American disability rights policy
Part of the civil rights chapter that I teach about in my introductory American Government course discusses disability law and what changes have been made to it over time. While the 1964 Civil RIghts Act lies the framework for protection against discrimination among individuals of minority status (age, ethnicity, race, gender, national origin), the greatest provision jof civil rights for disabled persons some with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). You might be old enough to remember the major amount of investment that occurred in the mid-to-late 1990s to make buildings friendlier to those with disabilities – we had wheelchair access built at our local United States Postal Service (USPS) office. Over the course of the last 30 years, there have been precious few additions to the original codifications made by the ADA at the federal level.
State additions and exceptions to federal disability rights policy
While there is some base level of disability rights provided to all citizens at the federal level and guaranteed to individuals in their dealings at the state level, quite a few states have enshrined greater disability rights in their state constitutions. California’s approach has been seen as the sterling standard for states that are attempting to liberalize the collection of rights that they provide for their citizens.
Disability Rights Laws in California are fairly intricate to get through, especially for those that are seeking to achieve permanent or full disability. While it is possible for a layperson to be able to successfully navigate the application process, the lawyers that make their bread and butter with disability cases will be able to achieve one’s desired outcome a heck of a lot easier than someone that is a novice. One first has to think that there are a number of distinct programs that can be applied for when one is seeking to have their disability recognized. Of course, one can get some of their Social Security funds if they have worked for a sufficiently long period of time. If one has a low enough level of income, Medicare and Medicaid become available. There are other grants such as the Home Energy Assistance Program and other ways to mitigate one’s expenses, especially in regards to sustanence (food stamps / TANF) and mortgages. Prerequisites dot these programs; for a person to get funding, there has to be some demonstratable level of disability present. Through work with a law firm that deals with disability rights, you can be instructed what type of evaluations need to be done and what documentation needs to be provided to have your application considered.
Final thoughts and conclusions
I am not a lawyer and I do not possess a J.D. This is not legal advice and anyone that is looking to receive some information about disability rights should seek an appointment with a disability lawyer in your neck of the woods. If you have been deemed disabled (full or partial), please feel free to write a comment and provide your own tips to our readership.
