Discrimination in the Workplace
Disability Discrimination In The Workplace Joe Walters
University of Phoenix
Dr. Casey Reason
May 15, 2013
Introduction The prevalence of disability discrimination in today’s workforce is an important topic in any place of employment. Surveys have been conducted that reveal nearly twenty percent of employers believe that the most significant barriers that disabled people face in finding and securing employment are inaccurate stereotypes and negative attitudes (Roessler, et al., 2007). When individuals are not employed because of some disability, it denies the disabled worker the right to earn an income to provide for their needs as well as their families and it deprives individuals of contributing to society (McCary, 2005). McCary points out that 21 million Americans with disabilities is the largest minority population in the United States. 20 years after the American with Disabilities Act was signed into law, nearly 40 percent of working-age men and women with disabilities were unemployed (2005). As a response to the high rate of unemployment, in 1990 the American with Disabilities Act was passed (ADA) (Ledvinka, 2010). This paper focuses on the importance of disabled people in the workplace, the role that legislation has played to stop discrimination, and what can be done to prevent future discrimination.
Court Cases and Legal Protection In 1973 Congress passed the Vocational Rehabilitation Act to regulate issues concerning disability discrimination within the government and federal contracts. This made it non-applicable to prevent discrimination in the private sector (Bennett-Alexander & Hartman, 2009, p. 600). Legislation to expand the Vocational Rehabilitation Act was then passed in 1990 by President George H. Bush in 1990 (Ledvinka, 2010). This law, the Americans with Disabilities Act, ensures that individuals with a disability will not be excluded from programs, services, or public activities (2010). The ADA
University of Phoenix
Dr. Casey Reason
May 15, 2013
Introduction The prevalence of disability discrimination in today’s workforce is an important topic in any place of employment. Surveys have been conducted that reveal nearly twenty percent of employers believe that the most significant barriers that disabled people face in finding and securing employment are inaccurate stereotypes and negative attitudes (Roessler, et al., 2007). When individuals are not employed because of some disability, it denies the disabled worker the right to earn an income to provide for their needs as well as their families and it deprives individuals of contributing to society (McCary, 2005). McCary points out that 21 million Americans with disabilities is the largest minority population in the United States. 20 years after the American with Disabilities Act was signed into law, nearly 40 percent of working-age men and women with disabilities were unemployed (2005). As a response to the high rate of unemployment, in 1990 the American with Disabilities Act was passed (ADA) (Ledvinka, 2010). This paper focuses on the importance of disabled people in the workplace, the role that legislation has played to stop discrimination, and what can be done to prevent future discrimination.
Court Cases and Legal Protection In 1973 Congress passed the Vocational Rehabilitation Act to regulate issues concerning disability discrimination within the government and federal contracts. This made it non-applicable to prevent discrimination in the private sector (Bennett-Alexander & Hartman, 2009, p. 600). Legislation to expand the Vocational Rehabilitation Act was then passed in 1990 by President George H. Bush in 1990 (Ledvinka, 2010). This law, the Americans with Disabilities Act, ensures that individuals with a disability will not be excluded from programs, services, or public activities (2010). The ADA
References: Bennett-Alexander, Dawn D., & Hartman, Laura P. (2009). Employment law for business, sixth edition Ledvinka, C. B. (2010). The Americans with Disabilities Act. In S. E. Condrey (Ed.), Handbook of human resource management in government (3rd ed., pp McCary, Katherine. (2005). The Disability twist in diversity: best practices for integrating people with disabilities into the workforce McMahon, Brian T., & Shaw, Linda R. (2005). Workplace discrimination and disability. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 23, 137-143. Morgan, Robert L., & Alexander, Melina. (2005). The Employer 's perception: employment of individuals with developmental disabilities Percy, S. L. (2001). Challenges and dilemmas in implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act: Lessons from the first decade Petrila, J.D., LL.M., John. (2009). Congress restores the Americans with disabilities act to its original intent Pfeiffer, D., & Finn, J. (1997). The Americans with Disabilities Act: An examination of compliance by state, territorial, and local governments in the USA Shaw, Katherine. (2008). The Disability rights movement - the ADA today. Momentum, 1(4), 20-25.