by Valerie Johnson

Created on: November 09, 2010

Are there jobs for people with disabilities? I think the majority of people would say that yes, there are jobs for people with disabilities.  What comes to mind when you first think of someone with a disability? I’m sure the answer to that is as varied as the types of disabilities that people can actually have.

Why is this even an issue?  Didn’t the American’s with Disabilities Act take care of this issue?  Isn’t every building handicap accessible? Aren’t there penalties for employers who discriminate against those with disabilities? The answer to those questions depends on which side of the fence you set on: those with a disability or those that do not.

As someone with a “disability” I would say that a resounding NO is an appropriate answer to all of the above.  The American’s with Disabilities Act attempted to correct a problem but that problem still exists.  The majority of public buildings are not accessible for people in a wheelchair. If you apply for a job and are honest and say you are disabled, prepare to be immediately overlooked for the job.

Let’s break down each issue.  The American’s with Disabilities Act outlines the minimum requirements for facilities to accommodate people with disabilities.  These accommodations include requirements for hallway widths, doorway openings, etc. that would accommodate a person in a wheelchair.  While I applaud those who wrote this and feel their heart was in the right place, I would say they missed the mark. 

Unless you have tried to maneuver around in a building in a wheelchair, you have no idea how hard it actually is.  Doors are not wide enough; hallways leave little elbow room and forget about getting into the handicap stall in a wheelchair.  My experience with an employer when I requested “handicap accessible” in writing when we were looking for a new building, was that I could get in the back door in a wheelchair because there was a small ramp in the door way.  Never mind that I could not turn my wheelchair into the bathroom or into any of the offices, including the conference room because there was not enough turning radius, yet my employer felt they were compliant with the ADA and according the law, they were.

I consulted an attorney with my complaint but discovered I did not have a case because they were correct according to the letter of the law.  One month after moving

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