Introduction
A disability may be described as a physical or mental destruction that restricts an individual from carrying out the major activities in life such as seeing or walking. Most people view disabled persons as people with complete disability to perform the normal activities.
People with AIDS and other disease such as tuberculosis are also considered as having a disability and are equally protected in such a way that they do not cause any threat to others. Alcohol abusers and other substances users are considered as persons having disabilities. However, the hindrance to safety and job performance due to abuse is likely to deprive them their rights of protection.
The Act on Americans with disabilities is the federal civil-rights law that was enacted in 1990. It prevents discrimination against physically and/or mentally disabled citizens by giving them the opportunity to exercise their civil rights like any other citizen. Its main aim is to deal with the barriers to involvement by disabled persons in the society (Cholker 1).
Rights recognized by this Act
The federal act requires the qualified people with disabilities to be assured of employment opportunities as well as different programs and services. This covers all employment opportunities, including training and promotion opportunities, work benefits, assignments at work, recruitment and hiring.
The employers are required to have modifications that should reasonably accommodate all employees and job applicants with disabilities. These accommodations should be favorable to the employer as well (Cholker 1). However, they should be made according to the different situations in each work place and they include:
- Providing facilities that the disabled can easily access
- Modification of work schedule to suit the people with disabilities
- Provision of support services such as interpreters and readers
A section of the federal Act requires employers with contracts for services and supplies to promote people with disabilities who are qualified by offering them employment opportunities. They should take affirmative action in assigning responsible employees with disabilities to perform the required duties (Cholker 1).
However, the Act has provisions that an employer can discriminate a disabled person legally. The employer refrains from employing an individual not because he might be a threat to others but because there is a possibility of harming himself/herself during execution of duty (Feldblum 1). For instance, if certain working conditions are a threat to the health of an individual, the employer has the right to choose not to hire him/her.
The federal Act also protects people with disabilities from discrimination in housing accommodation services, both sale and rental. Discrimination of this nature may be illustrated by prohibition of a person with a disability to modify an apartment in order to suit his/her needs.
The Act requires owners of rental houses to renovate them and consider additional features that are friendlier to the tenants that have disabilities as well as giving them the opportunity to make necessary changes such as fixing of a hand-rail. This law also protects people with disabilities by preventing their exclusion from public services such as medical and recreational facilities, hotels or clubs. The law may require architectural changes to be made to make these services accessible to people with disabilities (Feldblum 1).
Public buildings that are funded by federal are required to be accessible to all citizens including those that have disabilities since they too have the opportunity to work there. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits both public and private educational facilities from preventing people with disabilities from using their facilities in gaining knowledge.
The law also requires that all public transportation means allow guides that accompany people with disabilities such as hearing and service dogs without extra charges. Air carriers should allow people with disabilities to use their services as well as allowing an unlimited number of people with different disabilities on a particular flight. More so, they should not be required to make advance notices but rather book normally like other passengers (Feldblum 1).
Hospitals are required by the law to have skilled personnel to help individuals who have impaired vision and hearing to communicate. They should also provide translation services on hospital information in order to facilitate communication with patients who have disabilities to enable them understand their health status much better. The law requires that free education, both elementary and secondary, be provided to children who have disabilities aged between five and twenty one (Feldblum 1).
Conclusion
Twenty years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed, the federal law has had a lot of success. The law has largely changed the society’s view and reaction towards individuals that have disabilities. However, total eradication of inequity in people with disabilities has not been achieved despite the fact that the law has put in place rules that defend them. The society as a whole should contribute largely by accepting its members and more importantly, giving them moral and physical support.
For example, by directing those that are visually impaired or helping those that use wheelchairs. This way, people with different disabilities will feel a sense of equality to other people and will not feel inferior since they will be associating with other people in a normal way. Accessibility and accommodation are the key concerns and should be emphasized too.
Works Cited
Colker, Ruth. “Americans with Disabilities Act”. 2010. Web.
Feldblum, Chai. “The Americans with Disabilities Act”. 2010. Web.