20 Years Since The Passage of the ADA, Employment Disparities Remain

On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), providing sweeping protections for those with disabilities. Just over 20 years later, the effects of this legislation are apparent in day-to-day life. Elevators are equipped with instructions in Braille; city buses and public buildings are designed to accommodate wheelchairs.

Among the most important protections of the ADA are those relating to employment. Today, employment notices almost universally come with promises that the employers will not discriminate on the basis of disability. Employers are expected to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities.

Unfortunately, current unemployment statistics indicate that these laws do not go far enough. Unemployment rates among those with disabilities remain disproportionately high; a recent study by the National Organization on Disability indicates that only 21 percent of working-age people with disabilities are employed. Many people with disabilities who are fully capable of working are simply unable to find employment.

To read the entire article, follow the link in this post's title.