Legal rights and responsibilities

There are several laws, designed to protect the employment rights of individuals with disabilities, that define the responsibilities of both employers and workers with disabilities.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): This federal law provides individuals with disabilities protection from discrimination in employment, housing, education, and service delivery.

• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Maine State ADA / Section 504 Accessibility Coordinator's Office
• Tools for Inclusion; Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title 1: Employment (Institute for Community Inclusion)
• 10 Employment Myths (video) about employing individuals with disabilities. Many employers misunderstand the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are reluctant to hire people with disabilities because of myths. This seventeen-minute video responds to business concerns, explaining the ADA in common sense terms and dispelling myths about this pool of well-qualified employees.
• Ten Small Business Mistakes (video) This thirteen-minute video identifies common mistakes that small businesses make when trying to comply with the ADA and addresses the importance and value of doing business with the 50 million people with disabilities. The video features statements by store owners expressing confusion about the ADA followed by responses from the Department of Justice explaining the law in common sense terms.
  

Maine Human Rights Act: This Maine law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment beyond what is included in the ADA. Both the ADA and Maine Human Rights Act apply to the process of advertisement, application, interview process and employment.

The Maine Human Rights Commission enforces Maine's anti-discrimination laws.

• Pre Employment Inquiry Guide (Maine Human Rights Commission)

Both laws seek to ensure that an individual with a disability has the opportunity to attain the same employment, level of performance or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are available to an average, similarly situated employee without a disability. This does not require preferential treatment to candidates with a disability or employees with a disability.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetic information. It provides employment posters, technical assistance and training to businesses of all sizes.

Disability Nondiscrimination Law Advisor

This Advisor is designed to help employers determine which federal disability laws apply to their business or organization. The Advisor also helps businesses that receive federal financial assistance understand their responsibilities under these laws. It provides a customized list of federal disability nondiscrimination laws that may apply and links to detailed information around the requirements under these laws.

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