Insightful Examples Of Disability Discrimination

Living with some form of disability, whether that problem is physical or psychological, is already a challenge as it is. However, there are some instances when having a disability means you get treated unfairly compared to others, and that can make your life with a disability even harder to bear. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is enacted to protect people with disabilities who may be prone to discrimination in things like employment, housing, or certain types of public service. Unfortunately, many acts of discrimination get overlooked because the victim often does not know their rights. Here is a look at a few insightful examples of disability discrimination to help you garner a better understanding of your own rights. 

An individual with a hearing problem is told they can't be hired because of their disability. 

If you apply for work at a factory or some other place where communication is not an intrinsic part of daily tasks, an employer cannot refuse to hire you just because of your hearing issues. At-will employment is often a term used to defend this form of discrimination, but even if at-will rules apply in your state, this does not mean an employer can choose not to hire someone based solely on a disability. 

An individual is not allowed on a public bus because their wheelchair takes up space. 

Many types of public transportation are required by law to provide accessibility to people who may have disabilities that require them to use a wheelchair. If you are in a wheelchair at a crowded bus stop and when the bus arrives you are told you can't get on because the wheelchair takes up too much space, this is discrimination. Likewise, if you call a taxi service and they offer you a ride in one of their accessible vehicles but they charge you more than a regular passenger, this can be a violation of the ADA, as well. 

An individual is charged more money at a restaurant for accessible seating. 

Just because you have a disability, no one has the right to charge you more for their services. Therefore, if you go to a restaurant and you are told the only way they can accommodate you is by setting up special seating which will cost more, this is actually a form of discrimination. Unfortunately, this is a big problem in some public-service businesses, but the issue often goes unreported. 

Contact a disability discrimination attorney for more help.


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