Ohio Disability Discrimnation Lawyers

Ohio Workplace Discrimination and Labor Law Attorneys Who Fight for You

Our discrimination attorneys will protect your rights for a safe and discrimination-free workplace.

Do you have a disability? Have you been treated unfairly at work because of it? Maybe you were passed over for a job, denied a promotion, harassed by co-workers, or even fired. Or perhaps you asked for a simple accommodation—like a flexible schedule or medical leave—and your employer said no without even considering your request.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. And more importantly—you have rights.

At Nilges Draher LLC, we help individuals across Ohio, including in Cleveland, Columbus, and North Canton, who have been subjected to disability discrimination in the workplace. Our legal team understands how deeply personal and stressful these situations can be, and we’re here to guide you through it—one step at a time.

You don’t have to navigate this alone. Our attorneys want to hear your story, in your words. We'll listen to what happened and explain your legal options clearly and compassionately, so you feel empowered to take action.

Understanding Your Rights as an Employee with a Disability

There are both federal and state laws that protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination in the workplace.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the primary federal law. It protects employees and job applicants from discrimination based on physical or mental impairments that substantially limit major life activities—things like walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, thinking, or learning. You don’t need to have a permanent or visible disability to qualify under the law. Temporary conditions and mental health diagnoses may also be protected.

In Ohio, the Ohio Civil Rights Act offers similar protections, sometimes even expanding coverage beyond the federal level.

You are also protected if:

You have a record of a disability (even if you're not currently disabled)

You’re regarded as having a disability (even if you don’t have one)

You request a reasonable accommodation, and your employer retaliates or ignores the request

These laws are here to ensure that your condition does not define your career or limit your potential.

What Constitutes Disability Discrimination in Ohio?

Disability discrimination isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it’s subtle or hidden behind what seems like a “valid reason” for being treated differently. That’s why it’s so important to understand the many ways this type of discrimination can show up at work.

Some common examples of disability discrimination include:

• Terminating an employee because of his or her disability.
• Failing to hire an individual because of a disability.
• Failing to promote an employee because of a disability.
• Demoting an employee because of a disability.
• Failing to make reasonable accommodations for a disability.
• Terminating an employee for requesting an accommodation.
• Failing to work with a disabled employee to find an accommodation for a disability.
• Harassing an employee because of a disability.

If your employer didn’t take your request seriously, didn’t even try to work with you, or retaliated in any way, you may have a valid legal claim. The law requires employers to make reasonable efforts to accommodate disabled workers—not to brush their needs aside.