| The appointment of Barack Obama to the seat of the | | | | of some schools to accept students with impairments |
| 44th American president for many people denoted a | | | | or to provide access to a facility for wheelchair-bound |
| symbolic end point of racial discrimination. Hillary | | | | people. The disabled are sometimes treated unfairly |
| Rodham Clinton taking charge of the Department of | | | | during classes or examinations sorely on the basis of |
| State proved that women can hold as important | | | | their condition. |
| positions in politics as men. As we celebrate passing of | | | | Everyday obstacles are not limited to the spheres of |
| racism and sexism into oblivion, we tend to overlook | | | | career and education. The disabled face many more |
| other forms of discrimination that are much present in | | | | difficulties in their everyday life. People with disabilities |
| the modern society. One of the forms of prejudice is | | | | are frequently devoid of simple pleasures that are |
| disability discrimination (also: disablism): unfair treatment | | | | obvious for the non-disabled, such as going to a |
| of people with disabilities. | | | | restaurant or a theatre. Discrimination may take a form |
| People with both physical and mental impairments face | | | | of the lack of appropriate physical access, for |
| unfair treatment in many areas of life and in various | | | | example a wheelchair ramp, or services that are in |
| forms. Scope, British non-government organization, | | | | some way exclusively available for the non-disabled, |
| reports that hate crime against the disabled is | | | | like only via telephone. This applies not only to places |
| prevalent, ranging from school bullying to even murders. | | | | of entertainment, but also institutions vital for every |
| People with disabilities tend to be regarded as more | | | | citizen: courthouses, banks, post offices, or churches. |
| vulnerable than other people, which is the reason why | | | | The simple act of moving around may be a difficult |
| they are often targeted by the criminals. What is more, | | | | task, thanks to narrow doors, high kerbs, absence of |
| victims do not always receive necessary help from | | | | lifts, and all-present steps guarding access to buildings. |
| the institutions that are supposed to protect them: | | | | Fortunately, the disabled are not left alone with their |
| police and judicial system. Sadly, disability hate crime is | | | | problems. More and more countries are implementing |
| still not recognized or treated seriously in the court, and | | | | anti-disablism legislation. People in the United Kingdom |
| the disabled are oftentimes unjustly regarded as being | | | | are legally protected against disability discrimination by |
| unreliable. | | | | the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). A similar piece |
| Disablement may be a basis for discrimination on the | | | | of legislation is present in the American law: the |
| job market. Some employers are unwilling to hire | | | | Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). |
| people with disabilities or are likely to make such | | | | Currently, there are many non-government |
| employees redundant. It is also the case of | | | | organizations devoted to fighting discrimination, and |
| discrimination when an employer does not want to | | | | disability discrimination in particular. Still, a lot needs to be |
| make reasonable adjustments that would allow the | | | | done. Raising public awareness of the existence of the |
| handicapped workers to perform their duties. Disabled | | | | issue is the most important step to be taken. |
| people face similar obstacles in education, like a refusal | | | | |