Being discriminated against for having a disability can make you feel demeaned and powerless. It might be subtle things that happen at work that make you wonder if you are being treated negatively because of your disability. It might be that your employer is blatantly discriminating against you. Regardless of how it happens, disability discrimination is wrong and illegal. If you live in Burbank, Glendale, or Los Angeles you can search online for a “disability discrimination lawyer near me” (https://www.akopyanlaw.com/practice-areas/employment-law/disability-discrimination/) or contact the Akopyan Law Firm and speak to one of their experienced attorneys.
Fair Employment and Housing Act
The Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”) protects people with disabilities from being discriminated against at work. One of the reasons why the FEHA exists is make sure that people with disabilities have fair and equal access to employment. The FEHA declares as public policy “that it is necessary to protect and safeguard the right and opportunity of all persons to seek, obtain, and hold employment without discrimination” on the basis of physical or mental disability or various other factors the statute enumerates. After you search for a “disability discrimination lawyer near me,” any find a lawyer you like, ask him or her to explain the purpose of the FEHA.
What is Considered a Physical Disability Under the Fair Employment and Housing Act
In order to determine if you are being discriminated against because of your disability, you first need to know what is considered a disability under the Fair Employment and Housing Act. After you search for a “disability discrimination lawyer near me,” any find a lawyer you like ask him or her to explain the test for a disability. The FEHA prohibits discrimination against individuals who have a physical disability, mental disability or medical condition.
A “physical disability” under the FEHA includes but is not limited to any physiological disease, disorder, condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss that both: (1) Affects one or more of the following body systems: neurologic, immunological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitourinary, hemic and lymphatic, skin and endocrine; and (2) Limits an individual’s ability to participate in major life activities. The physiological condition or impairment must be such that it “limits a major life activity” which means that it basically “makes the achievement of the major life activity difficult.” “Physical disability” also covers other health impairments that require special education or related services. “Physical disability” also includes people having a record or history of any of the specified physiological or anatomical conditions that is known to the employer. “Physical disability” also includes being regarded or treated by the employer as having or having had any physical condition that “makes achievement of a major life activity difficult. “Physical disability” also includes being regarded or treated by the employer as having or having had a condition that currently has no disabling effect but may become an impairment limiting the individual’s ability to participate in major life activities. The FEHA may also prohibit an employer from taking adverse action against an employee based on his or her association with another person who is or is perceived to be disabled.
Reasonable Accommodation for Physical Disability
The FEHA requires employers to make reasonable accommodation for the known disabilities of applicants and employees to enable them to perform a position’s essential functions, unless doing so would produce undue hardship to the employer’s operations. While there are countless ways in which an employer may try to accommodate a disability, some of them may not be so obvious. After you search for a “disability discrimination lawyer near me,” any find a lawyer you like ask him or her to explain your employer’s obligation to accommodate you, and the different ways in which they may try to do that.
The Best Disability Discrimination Lawyer Near Me
If you live in the Burbank, Glendale, or Los Angeles areas, your search for the “best disability discrimination lawyer near me” is over. Call us at the Akopyan Law Firm to discuss your questions about disability discrimination today!