HARTFORD, Conn. — July marks the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination based on disability.
In a release this week, the CT Paid Leave Authority reminded Connecticut residents that paid leave is available for workers living with a disability, and their caregivers, if they have what is considered a serious health condition.
According to the CT Paid Leave Authority, paid leave can be taken as a continuous leave for a specific block of time, intermittent leave or a reduced schedule.
“Connecticut’s Paid Leave Program provides needed income when a worker needs time off to take care of themselves or a loved one, and that’s true for people living with a disability as well,” CT Paid Leave Authority CEO Erin Choquette said in the release.
Choquette continued to say that a worker with a disability may be more apt to consider employment opportunities if there is a safety net of paid leave.
“Caregivers are more likely to seek work as well, if they can be covered when taking time off to care for their loved one,” Choquette said.
A study by the Centers for Disease Control cited by the CT Paid Leave Authority said that one in four Connecticut adults have a disability, amounting to more than 671,000 people.
“Adults with disabilities in Connecticut experience health disparities and are more likely to have depression, obesity, diabetes and heart disease,” the release said. “The CDC estimates that disability healthcare costs in the state equal about $12.5 billion, or up to 37% of the state’s healthcare spending.”
Harc, Inc. provides support for a lifetime to individuals with intellectual and related disabilities and their families so they can enjoy lives of quality, inclusion and dignity. In the release, the CT Paid Leave Authority quotes Harc, Inc. President and CEO Russell Coleman, who said the ADA was a monumental piece of legislation for the disability community.
“Connecticut’s Paid Leave Program is an essential addition to the protections and benefits provided under law,” Coleman said, in the release. “People living with physical, mental or developmental disabilities have so much to offer employers and the workplace, and they benefit immensely themselves from interacting with coworkers and customers.”
Coleman added that paid leave makes it possible for these workers to reap the benefits of active participation in the workforce without having to fear the loss of revenue to attend a doctor’s appointment or procedure.
According to the release, workers must first create an account with CT.gov to apply for CT Paid Leave benefits online. This will provide the applicant with a single identity and take around 10 minutes, the release said.
The applicant can then submit their claim online; claims may also be filed by phone by dialing 877-499-8606. Live representatives are available to help from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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