If an employer is treating an individual differently than other employees simply because of their disability, then this employer is violating the law. And if this is your case, then you must know the federal and state discrimination laws that are meant to protect you. Read on to discover what types of disabilities count as protected classes under discrimination laws and how a seasoned New York discrimination disability lawyer at Bell Law Group can help you navigate this.
What are federal and state discrimination laws?
First of all, it is important to know the federal and state laws that prohibit disability discrimination. They are as follows:
- The New York State Human Rights Law: this prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, along with housing, education, credit, access to public accommodations, etc.
- The New York City Human Rights Law: similarly, this prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, along with age, race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, etc.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act: this governs the matter of discrimination on the basis of disability in many areas of public life, especially employment.
What types of disabilities count as protected classes under discrimination laws?
With that being said, the above discrimination laws protect certain classes of disabilities and medical conditions. They are as follows:
- Physical disabilities:
- Diseases: heart disease, hypertension, epilepsy, brain tumors, etc.
- Disfigurement: i.e., loss of limbs.
- Mobility impairments: blindness, broken bones, etc.
- Mental disabilities:
- Mental disabilities that require special education services: mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, learning disability, etc.
- Mental disabilities that required relevant services: alcoholism, depression, etc.
What accommodations should I be afforded for my disability?
If you have any of the aforementioned disabilities, then your employer is required to provide you with reasonable accommodations. Such accommodations are to help you perform your key job functions properly. Examples are as follows:
- Your employer may offer you an extended leave of absence to attend to your disability.
- Your employer may offer to modify your work schedule to attend to your disability.
- Your employer may offer you a job restructuring to better perform your tasks.
- Your employer may offer to buy tools and equipment to better perform your tasks.
- Your employer may offer to modify company policies to better perform your job.
- Your employer may offer to modify when and how your job is conducted to better perform your job.
- Your employer may offer to install ramps to better navigate your workplace.
So, if your employer refuses to engage in an interactive process to discuss potential accommodations for you and your disability, then you may be able to take action against them. For this, you may want to reach out to a competent New York discrimination lawyer today.
