Disabled adults often encounter a range of legal obstacles that can significantly hinder their ability to fully participate in society. While laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act offer important protections, discrimination and inaccessibility persist in various domains.
This article takes a deeper look into three prevalent legal challenges faced by disabled adults: employment discrimination, housing discrimination, and inaccessible public and private spaces. Individuals can better protect their rights and advocate for change by understanding these issues. Keep reading to learn more:
- Housing Discrimination
Housing discrimination against disabled adults remains a significant issue despite laws like the Fair Housing Act. People can refuse to rent or sell a house to an individual with a disability or decline to make the necessary modifications to the housing unit, such as installing ramps, widening doorways, or modifying kitchen cabinets. If a disabled adult gets injured due to the landlord’s negligenceA legal concept where a party fails to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm to another person..., then they are well within their rights to contact a personal injury lawyer and seek compensation.
Other forms of discrimination include threats, intimidation, interference with an individual’s peaceful enjoyment, charging higher rents, imposing different terms than other people, or steering individuals with disabilities to specific areas or buildings, limiting their housing choices.
- Discrimination in Employment
If you’ve faced discrimination at any stage during employment, you can legally sue the people and the company involved according to the laws of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)A U.S. law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of publi.... Typical forms of employment discrimination include:
- Refusing to hire a qualified individualA person who meets the necessary skills, experience, and other job-related requirements and can perf... with a disability or not offering them a job because they disclosed their disability during the application process.
- Discriminatory questions during interviews, requiring medical exams that are not job-related, and rejecting qualified applicants based on stereotypes or assumptions about their abilities
- Unequal pay, limited opportunities for promotion, or being assigned less desirable job duties
- Creating a hostile work environment through offensive remarks, jokes, or physical actions related to the individual's disability
The ADA protects people from discriminatory acts both during the employment process and while holding a job. If you’ve been a victim of it and want to hold the relevant authorities accountable, then get legal counsel through an attorney as soon as you can.
- Inaccessible Public or Private Spaces
According to the ADA, people with disabilities should have equal accessThe principle that all individuals, including those with disabilities, should have equal opportunity... to private and public spaces. These can include schools, parks, doctor’s offices, restaurants, stadiums, pools, etc. Other key issues include:
- Physical barriers: Lack of ramps, elevators, accessible restrooms, and appropriate signage
- Communication barriers: Absence of assistive listening devices, sign language interpreters, or accessible websites.
- Transportation barriers: Inaccessible public transportation systems, lack of accessible parking, and limited options for personal transportation
These barriers not only prevent individuals with disabilities from fully participating in society and infringe on their rights to live fully but can also limit access to employment, education, and healthcare. If you or a loved one has been a victim of such prejudices, then file complaints with government agencies responsible for enforcing disability rightsThe legal and human rights afforded to individuals with disabilities, often the focus of advocacy an... law and try to get compensation and obtain relief through private lawsuits.
Endnote
This article mentions just three aspects where disabled adults might have to face discriminatory behavior, but there are also many other areas where people have been targeted for their disabilities. Addressing these channels requires systemic changes, increased awareness and training for legal professionals, enhanced financial support mechanisms, and stronger advocacyThe act of arguing in favor of, supporting, or defending the rights and interests of individuals or ... for the rights of disabled individuals within the legal system.
