Diabetes Discrimination

Diabetes Discrimination

February 25, 2020

The ADA’s Legal Advocate Program has wrapped up its 2019 tally and is proud to report that it continued to help an impressive number of people experiencing diabetes-related discrimination, handling a total of 1,782 cases. The Program helped people in every state, with the most cases coming from California, Texas, Florida, and New York. Employment and School/Childcare cases continued to be our largest volume of cases, with exactly the same number of each (740). Constituents in the school context sought assistance with issues including inadequate trained staff during the school day and during extracurricular activities, schools failing to follow students’ 504 plans and/or medical orders, and difficulties securing exam/schoolwork and other accommodations.  Constituents in the employment context continued to seek assistance securing reasonable accommodations, such as breaks and leave to manage their diabetes, as well as information about their rights following terminations and other negative employment actions. The Program looks forward to another year of fighting for fairness to improve the lives of people living with diabetes.