Persons with hidden mobility disabilities have the right to:
- Access public service and facilities and employment opportunities without the barrier of negative health consequences due to having to walk too far or stand too long.
- Participate fully and effectively in society on an equal basis with others.
Specific rights are enshrined in applicable human rights legislation.
Be sure that you are familiar with the Human Rights Act that protects you. For example, in the U.S. it is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), with specific implementation information on the Department of Labor website. In Canada it is the Canadian Human Rights Act, supplemented by provincial Human Rights Acts, and more recently the Accessible Canada Act.
If you experience a barrier, speak up. If you need accommodation that isn’t provided, talk with the responsible manager about your needs. Remember that “disability” is not a personal characteristic but rather the result of “the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others” (from the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities).