Social Discrimination Against Adolescents With Disabilities

Friend or foe: Social discrimination against adolescents with disabilities
Discrimination is a treatment or consideration that we make in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing is perceived to belong to rather than on the individual. Human’s judge based on physical appearances and stereotypes we have come to know. We not only judge from other ethnic groups, but our own as well. The special needs community faces more if not the same amount as minorities of discrimination, bullying, and stereotyping. They especially feel it in their childhood and adolescent years. Not only during school but as well in the work field out in the “real world.” We have laws to protect the special

The data indicates that 25,742 charge recipients were filed in 2011, up from 16,470 in 2001” (Kulow, 338). Among the millions of American living in this state the special need community has high rates of unequal employment opportunities than the rest of the population. We all live in a state where there are laws to protect against discrimination of all kinds. Social, racial, religious, and gender. Women cannot be overlooked over men because they are women. Just as minorities cannot be overlooked because they are part of the minority instead of being looked as an individuals. If we cannot protect the special needs community from discrimination in the work place how can we protect ourselves from being discriminated in the workplace. “For example prior to the amendments, correctable impairments, such as poor vision correctable with eyeglasses or hypertension controllable with medication, were not considered disabilities under the American with Disabilities Act, so employers could refuse with impunity and accommodation requests from employees with such impairments” (Kulow, 339.) We are all allowed equal opportunity employment but what would happened if this law does not protect the typical “American”. If we continue to allow social discrimination against the special needs community what’s to say discrimination will not spread against Caucasians African American, Hispanic, and other minorities. “Payouts totaled $103 million in 2011 versus $48 million in 2001” (Kulow, 338.) Discrimination rate has risen between the last ten years by about 9,000 people and $55 million. America would rather pay out anyone willing to sue over discrimination then give them a