Fighting Discrimination Against People with HIV/AIDS
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) gives Federal civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications.
An individual is considered to have a "disability" if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such impairment. Persons with HIV disease, either symptomatic or asymptomatic, have physical impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities and thus are protected by the ADA.
Persons who are discriminated against because they are regarded as being HIV-positive are also protected. For example, the ADA would protect a person who is denied an occupational license or admission to a school on the basis of a rumor or assumption that he has HIV or AIDS, even if he does not.
What's New?
Milton Hershey School
Settlement regarding unlawful exclusion of child with HIV from school
Blogs.
Office of National AIDS Policy
Toward AIDS 2012: Fighting Discrimination Against People with HIV/AIDS
Questions and Answers: The Americans with Disabilities Act and Persons with HIV/AIDS (HTML) | (PDF)
blog.AIDS.gov
Health Care Providers Settle with Justice Department Over Complaints of HIV Discrimination
Knoxville Chiropractic Centers
Settlement regarding chiropractor's denial of treatment solely because an individual has HIV
CHW Medical Foundation and Mercy Medical Group, Inc.
Settlement regarding podiatrist's denial of treatment solely because an individual has HIV
The Justice Blog
World AIDS Day 2011
blog.AIDS.gov:
It is a Civil Right to Live Free from Discrimination on the Basis of HIV/AIDS Status
American Laser Settlement Agreement
Resolving laser hair removal company's denial based on HIV status of the full array of services provides to others who seek hair removal treatment