A nurse, who developed problems walking and was denied a reasonable accomodation by her employer, has filed a lawsuit charging disability discrimination.
The nurse, Barbara Johansen, suffers from charcot foot, a condition caused by nerve damage that results in a sudden softening of the bones in the foot. Because of the difficulties this condition presented for her in walking, Johansen requested, as a reasonable accomodation for her disability, that she be reassigned to triage in the hospital's emergency room.
After the hospital refused her any accomodation, she was eventually forced to take medical leave and was fired when she ran out of leave. She filed suit alleging that she was discriminated against based on her disability in violation of the Americans With Disabilties Act.
Disability discrimination violates both the federal Americans With Disabilities Act and the Kentucky Civil Rights Act.
Source: North Platte Bulletin
