn more about how the Office of Civil Rights supports your civil rights.

We are committed to making our programs, services, benefits, facilities, and information and communications technology accessible to everyone in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. For more information, refer to the overview below.

• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Action of 1973 Overview
• Architectural Barrier Act (ABA) Standards (2015)

Section 504 Overview

FEMA is committed to ensuring that everyone can access our programs, activities, and facilities, regardless of disability, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Section 504's relevant implementing regulations, 45 C.F.R. Part 85 (Part 85). Section 504 prohibits Federal agencies and programs that receive Federal funding from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities. Part 85 specifies the actions we must take to make sure we do not discriminate against individuals with disabilities.

Review FEMA's Section 504 Disability Plan

Report FEMA.gov accessibility issues to the FEMA Web Team. Please include the website address or URL and the problem encountered.

Call the FEMA main line at 202-646-2500
Monday through Friday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET