Discrimination is a significant issue that affects individuals in various aspects of their lives. In the United States, federal law prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, sex, and national origin. However, not all forms of discrimination are explicitly prohibited by federal law.
Introduction:
In recent years, there has been an ongoing effort to expand protection under federal law to include other characteristics, such as handicap and familial status.
Handicap Discrimination:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark federal law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, and telecommunications. The ADA defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
This definition includes individuals who use assistive technology to perform essential job functions or participate in public accommodations.
Familial Status Discrimination:
Familial status discrimination is another form of prohibited discrimination under federal law. It refers to discrimination against individuals based on their family status, including being single, married, divorced, widowed, or the parent of a child.
Familial status discrimination can occur in various contexts, including housing, employment, and public accommodations.
Expanding Discrimination Protections:
The expansion of discrimination protections under federal law to include handicap and familial status has been a significant step towards ensuring equal rights for all individuals. The ADA provides individuals with disabilities the right to reasonable accommodations in employment, public accommodations, and telecommunications.
This includes the right to assistive technology, modified work schedules, and other accommodations that enable individuals with disabilities to perform their job functions or participate in public accommodations.
Familial status discrimination also has significant implications for individuals who are discriminated against based on their familial status. For example, landlords cannot deny housing to families because they have children or because the head of the household is a single parent.
Employers cannot discriminate against employees based on their familial status, such as by denying employment opportunities or promotions because an employee has children.
Conclusion:
Expanding discrimination protections under federal law to include handicap and familial status has been a critical step towards ensuring equal rights for all individuals. The ADA provides individuals with disabilities the right to reasonable accommodations, while families are protected from discrimination based on their status. It is essential that these protections continue to be expanded to include other characteristics that may be subject to discrimination.
