Disability Discrimination

If you have a disability or perceived disability, state and federal laws protect you from disability discrimination. The Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the Rehabilitation Act, and the Minnesota Human Rights Act (“MHRA”) offer protections to employees with an impairment that substantially limits a ‘major life activity’ (such as walking, sitting, standing, or hearing). In addition, the law also requires an employer to provide ‘reasonable accommodations’ when those accommodations would make it possible for you to perform the ‘essential functions’ of your job (see below).

ADA Accommodations

The ADA requires an employer to make such reasonable accommodations for disabled employees unless doing so would impose an undue hardship. Reasonable accommodations might include:

• Making existing facilities used by employees readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities;

• Restructuring jobs;

• Modifying work schedules;

• Adjusting or modifying equipment, examinations or training material; or

• Providing qualified readers or interpreters.

The EEOC has provided a guidelines on reasonable accommodations. See here: https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/enforcement-guidance-reasonable-accommodation-and-undue-hardship-under-ada