YOUNGSTOWN DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ATTORNEY

Those who are disabled have certain legal rights in the workplace, including the right to be protected from discrimination. When an employee is treated differently and unfavorably as a result of a disability, their rights under the law are being breached. At the law office of Coffman Legal, LLC, our Youngstown disability discrimination attorneys can help you to understand your rights and pursue a claim for damages. Reach our law firm directly today for your free consultation.

What Does the Law Say About Disability Discrimination?

When considering one’s rights under federal and state laws against discrimination, it’s first important to understand what qualifies as a disability that’s protected under the law. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), not everyone with a medical condition is protected from discrimination; a person must have a qualifying disability as defined by the law. There are three ways to establish that one has a qualifying disability:

1. A person has a physical or mental condition that substantially limits a major life activity, such as hearing or learning;
2. A person has a history of a disability, such as suffering from a disabling medical condition that is being treated; or
3. A person is believed to have a condition that is expected to last for at least six months and is a victim of an adverse employment decision as such, even if the person does not actually have the condition. 

Types of Disability Discrimination

Discrimination against a person with a disability can manifest itself in various ways in the workplace. Most commonly, types of disability discrimination will pertain to one of the following categories —

• Reasonable accommodation. If an employer is covered by the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), then they are legally required to provide legal accommodation for someone in the workplace with a disability. For example, the workplace should be accessible for someone who is in a wheelchair, or an employer should allow for changes in the way a job is done. Employers are not required to make accommodations that would cause them undue hardship.
• Work situations. Another common type of discrimination is making employment decisions on the basis of a person’s disability. For example, refusing to hire, firing, refusing to promote, denying a wage increase or a promotion, or making another adverse or unfavorable decision on the basis of disability is prohibited.
• Harassment in the workplace is illegal when it is so pervasive and severe as to create a hostile work environment. 

Get Help Today with Your Youngstown Disability Discrimination Case

If you have a physical or mental disability, it’s important that you understand that you have the right to reasonable accommodation, and the right to a workplace that is free of harassment and decisions that are based on your disability. If you believe that these rights have been violated, you should consult with a Youngstown disability discrimination attorney as soon as possible. At the office of Coffman Legal, LLC, our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis and always offer free consultations. Please call our law firm directly today to learn more about your rights and how we can help.