by Sherrill Fulghum

Created on: October 22, 2008   Last Updated: November 27, 2010

It is unfortunate but government intervention in some form is required in order for the majority of people with disabilities to get a job. All too frequently potential employers see only the disability and not the qualifications of the person. People with disabilities are not asking the government for hand outs, only for the opportunity to do the same things as any other American does and support themselves and a family with gainful employment.

While there are government programs in place designed to give aid to people with disabilities and they are at times necessary, that is not what people really want; only a chance to be seen as an equal. Throughout its history the United States has perpetuated discrimination in some form. First it was the colour of a person's skin, then it was gender, and now it is an issue of a disability.

With the implementation of laws like affirmative action with quotas for hiring certain numbers of people in the workplace, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 numerous people have found employment that may not have had the chance for such a job before. While these laws help people with disabilities get a job. they also force employers to hire people only to fill a quota and not because a person is qualified.

For many years there has been an assumption that people with disabilities are not capable of thinking and doing for themselves. People with disabilities are seen as idiots and morons when in fact there are some extremely intelligent people who happen to be blind, deaf, or use a wheelchair. In 1973 Congress passed the Rehabilitation Act that was supposed to ensure people with disabilities were treated fairly and equally as others who did not have a disability.

Certain aspects of the law did help and make like better, but there was still much to be done and in 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed. The law is divided into five parts one of which deals with employment and discrimination. The law has helped but there are still many issues of unproven discrimination craftily disguised as we don't need anyone, we're downsizing, we're restructuring excuses.

America is known as the most powerful nation in the world, yet we as Americans cannot even treat our own people fairly without having the government intervene with laws of equality and non-discrimination for some of its citizens.

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