Legal

Disability rights are advocated for and supported by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is a federal civil rights law that protects people with disabilities. It is a law similar to civil rights law passed in the 1960s for other minorities. The act covers employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, and telecommunications for the deaf.

Disability rights are afforded under the ADA to everyone with a disability. According to the ADA, there are several definitions of a disabled person. A person with a physical and/or mental impairment that significantly limits one or more of the major life functions is considered disabled. A person who has been described as having a disability in the past is considered to be disabled. A person who is regarding as having a physical and/or mental impairment is considered disabled.

Disability rights have become more important and more noticed in society. It is estimated that forty-three million American citizens have a physical or a mental disability. Unemployment for disabled people is at least 67 percent. Everyone has a 20 percent chance of becoming in his or her lifetime.

Disability Rights Include Benefit Availability
If a person is disabled and unable to work, he may be eligible for either Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disabled Income (SSDI). These two programs pay monetary benefits to the disabled. If you have a physical or mental impairment that does not allow you to work and limits your income to less than $700 per month, you would be eligible to apply for either SSI or SSDI. Other criteria may need to be met to apply for these programs.