Experienced Disability Discrimination Attorneys That Get Results
What Is Disability Discrimination?
Disability discrimination is defined as the unlawful treatment of people who have a disability or are perceived to have a disability. There are both federal and state laws to protect you against disability discrimination, so if you believe you have been discriminated against, contact a Greene and Hafer attorney today for help.
What Disabilities are protected?
Both federal and state laws protect a wide range of conditions, including physical disabilities, mental disabilities, chronic illnesses, and more. According to The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one’s major life activities or a person who has a history of having such an impairment. It is also important to note that even if a person is managing their disability with medication or other treatments the law still protects their disabled status.
What Laws Protect Against Disability Discrimination?
In 1990, Congress passed the ADA to protect the rights of people with disabilities across many aspects of life, including those within the workplace. On a state level, Chapter 151B of the Massachusetts General Law protects against all types of discrimination, including disability discrimination.
These laws not only protect against discrimination but ensures that workplaces and other public businesses are compliant with ADA standards. They also ensure that employers provide people with disabilities with reasonable accommodations.
What Are Reasonable Accommodations?
Generally speaking, reasonable accommodations are certain arrangements made by an employer to make a disabled person’s job more accessible to him or her. A few examples of reasonable accommodations include but are not limited to:
- Installing equipment to make the property more accessible for the disabled employee
- Adjusting training policies or modifying methods of how work is done
- Modifying work schedules
- Allowing time off for medical purposes
- Permitting the job to be performed at alternative locations
How Do I Know if I’ve Been Discriminated Against?
Discrimination does not only come in the form of harassment. While hateful remarks that cause a hostile work environment are, of course, protected by law, so are other acts of discrimination. A few examples of disability discrimination include but are not limited to:
- Being denied a raise or promotion because of your disability
- Getting laid off or fired because of your disability
- Not being offered the same opportunities as non-disabled employees
- Being passed over for hiring due to your disability
- Failure by the employer to provide reasonable accommodations that allow you to perform the essential functions of your job
- Harassment based on your disability
How Greene and Hafer Can Help
Located in Boston, Massachusetts, Greene and Hafer represents people with all kinds of disabilities who have been discriminated against. With more than 30 years of combined employment law experience, our attorneys are prepared to ensure your equal rights are recognized.
