The Americans with Disabilities Act, commonly known as the ADA, was passed by Congress in 1990 to protect people with disabilities from discrimination. This act, along with Georgia law, prohibits the discrimination of a person with a disability. Under the ADA, an employer cannot refuse to hire someone with a disability, fire someone because of a disability, or discriminate against someone in terms of their salary, hours, assignments, or other, due to their disability.

If you have been discriminated against by your employer, it is imperative that you contact an experienced attorney who can help. Reach out to an Atlanta disability discrimination attorney to acquire the services of a skilled lawyer.

What Types of Discrimination Are Illegal in Georgia?

The Georgia Fair Employment Practices Act of 1978 dictates which types of discrimination are illegal for employers to take part in. As stated in this law, public employers who have 15 or more employees cannot discriminate against an individual because of their:

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• Sex
• Age
• National origin
• Disability

Part of disability discrimination law includes that employers are obligated to make any accommodation, within reason, that will help an employee with a disability perform their job.

What is Reasonable Accommodation?

Under Title I of the ADA, employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. An accommodation refers to any changes made in the workplace environment or processes that allow an employee with a disability to perform their job to the best of their ability.

Examples of reasonable accommodations include:

• Installing a ramp
• Adding a handicap stall in the bathroom
• Providing sign language interpreters
• Providing closed captions during meetings/events
• Allowing a service animal to accompany an employee
• Adjusting schedules for doctor appointments or related engagements

If you need an accommodation to perform your job, the first step to take will be to let your employer know about your disability and request the accommodation. Your employer could potentially ask for a note from a doctor or health care provider. If your employer does not agree to the requested accommodation, it is not necessarily the end of the road. Find out why they said no and try to brainstorm other solutions.

What Should I Do if I Have Faced Discrimination Due to My Disability?

There are many ways that an employer may violate discrimination laws. Some examples of actions that can potentially be discriminatory include:

• Hiring or promotions
• Firing
• Harassment
• Delegating of assignments
• Salary or wages
• Benefits
• Refusal to provide reasonable accommodation
• Referrals

If you have been discriminated against in Georgia, you should contact a lawyer. They will be able to help you take the next steps of bringing your employer to justice. An attorney can help you file a discrimination charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Collect as much evidence as possible to prove your discrimination case and work with a lawyer to help strengthen your case to allow for the best outcome possible.