LEGAL RIGHTS

Federal laws have made the playing field more level for people with arthritis and other disabling conditions who wish to remain employed. Between them, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and its "ancestor" the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, give important protections to workers in the private sector and the federal government. The new Family and Medical Leave Act also provides relief to workers faced with lengthy absences because of illness.Your state also may have laws that protect people with disabilities from discrimination.

The Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed by Congress in 1990, is the most extensive bill of rights for people with disabilities ever signed into law. It bans discrimination against people with disabilities in many areas, including hiring and employment. At the same time, it protects employers from having to make changes that are unreasonable or expensive.

While the ADA gives people with disabilities specific rights, the exact meaning of many of its terms such as unreasonable, undue, or essential probably will be decided by the courts.

The ADA and Employment

The ADA applies to companies employing 15 or more people. It bans discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities by private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions. It applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, job assignments, training, promotion, pay, benefits, and company-sponsored social events.