Legal+and+Policy

Legal and policy issues -- ADA

- Ivan Bobashev Although awareness and acceptance of the "differently-abled" is important and virtuous, there are problems having to do with safety which provokes conflict. This is when the law must be incredibly specific to accommodate both sides. One of the main conflicts is discrimination in employment. In 1992 the Americans with Disabilities Act came into effect, making it illegal to discriminate against disabled individuals in any work situatio whether it is hiring, fireing, or even pay. In this act, disability is defined as "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity." Although the ADA does list some specifics, this definition is obvious very vauge and easily misinterpreted. The question of what exactly an impairment that "substantially limits a major life activity" is what lawyers and judges must decide case by case and is still a major conflict.

Another controversy is the discrimination of insurance companies against disabled people. In California it is illegal for companies to refuse a customer with a full, properly achieved license because of a disability that is either from birth or affected later in life. This also goes for those customers that are blind. However, this law is designed to let the blind people buy and insure cars, but only if they plan on letting their friends and/or family to drive them.

When can you drive and when are you too much of a risk?

CAN SOMEONE LOOK INTO THE ISSUES OF GENETIC TESTING AND PRE-EXISTING INSURANCE CONDITIONS?

Related Links: [|Americans with Disablities Act] [|Facts about the Act]