Hello, Jhana’s Supporters! It’s your disability advocate, Jhana. I hope you’re all doing well. I’m sorry for the lack of a blog article last week. I promise I will still try to publish regularly. I’m also trying to manage my time better, which is challenging with school and procrastination. Procrastination is actually the reason why I sometimes don’t publish on time.
That said, I am still involved with my brand. I’ve redesigned my website and put up a new short story called “The Assault of Jamie Dawson.” You can read it on my website.
Today, I want to discuss disability discrimination, define it, and explain its legal framework. So, let's dive into today’s blog article.
Understanding Disability Discrimination: Definitions and Legal Framework
While all discrimination is an issue, those with disabilities experience it more frequently. It’s sad but true. Disability discrimination happens when people with disabilities are treated less than others because of their disability.
On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. That document prohibits discrimination in employment, public service, public accommodations, and telecommunications. Even though this law is in place to protect people with disabilities, discrimination still happens. Sure, these protections are there. However, there are many real-life instances exposing systemic biases and failures to accommodate individuals with disabilities. That’s why it’s vital to understand disability discrimination, recognize when it happens, and address these injustices.
Discrimination can be direct or indirect. Direct discrimination means treating people with disabilities unfairly and differently than “normal” people. It can go as far as refusing employment based on disability. Indirect discrimination means making the workplace inaccessible for people with disability. It affects not only the workplace but also things like handicapped parking places. Even though the discrimination law is in place, discrimination is still everywhere. So, we have to fight to change it.
Workplace Challenges: Discrimination in Hiring and Employment Practices
Although this has never happened to me, discrimination in the workplace is prevalent for people with disabilities. Some examples of disability discrimination in the workplace include failure to provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, inaccessible work environments, or discriminatory hiring practices where qualified candidates with disabilities are overlooked. If you’re visually impaired, you might be denied a job simply because the hiring staff thinks you can’t use a computer without needing assistance.
Other challenges in the workplace include a lack of promotion opportunities and unequal pay for employees with disabilities. It’s also been reported that employees have faced harassment or retaliation after requesting necessary accommodations.
Educational Barriers: Accessibility Issues in Schools and Universities
Sadly, students with disabilities also face barriers. These range from inaccessibility to insufficient support services, among others. Students using wheelchairs might study in inaccessible buildings or lack the necessary equipment.
People with learning disabilities might not receive appropriate accommodations as well. This has happened to me. I went to Ashford University (now called the University of Arizona Global Campus). They expected me to read the instructions and a ridiculous amount of material, which was a struggle for me. I have a learning disability, and the professors weren’t helping me. As a result, I was getting bad grades. Then, I dropped out after my uncle passed away. After a while, my new friend introduced me to Full Sail University. Now, I am in college to get my BFA in Creative Writing. It’s going great; I only had one instructor who used my disability against me. I also felt like I did not learn in that class, so I’m glad that one is over.
It’s also worth noting that some educators and administrators don’t have the proper training to help people with learning disabilities. They don’t know how to help or address their concerns, which could lead to discrimination. For example, a professor might explain an assignment in a complicated way, causing some students to misunderstand what to do. In another example, the professor might refuse to provide lecture notes in advance. Instructors and teachers sometimes disregard the needs of other students, causing them to struggle. These educational barriers prevent them from achieving academic success and impact social inclusion and self-esteem.
Public Accessibility and Social Exclusion: Navigating Daily
Disability discrimination exists in other areas of life, not just employment and education. There’s also inaccessible public transportation, buildings without ramps, and a lack of sign language interpreters. I even noticed that handicapped parking is not accessible for people with disabilities, which is insane (at least that’s how it is in Hawaii). These are examples that demonstrate how societal infrastructure often fails to cater to people with disabilities.
Social exclusion also occurs in more subtle forms, such as the negative portrayal of individuals with disabilities in media or the lack of disability representation in political and leadership roles.
Knowing how to take proper precautions to handle this issue is very important. These can include talking to the school, employers who will listen, and the governor of your area. It is also crucial to recognize the importance of inclusion and take proactive steps toward accommodating individuals with disabilities. It’s not just a legal imperative but a moral one. After all, no one’s disability should define them.
Image Via Pexels
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