In the kingdom of the blind...

[roamin_umpire]

A brief respite from my run of education-related posts for an item from my other profession:

Haven't these people ever heard of the ADA?!

Comments

[benndragon]

Out of curiosity, what does the ADA say about people who retain injuries that prevent them from doing their job? I mean, a newly-made quadrapalegic isn't going to be able to go back to lifting boxes, there must be some sort of provision about that in there. . .

[marphod]

tikva would be a good person to ask.

Regardless, employeers need to make 'reasonable accomidations', but that is the limit of their responsabilities. If a person cannot perform a fundemental task of their job due to a disablity, the ADA doesn't apply.

In this case, the lack of a full field of vision may in fact constitute a disablity that prevents performing a fundemental task . *shrug*

[roamin_umpire]

I could see the employer making that argument - I might even have agreed with it - except that he's been doing this for five years with the glass eye. He's been one of their top-rated officials - they even made him the ref for the national championship at the Orange Bowl one year. As such, I think the employer hasn't a leg to stand on.

Especially since their action was motivated by a coach's complaint, not about his performance, but about him having one eye. I really hope this guy takes the Big 10 for a bundle of money.

[wynniethepooh]

I believe that's where Social Security kicks in with payments for being unable to perform your previous job. It's a similar program to welfare, only for the disabled. Of course, you have to have worked a sufficient number of credits (3 years, I think), or be less than 23 and have a parent that did, for that to apply.