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Committee to Vote to Protect Americans with Disabilities from Discrimination |
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Wednesday, 18 June 2008 |
On Wednesday, June 18, the House Education and Labor Committee will vote on legislation to protect individuals with disabilities who may be subject to discrimination as a result of the weakening of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The ADA Amendments Act will reverse several Supreme Court decisions and restore the intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Since enactment of the landmark disability civil rights law in 1990, the courts have dramatically reduced the numbers of workers who are protected from employment discrimination under the law. Because of these rulings, many workers with diabetes, cancer, epilepsy – the very workers the ADA had intended to protect – can be legally fired or passed over for promotion just because of a disability.
The court’s narrow interpretation of disability has also denied many students with impairments protection under the ADA. The “ADA Amendments Act” HR 3195 will ensure that students with disabilities will have access to the accommodations and modifications they need. |
