My Rights as a Person with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

What is a TBI?

A TBI is defined as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain. The severity of such injury may range from “mild,” meaning a brief change in mental status or consciousness, to “severe,” meaning an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury. TBI may impact balance, coordination, attention span, short or long term memory, stamina, ability to speak clearly and the ability to control emotions.

What legal rights might be affected by a TBI?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) secures equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in:

If your TBI affects a major life activity such as walking, working, interacting with other people, or concentrating, you may be covered by the ADA. The ADA has two major parts: protection from discrimination and a requirement to make reasonable changes to allow a person with a disability to have equal access to goods and services.

State & Local Government Services

Title II of the ADA protects people with disabilities from discrimination by state and local governments. It applies to all kinds of state or local governments and state agencies such as:

Government bodies should have a designated ADA coordinator.

Places of Public Accommodation

Title III of the ADA applies to places of public accommodation, which are private entities that are open to the public. Some examples of places of public accommodation are:

What are the basic requirements for state and local government services and places of public accommodation to comply with the ADA?

Each location or organization must be considered individually, but there are some general requirements:

Employment

Which employers must follow the ADA employment protections?

All private employers with 15 or more employees, all state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions.

Do you have to say anything to a potential employer about your TBI?

You do not need to say anything before you are offered a job unless you need a reasonable accommodation to apply for the job. Once you are offered the job, you still do not need to say anything but you can discuss any reasonable accommodations you need to perform the job.

What types of reasonable accommodations must an employer provide?

An employer must make reasonable accommodations that are necessary to allow you to work successfully despite a disability. Generally, the employer must tailor the job and the work environment to you so that you are able to do the job at no cost to you. This is particularly important with TBIs, where the effects vary widely over time. Some
examples of accommodations or adjustments are:

Equipment that would help you work is referred to assistive technology (AT). The South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department may be able to assist you in finding out what kind of assistive technology can help you work.

Other examples of AT that may help with daily living activities include pill holders and watches with alarms, headphones, wheelchairs, augmentative communication devices, and home modifications. Medicaid, Medicare and other health insurance may cover the cost of some of these.

Education

If you are a student and you have a disability, Titles II and III of the ADA protect you from discrimination based on your disability. Title II protects people with disabilities from discrimination by state-funded schools such as state universities, community colleges and vocational schools. Title III of the ADA protects people with disabilities from discrimination by private and trade schools. These protections prevent discrimination and require reasonable modifications based on your disability in areas such as:

Students in school through age 21 may be eligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Transportation

The ADA entitles you to the same right to use and enjoy public transportation as people without disabilities. The local transit provider has the duty to make public transportation accessible by providing things like:

What if the local transit authority cannot adequately serve its clients with disabilities in its regular system?

The authority is required to create a parallel transportation system for people with disabilities. This system is referred to as a paratransit system. Paratransit systems are
curb-to-curb demand responsive systems. What this means is that you should be able to schedule a trip, be picked up at your door and then be taken to your destination and returned home. You should be able to schedule your ride just twenty-four hours in advance. Your pick-up time should be within one hour before or after your desired
departure time. You should not be asked to schedule your trip during off peak hours. The transit authority should put additional vans and buses on the road during peak
hours to keep up with the demand. Some of South Carolina’s paratransit systems include:

Other regional transit authorities also must provide paratransit services.

Housing

The federal Fair Housing Act Amendments (FHAA) prohibits housing providers from discriminating against applicants or residents because of their disability or the disability of a family member. Courts have applied the FHAA to landlords, property managers, realtors, homeowner associations, and condominium associations in addition to others. Public and government-subsidized housing may also be covered by the ADA or the Rehabilitation Act.

Two important rights granted by the FHAA are:

The SC Fair Housing Act is a state law similar to the federal Fair Housing Act.

Other Important Information

Where can you complain if you believe you have been discriminated against or denied an accommodation?


This publication provides legal information, but is not intended to be legal advice. The information wasbased on the law at the time it was written. As the law may change, please contact P&A for updates.

This publication is funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services (Administration for Community Living). It does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding authorities. 

P&A does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, color, creed, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, sex or sexual orientation, veteran status or any other class protected by law in the provision of its programs or services. Pete Cantrell is P&A’s designated coordinator for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
July 2017-[TBI]

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