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Los Angeles Lawyer October 2008 - Gray Plant Mooty

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the ADA 17 so long as they meet the definition<br />

of disability (a physical or mental impairment<br />

that limits one or more of the major life<br />

activities). If a person has a mental health<br />

impairment that affects a major life activity,<br />

he or she is entitled to protection under the<br />

ADA. Even if a person’s mental health issue<br />

is not protected under the ADA, the condition<br />

may nonetheless influence the quality of representation.<br />

If a client discloses a mental health disability,<br />

he or she may be trying to convey a<br />

need. It is important to follow up by asking<br />

whether the client needs an accommodation.<br />

For example, if an individual has a mental<br />

health disability that causes severe emotional<br />

responses, the attorney should spend extra<br />

time discussing the emotional aspects of representation<br />

or litigation.<br />

Overall, when representing a client with<br />

a disability, the key to effective representation<br />

is communication. Knowing how the disability<br />

can affect the representation will help<br />

build trust and rapport. It is as simple as<br />

professionally asking an individual with a<br />

disability to illustrate appropriate accommodations.<br />

In addition, it can be helpful to<br />

be in the practice of using person-first language.<br />

Proactive steps like calling ahead or<br />

ensuring that there are no barriers to physical<br />

access can ensure that an individual with<br />

a disability is comfortable.<br />

Know that some disabilities, such as learning<br />

and mental health, can be invisible but<br />

nevertheless influence representation.<br />

Although accommodations may not be<br />

required under the ADA, accommodations<br />

may nonetheless be necessary to foster a successful<br />

attorney-client relationship. An individual<br />

with a disability should receive the<br />

same quality of representation as an individual<br />

without one.<br />

■<br />

1 The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42<br />

U.S.C. §§12101 et seq.<br />

2 See, e.g., http://www.disabilityisnatural.com and<br />

http://www.csun.edu/~ffrc/person1st.html.<br />

3 28 C.F.R. §36.301(c).<br />

4<br />

42 U.S.C. §§12101 et seq.<br />

5 42 U.S.C. §12181(7)(F).<br />

6<br />

42 U.S.C. §12182.<br />

7 42 U.S.C. §12183.<br />

8<br />

A lease may contain an express agreement regarding<br />

the parties’ responsibility for ADA compliance. See<br />

Botosan v. Fitzhugh, 13 F. Supp. 2d 1047, 1053-55<br />

(S.D. Cal. 1998) for a discussion of landlord-tenant<br />

responsibility.<br />

9 42 U.S.C. §12181(9).<br />

10<br />

Id.<br />

11 28 C.F.R. §36.3059(a)(3).<br />

12<br />

See CAL. RULES OF PROF’L CONDUCT R. 3-110 (duty<br />

to act competently).<br />

13<br />

See ADA Business Brief: Service Animals, at<br />

http://www.ada.gov/svcanimb.htm.<br />

14<br />

28 C.F.R. §35.160.<br />

15 CAL. RULES OF PROF’L CONDUCT R. 3-110.<br />

16<br />

47 U.S.C. §225(b).<br />

17<br />

42 U.S.C. §12102(2)(A).<br />

<strong>Los</strong> <strong>Angeles</strong> <strong>Lawyer</strong> <strong>October</strong> <strong>2008</strong> 13

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