Disability Discrimination in the Workplace
Disability discrimination occurs when an employer treats an employee unfairly because of a physical or mental disability, a medical condition, or a perceived impairment. This discrimination often shows up when an employee requests accommodations, returns from medical leave, or discloses a condition that affects how they work.
At Baldwin & Vernon Trial Attorneys, we represent employees in Kansas City and throughout Missouri and Kansas who have been harmed by disability discrimination. Our practice is focused on employment litigation and real courtroom advocacy, because these cases often require employers to answer for barriers they chose not to remove.
What Disability Discrimination Can Look Like
Disability discrimination is not always obvious. In many cases, it appears as resistance, delay, or indifference when an employee needs support. Common examples include:
Refusal to provide reasonable accommodations
Termination or discipline after disclosing a disability
Denial of medical leave or flexibility
Being excluded from meetings, projects, or advancement
Being treated as incapable or unreliable due to a condition
Retaliation for requesting accommodations
Employers are not allowed to ignore accommodation requests or treat employees differently because of medical needs.
Reasonable Accommodations Are the Law
Employees with disabilities have the right to reasonable accommodations that allow them to perform their jobs. This may include modified schedules, physical accessibility changes, adjusted duties, or other practical solutions.
Disability discrimination often occurs when employers refuse to engage in good faith or decide accommodations are “too inconvenient” without real justification. The law does not allow employers to simply opt out.
Why Trial Experience Matters in Disability Discrimination Cases
Employers frequently deny disability discrimination or claim accommodations were unreasonable—even when no meaningful effort was made. These cases often come down to credibility, records, and whether an employer acted in good faith.
At Baldwin & Vernon Trial Attorneys, we prepare disability discrimination cases as if they will be tried. That preparation creates leverage and ensures employers take their legal obligations seriously.
I was referred to Ms. Vernon via a resource for those with epilepsy. My employment had been wrongfully terminated, I had no way to pay for an attorney on my own, so had to trust that whoever was willing to review my case was competent and also willing to fight for me. Little did I have any idea how passionately Ms. Vernon would argue my case. And not just in front of the arbitrator but for the months that turned into years of attempting to get documents the defendants were ordered to produce. What seemed as if it should be a fairly simple case became increasingly drawn out and complex as the defendants' legal team tried a series of delay tactics and, frankly, just shady maneuvers in an effort to force us to quit. But we didn't. And that was largely due to Ms. Vernon's tenacity and frequent personal encouragement.
I live in chronic pain due to several car accidents and have epilepsy, migraines, other conditions that cause memory issues and problems sleeping.
There were days I simply felt I didn't have the strength to fight any longer. But Ms. Vernon's confidence in me, the research behind the evidence and her encouragement together with her eloquence and keen insight all won my case. I highly recommend Ms. Vernon as an attorney. She's professional, willing to put in all the time that's necessary to truly understand a case and compassionate, a rare quality these days.
Jodi R. - 2017
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