New York City Americans With Disabilities Act Lawyer: Fighting Disability Discrimination for All New
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities. This includes discrimination in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. Since its enactment in 1990, the ADA has played a crucial role in enabling millions of Americans living with disabilities to enter or remain in the workforce by removing physical barriers and instituting robust workplace protections.
Understanding ADA Compliance and Employer Obligations
Not all employers comply with the ADA as they should. Some may unintentionally misapply the law, while others deliberately avoid hiring or retaining employees with disabilities, masking their discriminatory intent. When such instances occur, the New York City ADA lawyers at Mansell Law step in to fight for the affected workers. Our attorneys ensure full enforcement of ADA protections, holding employers accountable for their actions. If you have experienced unlawful disability discrimination, contact Mansell Law for dedicated legal support.
Which Employees Are Covered Under the ADA?
The ADA applies to employers with 15 or more employees, including state and local governments, as well as employment agencies and labor organizations. The law protects a “qualified individual with a disability,” defined as someone capable of performing the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. A disability under the ADA includes:
A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
A history or record of such an impairment.
Being regarded as or perceived as having such an impairment.
You don’t need to have a disability to be protected under ADA. Specific terms like “essential job functions,” “reasonable accommodation,” “substantially limits,” and “major life activities” have legal interpretations that our experienced ADA attorneys at Mansell Law can help you navigate.
What Types of Discrimination Are Prohibited?
The ADA comprehensively prohibits discrimination in many aspects of employment, including:
Application procedures
Hiring and firing
Advancement
Compensation
Job training
Other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment
Adverse or differential treatment based on an individual’s disability in any of these areas constitutes unlawful discrimination. Employers may also violate the ADA by:
Denying FMLA leave for a serious health condition that qualifies as a disability.
Refusing to provide reasonable accommodation.
Retaliating against individuals for exercising their ADA rights or filing complaints.
How to File an ADA Discrimination Claim
To sue your employer for ADA violations, you must first file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC may pursue the case or issue a “right to sue letter,” allowing you to file a lawsuit. Possible remedies include reinstatement with back pay, hiring, reasonable accommodation, cessation of discriminatory practices, and monetary damages for financial losses, mental anguish, and punitive damages. You may also file a complaint with the New York City Human Rights Commission or the New York Division of Human Rights.
At Mansell Law, our ADA attorneys will guide you through the complaint process and zealously represent your interests, whether before your employer, a government agency, or in court.
Stop Disability Discrimination in New York City
If you believe your ADA rights have been violated, call Mansell Law at 646-921-8900 for a free consultation. Our team of dedicated New York disability discrimination lawyers is ready to fight for your rights.