If you are a job seeker or an employee who has a disability, you may be wondering what your rights are in the workplace. If you do not know your rights, you will not know when it is appropriate to enforce them. This is why it is important that you take the time to learn about what type of treatment is unacceptable and how you should demand to be treated.
If you work for or are dealing with an employer that employs 15 or more people, they are subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The ADA applies to all aspects of the employment cycle, from the recruitment practice that a potential employee is subject to, to job protection, promotions and pay.
Am I considered disabled under the ADA?
If you have a mental or physical impairment that affects at least one major life activity, then you qualify as having a disability under the ADA and are, therefore, subject to its protections.
What protections am I entitled to under the ADA?
When you are being interviewed for a job as a disabled person, the recruiter cannot ask you to take a medical examination unless this is a standard procedure for all employees. In addition, you have the right to reasonable accommodations within the job to help you carry out your work. This might be flexible working hours, modified equipment or the restructuring of your job.
If you believe that you have been discriminated against by an employer as a disabled person, it is important that you take action and stand up for your rights.