Stop Disability Discrimination in the Workplace

Employees with disabilities are often the ones who face the highest levels of employee disability discrimination. Disabilities affect over 61 million American adults, or about 25% of the nation’s adult population. While the ADA provides protection from discrimination, employers are still legally required to provide reasonable accommodations. Additionally, employers are required to maintain confidentiality of information about a person’s disability. Disabled workers’ medical examination results must be kept in separate medical files.

Discrimination in the workplace can have many different causes, including age, race, or gender. The result is often that people with disabilities experience difficult advancement in their career. Some workplaces require only non-disabled applicants. Others place able-bodied employees in front-facing positions while keeping disabled employees hidden. These practices are often illegal. What can we do to stop disability discrimination? Read the information below.

Disability discrimination is another form of unfair treatment. This form of discrimination is when a person’s disability is unfairly affected by a specific policy, rule, or practice. An example would be a local authority producing an information leaflet for the public, but failing to produce an accessible version for people with learning disabilities. This decision is considered indirect discrimination and illegal unless the employer can provide a compelling reason.

disability law

Training and education are necessary to address this issue. Employees should be made aware of their rights and the legal responsibilities imposed by the EEOC and other federal agencies. Employees should be informed about the importance of reporting any discrimination and how to file a complaint. The EEOC requires employers to provide training to employees regarding their rights. If this doesn’t work, they can seek legal action. If the discrimination persists, employers should consider implementing a disability equality training program.

What Can We Do to Stop Disability Discrimination in the Workplace?

The American with Disabilities Act covers physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory, neurological, and psychological disabilities. It even protects against the HIV virus. Another common form of disability discrimination is harassment. The act prohibits harassment against individuals with disabilities in any environment, including places of employment, educational institutions, and places of public accommodation. When you notice this type of discrimination, you can report it as a hate crime to get legal protection and the support you need.

Building an environment of tolerance and acceptance helps protect both employers and employees. Employers who fail to recognize and respond to complaints of disability discrimination are guilty of discrimination. It’s essential to have a written policy defining company rules and guidelines on disability discrimination. Include the policy in your employee handbook and have employees sign it upon hire. Moreover, the policy should cover a variety of discriminatory acts, not just disability discrimination.

Discrimination occurs when people with disabilities are treated less favorably than those without. For example, nightclubs might refuse to admit people with disabilities who use guide dogs. In addition, public buildings might restrict the use of stairs, making wheelchair-accessible entrance impossible. Generally, discrimination based on disability must be addressed immediately to ensure equal access. But there are other forms of disability discrimination, including harassment.