C/HR/48. Employment and Disabled People: A Comparative Critical Review of the Literature and Law in the UK and US

Disabled people remain one of the most discriminated against and unprotected social groups. This has in part resulted from their treatment as second class citizens, protected under social welfare and charity law. However, major pieces of legislation, including the US Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, EU Framework Employment Directive and UK Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 have helped to herald a way forward. As a result, measures have been put in place to enforce countries and businesses to comply with legislation aimed at preventing employment-related discrimination and equality for disabled people. This proposal outlines the background to this critical review of the literature and law surrounding the employment rights of disabled people in the UK and US.