Asking about disabilities on an application

[nitrofan1]

I recently applied online with a national group that includes hospitals and EMS. I have done the same with this organization i the past but this time there is an additional question:

Do You Have A Disability?

YES

NO

PREFER NOT TO ANSWER

Now I will not falsify an application. My disabilty is I am 80% deaf in my left ear but have a bone anchored hearing aid and can hear just fine. I put yes. If I put no they could terminate me for falsifying the application. If I put prefer not to answer they may think I am hiding something.

The issue I'm having is they do not have an explination box you can let them know what the disabilty is. I have not heard from this company about 2 positions that were open as in the past. Before that question they would send an email that the position was filled.

I have a good chance on a position with another company, but this has been bothering me. Is this an ADA violation?

Thanks for any replies.

[Arctickat]

That would likely be a better question for a forum for lawyers than for paramedics. Although I am not American, I do know that my application has the same question with one subtle difference.

Do you have any disabilities which may affect your ability to perform your duties? If Yes, please describe.

In your case, you would be quite safe in answering no. On your application, I would have described the disability. The other question is whether or not you actually have a disability. It's rectified completely by a hearing aid. If you can still use a stethoscope, all should be well.

[island emt]

"is it an ADA violation?"

While it may /may not technically be a violation , this is a grey area of employment & hiring practice.

I would go to the Page , Wolfburg ,Wirth website and look through the information they have posted for free access.

you may find the legal answer to your questions.

It is my understanding that an employer can ask if there is a disability that would require "reasonable accommodation" were you to be hired, or if you are physically capable of meeting the requirements of the job. Not everyone with a disability can be accommodated to be hired in certain professions

They are specialist in EMS law & hiring practice.

https://www.pwwemslaw.com/

[scubanurse]

Do you consider the alteration in your hearing a disability? Does it alter the way you do your job? I have bilaterally fused shoulders that limit my range of motion greatly, I do not consider myself disabled because it does not alter my ability to perform my job.

[Just Plain Ruff]

I have been applying to literally dozens of positions since I quit my last job. Every single application that I have filled out has asked the same exact question that you have posted here.

I suspect that if all of those employers are asking those questions then this is a pretty standard type of question HR wide. I have been applying to the IT industry, EMS industry and the EMS industry and they all have asked the same question.

Ruff

[Arctickat]

Hell, I think every routine poster here has PTSD. That's a disability, isn't it?

[nitrofan1]

Thanks for the replies! It's not that I have an issue with the question. What grinds my gears is they don't let you explain what the disabilty is. For all they know I answered yes and my disability is I am just a head with no body. Kinda hard to push a stretcher or do interventions they way. A lot of good people may be missing out on a great career from this 1 question.

[Arctickat]

Did you contat the HR department for that company and tell them what you just told us?

[zippyRN]

I would suspect that the question is in fact aiming for ADA compliance , it doesn;t ask for further details becasue they would be got when you completed your occupational health screening form / had a pre employment medical with an Occ health RN / Doc