Disability Discrimination: A Step Back Of Human Civilization

It is reasonable to argue that, over the last century or so, the United States has made great strides in addressing issues of injustice. Feminism, the Civil Rights movement, and activism from gay men and women have transformed laws and greatly changed the ways in which these populations were once perceived as inferior. There are still major conflicts regarding race relations, just as issues remain with other minorities and women's rights. At the same time, there has been remarkable progress, indicating a nation more aware of its ethical obligation to treat all equally. To some extent, this same awareness goes to the disabled. Unfortunately, this is a population still very much victimized by bias, and because

The Americans with Disabilities Act is one of the most significant laws in American History. Before the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) was passed employers were able to deny employment to a disabled worker, simply because he or she was disabled. With no other reason other than the person’s physical disability were they turned away or released from a job (Acemoglu & Angrist, 2001). The ADA prevents discrimination by establishing rules and regulations designed to protect persons with physical disabilities. When this act was signed in 1990 it changed the range of opportunities available for those disabled. The social implications surrounding individuals in the workforce with disabilities can be assessed on many levels.

I found this article interesting, because yes, I know that it is tough for people with intellectual disabilities to get a job, but I did not realize that the unemployment rate was as high as it is for people with disabilities. It mentioned that the workforce participation by people with disabilities is currently around 20% and the workforce participation for people without disabilities is at round 70%. That just does not seem fair at all. People with disabilities do not get treated fairly at all. I know that we are trying to make it to where they get treated just like everyone else, but

The many forms of bias against individuals with disabilities can include discriminatory actions in housing, employment and public accommodations. These forms of bias can escalate into violence. Unfortunately, many disabled victims

The good news is, there are steps organizations can take to improve this issue. One such step would be to do some reflective learning and re-examining and reflecting their own fundamental values. They have to look at their underlying norms, policies and goals and modify it if necessary. Then they have to actively seek out disabled people and their skills, understand and acknowledge their different needs, and modifying organizational practices to meet their needs (Wooten & James, 2005, p.

Federal and state laws prohibit discrimination on the job against workers with disabilities, and protect disabled workers from unfair employment decisions and practices simply because of their disability.

There are few words that share the connotative power of “disabled.” Some may think of the boy from middle school who learned at a slower pace than the other kids, while others may think of their uncle who lost an arm serving the country. Though many interpretations of the term exist, the U.S. Department of Labor defines “disabled” as “someone who (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more ‘major life activities,’ (2) has a record of such an impairment, or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment.” A secondary definition used for Social Security disability benefits states that “individuals must have a severe disability (or combination of disabilities) that has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 makes it unlawful to discriminate against a qualified disabled individual (The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2005). Employers are required by law to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees or applicants with disabilities unless the employer can prove that the accommodation would be an undue hardship that requires significant difficulty or costs. Job discrimination against people with disabilities is illegal is practiced by employment agencies, labor organizations, private employers, etc.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 was the first act to really provide protection involving disability discrimination. Prior to this act it was very much legal to discriminate on the grounds of disability. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 granted individuals with the right to be protected from being discriminated against. This act makes it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of disability in regards to employment, management, property, education, goods and services aswell as transport. Prior to this time in history disabled individuals had no rights and were not respected with the reasonable manner one would except. By the end of the Second World War

Disability discrimination is when an individual is treated unfairly or differently on the basis of their disability. The Equality Act replaced majority of the Disability Discrimination Act so as to further protect disabled people. A disabled person may not be discriminated against at work, in education, when buying or renting property or when providing goods, facilities or services (Everything Legal, 2016). Employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to any elements of the job which place a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage compared to non dis-abled people. The process of recruiting new employees should not unreasonable disadvantage disabled people for example employees can ask questions about a disability at an early

I am a 43 year old man living in Taroom in South Western Queensland. I live with my sister and her two primary school aged children. I live in three bedroom house and my room on the upper level with two others room and a different bath and toilet are on both level. I have a kitchen and dining on the lower level and a laundry on the same floor. I am suffering from paraplegia after I had a motorbike accident and injured my sixth thoracic vertebra of spinal cord in 5th January 2013. After a full assessment by doctor, I was diagnosed as a complete paraplegic which is depicted by my full loss of sensory and motor function of mild and lower back of legs (Brown & Edwards 2008, p.1690). As my home was built before I had this disability, I find difficult

The disabled have been treated rather poorly throughout history. They experienced mistreatment from wars, bad leaders, and other circumstances during many time periods. One huge mistreatment of the disabled was during World War II when Hitler murdered millions of Jews, gypsies, disabled, and the ill. In the article, Treatment of Disabled People Throughout History, the author wrote, “In 1939, amid World War Two, Hitler ordered a wide spread 'mercy killing' of the sick and disabled.” This further shows how poorly they were treated. There have also been major changes and laws that have made a good impact on the lives and improvement of the disabled. There have been institutions made for the blind, hard of hearing, and other disabilities. There

Disability discrimination at the workplace stills persists in the 21st century. Santuzzi & Waltz (2016) confirm that the disability identity exists and is complex at varying levels of integration with other identities and more so, the occupational identity. Disability identity and its complexity has not been appreciated at the workplace (Santuzzi & Waltz, 2016). Stuart (2006) notes that when the discrimination occurs, meaning the worker is excluded, the worker’s self-confidence is eroded, and material is deprived and mental disability is likely to develop.

People with disabilities are amongst the most marginalized groups in the world. According to the UN those with” . . . disabilities have poorer health, lower education achievements, less involvement in employment and other economic opportunities, and higher rates of poverty than those without a disability (as cited by Finding Strength, 2012).

Another plausible cause could be peoples negative attitudes towards persons with disabilities, which is caused due to stereotyping them as incompetent. There are over 650 million disabled people worldwide, with nearly 400 million of them inhabiting Asia and the Pacific territory (United Nations, 2013). It has also been established that only 46 percent of working-age disabled persons are employed in comparison to the 76 percent of working-age non disabled persons (Marangozov et al., 2013). Ang et al. (2015) states that people with disabilities are considered ‘risky hires’ by employers. Hiring disabled persons is not entirely up to recruiters; it is backed up by personal factors as well the organisational constraints such as the lack of hiring policies and work facility accommodation for such candidates.