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Disability Policies in the United States

About 12.6% of the U.S population are individuals who suffer from a mental or physical disability. Many are unemployed because of prejudiced assumptions that a person with disabilities is unable to complete tasks that are commonly required in the workforce. This became a major Human rights issue because of the discrimination that this group faced when trying to apply for jobs in the U.S. Many advocacy groups protested against such discrimination, asking the federal government to implement laws and policies that would help individuals with disabilities.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was enacted with the purpose of protecting individuals with disabilities from prejudicial treatment by government funded programs, employers, and agencies. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 has not only helped protect U.S citizens from being discriminated against but it has also created confidence amongst individuals to feel more comfortable with their disability. There are many sections within The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, that contains detailed information about what is covered in this policy.

Section 501

An employer must hire an individual who meets the qualifications of a job description despite any preexisting disabilities.

Section 503

Requires contractors or subcontractors, who receive more than $10,000 from the government to hire people with disabilities and to accommodate them with the needs that they need to achieve in the work force.

Section 504

States that receive federal money may not discriminate against any person with disabilities who qualifies for a program or job.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

The federal government enacted The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which was created to allow equal opportunity for jobs, access to private and government funded facilities, and transportation for people with disabilities. This act was created with the purpose to ensure that employers would not discriminate against any individual despite their disability. In 1990, data was gathered to show the percentage of people with disabilities who worked in the U.S. Out of the 13% who filled out the survey, only 53% percent of individuals with disabilities worked while 90% of this group population did not, the government wanted to change this, they wanted Americans with disabilities to have the same opportunities as those who did not have a disability. The ADA not only required corporations to hire disabled people but that they also accommodate them and their needs.

Title I: Employment:

An employer must give a qualified individual with disabilities the same opportunities as any other employee despite their disability. The employer must offer equal work privileges to some one who has a disability including but not limited to pay,work hours,training, etc. The employer must also create accommodations suitable for the person and their physical or mental disabilities.

Title II: State and Local Government Activities:

Requires that the government give people with disabilities the same opportunities involving work, programs, building access, and services. Title II also requires that buildings create easy access for people with disabilities and provide communicators who will able to help those with hearing or speaking impairments. Public spaces are however not required to create accommodations that would in turn alter their services as long as the services proved that they did all they could to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities.f

Title II: Transportation:

Public transportation should be customized so that people with disabilities may have easy access to public transit. Paratransit is a service that provides transportation to people who are unable to get from one destination to another due to their mental or physical disability.

Title II: Public Accommodations:

Public accommodations require that private businesses create accommodations that will allow people with disabilities easy access to buildings. Private businesses may not discriminate against people with disabilities and must provide accommodations that are reasonable, alterations may be made so that a person with disabilities can have equal access to facilities that are provided, communicators for the hearing impaired, devices for the visually impaired, and wheelchair access. Facilities must regulate with the ADA, when regulating the buildings infrastructure so it meets the ADA regulations.

Title IV: Telecommunication Relay Services:

Requires telephone companies to have TRS seven days a week, twenty four hours a day. It requires telephone companies to create accommodations for people with hearing disabilities by providing a third party that will be able to assistant both parties in communicating with one another.