What Are Your Rights As A Disabled Texan?

Learn about the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990

What are your rights as an American, and what are your rights as a disabled American? In 1990, George H. W. Bush signed the Americans With Disabilities Act into law – an act that gives the full range of civil rights to disabled people across the country. Generally, the act strives to end discrimination against the disabled and make public spaces more accessible to those with mobility limitations.

Let’s take a closer look at the five separate parts of the Act:

• Disabled workers must be offered reasonable accommodations by their employers. In most cases, employers may not discriminate against disabled job applicants, offer disabled employees lower wages or offer disabled employees different benefits. Workstations and equipment must be modified to a reasonable extent.
• Federal, state, and local public services must be extended to the disabled. Public transportation systems, buses, trains, and other public services must meet the needs of disabled persons.
• New public buildings must be handicapped accessible. Stores, restaurants, hotels, and other public places must be accessible to the disabled. Existing public entities must make readily achievable changes to improve access.
• Communications companies – such as telephone companies – must provide services for the deaf. These services could include texting, video relay services, teletypewriter machines, or telecommunications relay services.
• It is illegal to coerce, threaten, or retaliate against a disabled person, a group of disabled people, or someone aiding the disabled.

Under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, a disabled person is defined as anyone who has a mental or physical ailment that substantially limited one or more of their daily life activities.

If you believe that one of your rights as a disabled American has been violated, or if you wish to seek Social Security disability benefits, you may wish to speak with a Texas disability attorney about your case. At Morgan & Weisbrod, we offer free, private consultations in which you can get the answers to your legal questions and better understand your options for legal action. Call us today at 800.800.6353 to schedule your meeting.

by Paul B. Burkhalter
Managing Partner of Morgan & Weisbrod, Board Certified in Social Security Disability Law.

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