Disability Rights Attorney in Annapolis
31 Years of Employment Law Experience, Fighting for Annapolis-Area Employees
Disability rights in employment cover the protections workers have against discrimination and their right to request reasonable accommodation under federal and state law. At Law Office of Ruth Ann Azeredo LLC, we bring 31 years of employment law experience to these matters, representing Annapolis-area employees through negotiation, arbitration, or litigation depending on what their situation requires.
If you believe your employer has failed to accommodate a disability or retaliated against you for asserting your rights, call our office at (240) 734-3033 to discuss your situation.
ADA Title I: Core Protections for Private-Sector Employees
ADA Title I prohibits employment discrimination against qualified employees and applicants based on disability and applies to employers with 15 or more employees. A covered employee has the right to a reasonable accommodation, which the EEOC defines as any adjustment that allows a qualified person with a disability to perform essential job functions or enjoy equal benefits of employment. Common examples include modified schedules, reassignment to an open position, or changes to equipment or workspace.
The accommodation process is typically collaborative. Employers are generally expected to engage in an interactive process with the employee to identify a workable solution, and they can decline if providing the accommodation would impose an undue hardship, a determination that weighs cost, employer size, and available resources. The ADA also prohibits retaliation against any employee who requests an accommodation or files a disability discrimination complaint.
Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act & State Filing Deadlines
Maryland’s Fair Employment Practices Act independently prohibits disability discrimination in the workplace, giving employees an additional layer of protection beyond federal law. Employees who believe they’ve experienced disability discrimination can file a disability discrimination complaint with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights, which investigates complaints and provides pathways toward resolution or civil action. That filing generally must be submitted within 180 days of the discriminatory act. Depending on the facts of a case, filing with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission may also be appropriate, and both routes carry strict deadlines.
Rehabilitation Act Protections for Annapolis Government Employees
Annapolis is home to significant Maryland State government operations and federal or naval-affiliated organizations, making the Rehabilitation Act directly relevant to a substantial number of local workers. We have decades of experience representing federal employees, Maryland State and local government employees in employment claims, including disability matters.
The Rehabilitation Act provides federal employees protections comparable to those the ADA provides private-sector workers. Federal employees face an especially tight deadline: contact with an agency EEO counselor must generally occur within 45 days of the discriminatory act to preserve the right to file a formal complaint. Depending on the agency action involved, other administrative options for pursuing a claim may also be available.
Disability Rights Cases We’ve Resolved
The cases below illustrate the range of disability-related matters our firm has litigated. We describe them as historical facts, not as predictions of future results.
Disability and Retaliation Against a State Agency
We resolved a disability and retaliation lawsuit brought against the Maryland State Highway Administration, navigating the procedural requirements specific to state government employment.
Combined Disability, Retaliation and FMLA Claims
In a case against Conifer Health Care, we kept disability, retaliation, and FMLA claims in court, avoiding arbitration to preserve access to a judicial forum.
ADA Association Discrimination
We handled an ADA association discrimination lawsuit against Pepsi Bottling Co. on behalf of a client who was discriminated against because of their association with a person who has a disability. Association discrimination is a protection built into the ADA itself, a theory many employers don’t anticipate, and one we’ve litigated directly.
Working Directly with Our Attorney on Your Disability Rights Matter
Clients work one-on-one with Attorney Azeredo from the first conversation through resolution. There’s no handoff to a paralegal or junior associate for the substantive work, which means detailed case preparation and candid advice about realistic outcomes at every stage.
Attorney Azeredo is fluent in both English and Spanish, supporting clear communication throughout a matter. Our combined focus on employment and business law also means we understand how employer policies and internal practices operate, knowledge that directly informs how we approach accommodation disputes and retaliation claims.
Schedule a Consultation with a Disability Rights Lawyer in Annapolis
If a disability-related issue is affecting your job or career, we’re available to talk through what happened and what options may be available to you. Contact Law Office of Ruth Ann Azeredo LLC at (240) 734-3033 to schedule a consultation.