5 Examples Of Discrimination Against People With Mental Disability

People who face discrimination for their mental disabilities is a serious issue in the United States and violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Discrimination can take many forms and occur in various settings, including the workplace, housing, and education. Here are five examples of discrimination against people with mental disabilities:

1. Refusing to Hire or Promote a Qualified Individual with a Mental Disability

An employer who refuses to hire or promote a qualified individual with a mental disability is committing discrimination. This includes refusing to hire or promote an individual because of a mental disability or because the individual has a history of mental illness.

The law also prohibits employers from retaliating against an employee who has disclosed a mental disability or has requested a reasonable accommodation for a mental disability.

2. Harassment in the Workplace

Harassment in the workplace is a form of discrimination. It can include derogatory comments, slurs, or other behavior that creates a hostile work environment for an individual with a mental disability.

Employers have a responsibility to prevent and address harassment in the workplace, and employees who experience harassment should report it to their employer or the appropriate government agency.

3. Denying Housing to Someone with a Mental Disability

The law prohibits landlords and housing providers from denying housing to individuals with mental disabilities. This includes denying an application for housing, evicting an individual because of a mental disability, or imposing different terms or conditions on an individual with a mental disability.

4. Denying Access to Education

Schools and other educational institutions are prohibited from denying access to education to an individual with a mental disability. This includes denying admission to a school, excluding an individual from a program or activity, or imposing different terms or conditions on an individual with a mental disability.

5. Refusing to Provide Reasonable Accommodations

Employers, landlords, and other entities must provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with mental disabilities. Reasonable accommodations can include changes to policies, procedures, or practices and the provision of assistive technology or other aids. A failure to provide reasonable accommodations constitutes discrimination.

The law protects people with mental disabilities from discrimination, not only by the ADA but also by other federal and state laws. Additionally, discrimination can be subtle and hard to detect. It’s important for people with mental disabilities and their allies to be aware of their rights and to know how to recognize and report discrimination.

In Conclusion

Discrimination against people with mental disabilities is a serious issue that can significantly impact an individual’s life. Individuals with mental disabilities must be aware of their rights and know how to recognize and report discrimination. Employers, landlords, and other entities also have a responsibility to prevent and address discrimination and to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with mental disabilities.

No one should tolerate discrimination, and it’s important to take action to protect the rights of people with mental disabilities. Doing this ensures they are treated with the same dignity and respect as everyone else.