Affiliations: IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, University
of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain | Department of Biostatistics and Center for
Rehabilitation Science and Engineering (CERSE), Virginia Commonwealth
University, Richmond, VA, USA | Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, Virginia
Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA | Department of Occupational Therapy, Virginia
Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla, Ikerbas-que
Research, University of Deusto, Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Avda
de las Universidades 24, Bilbao 48007, Spain. Tel.: +34 94 413 90 03, ext 3261;
E-mail: jcarango@deusto.es
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Approximately 25% of working-aged Americans with
disabilities work full or part time, yet still face discrimination despite the
passing of the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) over 20 years ago. OBJECTIVES: To determine if the proportion of allegations of ADA
Title I workplace discrimination with merit closed at any year between 1993 and
2008 differs among Whites, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians; to
determine if there was a change over time from 1993 to 2008 in merit closure
rate within each race/ethnicity group; and to determine whether changes over
time between 1993 and 2008 in the merit closure rate differ among the
race/ethnicity groups. METHODS: Logistic regression was used for this cross-sectional panel
study to model the merit closure rate for each ethnic group from 1993 to 2008
using 318,587 charging parties from the EEOC database. RESULTS: All ethnic groups exhibited significant changes over time
in the merit closure rate. There were significant differences in the closure
rates among the race/ethnicity groups specifically at closure years
1995–2000, 2002, 2003, and 2006. Finally, there was evidence that the
trends in merit closure rates over time differed significantly among the
race/ethnicity groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was significant evidence that the proportion of
claims closed with merit was significantly different among the racial/ethnicity
groups.
