A Kansas State University Professor with ADHD Accuses the School of Discriminating Against Him

Sanjoy Das, an associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Kansas State University, has filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging he was discriminated against due to having attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a mental health condition.  Das specifically alleged in his complaint that he requested reasonable accommodations in the workplace under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but was denied.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on a disability and requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities.  ADHD is considered a disability that is covered under this act.  However, an employee is required to demonstrate that ADHD substantially impairs one or more major life activities in order for the request to be honored.

According to Das’ suit, a department lead granted at least one of his requests, which involved setting reminders for upcoming meetings.  ADHD often causes disorganized thoughts and forgetfulness.  However, this was done only occasionally, which made the accommodation unpredictable and unhelpful.  Das said he received a newly diagnosed anxiety disorder caused by unwarranted work-related stressors.

Read the source article at Legal News, Analysis, & Commentary