New guidance from the EEOC classifies HIV/AIDS as a workplace disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, reports POZ.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency responsible for enforcing laws against workplace discrimination, has released the final revised version of its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations, according to an EEOC statement. The EEOC's new regulations clarify that impairments of major bodily functions-such as being HIV positive-qualify as disabilities under the law. The revisions were triggered by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, which overturned a number of Supreme Court rulings that defined "disability" narrowly, reinforcing the inclusive intentions of the original legislation.
The full EEOC statement can be read HERE.
This is very good news. The new regs will have a major impact on HIV positive persons ability to receive Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Disability benefits. It will also impact private, employment-based health insurance and disability coverage.
Persons living with HIV/AIDS are already protected from discrimination by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
