Most people know of laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, ethnicity, race, sex, religion, age, previous condition of servitude, national origin and sexual preference. Perhaps the most common, but least noticed, discrimination in the United States involves people with disabilities. Congress enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. Nearly 50 million Americans have disabilities, according to the Census Bureau, and about two-thirds of those disabilities are severe. Most disabled people say they have faced some form of discrimination in their lifetimes.

Types of discrimination that a person with disabilities may confront include: a lack of accessibility in public accommodations (stores, theaters, cruise ships); communication barriers for those who are vision- or hearing-impaired; barriers in public or private transportation, discrimination in housing; and employment discrimination.

The firm of Gaebe, Mullen, Antonelli & DiMatteo represents clients in the areas of employment discrimination and retaliation as well as 1983 actions. The firm counsels businesses and public entities in establishing consistent policies to protect themselves from civil rights and disabilities claims.