A new online tool from the Department of Labor is intended to clarify the protections afforded employees with disabilities, given the unique circumstances of each work environment.
The interactive Disability Nondiscrimination Law Advisor allows users to input details of a particular employment situation such as the number of employees a company has and whether or not the company receives federal funding. Then, the advisor provides a list of applicable laws for the given situation and a description of the employer’s responsibilities written in layman’s terms.
The advisor includes requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Workforce Investment Act, Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act, Labor officials said.
“Today we made it easier for employers of all sizes to access the talents of the 36 million Americans with disabilities,” said Kathleen Martinez, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy. “By providing this interactive and easy-to-use online tool, both workers and employers can readily access and understand their rights and responsibilities under our federal disability nondiscrimination laws.”
Traditionally, employment has been a hurdle for people with disabilities and the recession appears to have exacerbated the problem. In 2009, workers with disabilities filed more complaints than ever before with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, alleging job bias based on disability.
