As of January 1, 2025, Illinois now protects employees who provide family care from discrimination in the workplace. The law means that employees who have “family responsibilities” cannot be discriminated against because of said responsibilities. The law defines family responsibilities as “an employee’s actual or perceived provision of personal care to a family member.” Covered family members include an employee’s child, stepchild, spouse, domestic partner, sibling, parent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandchild, grandparent, or stepparent. Examples of “personal care” could include, but is not limited to, taking a family member to the doctor, supporting their medical, hygiene, nutritional, or safety needs, and providing support to a family member suffering from a serious health condition.

This means that employees with family responsibilities are now protected from discrimination, harassment, and protection from retaliation if they allege discrimination on the basis of family responsibilities. 

The attorneys are Kennedy Hunt P.C. are experts in employment rights. You can read about the employment law cases we take on here. If you or someone you know has had their disability rights violated, the skilled attorneys at Kennedy Hunt, P.C. may be able to help you. Fill out a questionnaire so we can understand your claim. 

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“They’re very controversial,” Kennedy told Fox 2. “The question is, what good do they do? Do the businesses actually make permanent changes that benefit the community or not?”

According to Fox 2, one man in the area has sued more than 70 businesses over the past five years for alleged ADA violations, including missing bathroom signage and doors that are less than the required width. 

The owner of one restaurant told Fox 2 the lawsuits feel “less like an effort to make the community more accessible and more like an opportunistic pattern targeting local businesses.”

Kennedy is further quoted in the article, saying that the ADA requires older buildings to make relatively easy and inexpensive modifications to comply with the law. But he adds that the standards are subjective. 

“You can read the regulations for a long time and never know the answer to that,” he said.

The attorneys at Kennedy Hunt P.C. are experts in the ADA and disability law. If you or someone you know has been a victim of disability discrimination, our skilled attorneys at Kennedy Hunt, P.C. may be able to help you. Fill out a questionnaire so we can understand your claim. 

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The revision also requires the passenger to provide documentation of the animal’s certification, as well as of their own disability(ies). It’s worth noting that only dogs are considered support animals under this change, leaving all other animals restricted from traveling with their owners’ on planes as support animals. 

What’s more, emotional support animals are now considered as pets under the revision. If brought on a plane, the passenger would have to pay pet travel fees. In the past, emotional support animals were allowed on planes and not charged fees. 

The Americans with Disabilities Act does not consider emotional support animals as service animals. Similar to the Air Carrier Access Act revisions, the ADA defines a service animal as “a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.” Under the ADA, emotional support animals do not fall under the service animal category and thus the ADA does not provide a right to an emotional support animal. 

Notably, though, the Fair Housing Act and certain state laws do provide rights to an emotional support animal. For example, the Illinois Human Rights Act in Housing protects the right to an emotional support animal. But the Missouri Human Rights Act does not. Though housing and transportation certainly are different, the discrepancies between the federal and state agencies may prove the lack of widespread understanding of the value and necessity of emotional support animals. 

Curt Decker, executive director of the National Disability Rights Network, spoke with NPR about the harm these new regulations pose to travelers. 

“Now people who do feel they need this kind of support and cannot afford [to pay the pet fee] will now be eliminated from flying,” Decker said. 

The new Air Carrier Access Act rules went into effect at the beginning of 2021. 

If you or someone you know has been a victim of unfair treatment related to a support animal, our skilled attorneys at Kennedy Hunt, P.C. may be able to help you. Fill out a questionnaire so we can understand your claim. 

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Photograph courtesy of www.fedbarchicago.org

On February 8th, 2018, Thomas Kennedy, III argued in front of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, Illinois. 

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of individuals with disabilities who reside in a group home in Springfield, Illinois. The lawsuit alleges that a zoning ordinance imposed by the city would force our clients out of their home and into institutions, in violation of the Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The oral argument was heard by Judge Frank H. Easterbrook, Judge Daniel A. Manion, and Judge Joel M. Flaum.

To listen to the oral argument, click the “play” button, below.

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The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Americans With Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) gives protections to individuals with disabilities in a variety of environments, such as school and the workplace.

There are thirteen members of the subcommittee, including plaintiffs’ and defense attorneys, as well as several U.S. District Court judges.  It is anticipated that a new set of ADA/ADAA jury instructions will be available in early 2018.    

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