Disability Discrimination in Los Angeles

There are several categories of disabilities. Some of the more common categories are:

• Mobility/Physical.
• Spinal Cord (SCI)
• Head Injuries (TBI)
• Vision.
• Hearing.
• Cognitive/Learning.
• Psychological.
• Invisible.

All too often, employees are subject to discrimination by their employers based on disabilities such as:

• vision Impairment
• deaf or hard of hearing
• mental health conditions
• intellectual disability
• acquired brain injury
• autism spectrum disorder

The Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities and requires that disabled individuals receive reasonable accommodations at work. The ADA can be found at Section 12101 of Title 42 of the United States Code.

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Title 29 of United States Code Sections 701 et seq.) protects federal employees from disability discrimination. It also prohibits disability discrimination against employees of programs receiving federal assistance.

Unfortunately, in recent years it has become very difficult for many individuals with disabilities to receive the sufficient protection under the ADA. In California, individuals with disabilities generally prefer to apply for the protections of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act which provides much broader protection to individuals with disabilities and medical conditions. 

The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) (California Government Code Sections 12900 et seq.) prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of physical disability, mental disability and medical condition.