Peter Blanck
1994
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Readers of Spine are exposed to complex legal, regulatory, and statutory issues involving back and spine-related injuries and impairments. One important legal development exemplifies this: The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The ADA, as a vehicle for social and cultural change, is shaping public attitudes and behavior toward all people with disabilities in particular, toward those who are disabled by back and spine injuries. In the first two effective years of the ADA, over 20% of all legal claims filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission involved back or spinal impairments. In addition, some estimate that 1% of all Americans are disabled by chronic back problems and even more are partially disabled. Other estimates suggest that by the beginning of the 21st century, the economic costs of back and spine disability will likely surpass $40 billion.
Blanck, P. (1994). Legal Forum, Spine, 19(15), 1653.
Keywords: Americans with Disabilities Act, employment, spine disability