Hey everyone! I hope you're all doing well. I wanted to reach out because I've been thinking about something that’s been on my mind for a while. ADA law, in my area, isn't being as enforced as effectively as it could be, and I could really use some guidance on how to address a situation I've experienced.
My former employer treated me atrociously, which led to some real psychological damage for me, and I'm hesitant to even mention their name or share my story on social media for fear of retaliation. I’ve already spent $4,000 on legal services from the only law office that would talk to me, but unfortunately, I can’t seem to get them on the phone.
If anyone has advice on who to contact for help or knows of someone who could offer legal advocacy, I would be incredibly grateful for your support. Thank you so much!
Written by
ChaosDad
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Thank you for sharing your experience—it takes a lot of courage to speak up about something challenging. You’ve clearly been navigating a difficult situation, and I’m sorry to hear about the lack of support you've received thus far. While I’m not a legal professional, there are some resources that might be helpful to you.
The American Bar Association (ABA) has a state-by-state directory that could connect you with disability rights legal experts in your area: americanbar.org/groups/dive.... Additionally, the American Bar Association abafreelegalanswers.org/ offers pro bono virtual legal advice for those who qualify, which might provide some clarity on your next steps. You might also find support through the Special Needs Alliance specialneedsalliance.org/, a network of attorneys who specialize in disability law and advocacy.
I hope these resources can help you find the guidance and support you need. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything else I can do to assist.
from experience- unless u r fired based on a protected status( age, gender, lgbt, etc etc)) or physically hurt due to an OSHA or safety violation- there is not much recourse an employee can take besides quitting. most states are “ right to work” which means outside of the two scenarios the employer can essentially terminate you as they see fit- and you can quit if u dont like working there😭
psychological damage is almost impossible to prove…. for the obvious reasons…
thats why unions are so impt.
this is the legal advice i received bout 6 yrs ago when i was fired from a very large company.
I have documented emails, case numbers, proof of blatant discrimination and gaslighting. I reported my concerns to HR and Ethics, only to have them dismissed, downplayed, or twisted. I was told one thing by management, only to have them later deny it publicly and label me as "not as advertised" or "playing the victim."
I wasn’t allowed to assign my own tickets—this was supposed to be my manager's responsibility, yet it was handed off to someone else. That person hoarded the easy tasks, padded their productivity numbers, and left me with nothing. I was stuck in an endless cycle of waiting, refreshing a queue over and over to plead to be assigned more than one or two tickets per day so I could have a hope of meeting productivity numbers. Hours would pass as I begged for something—anything—to do.
When I tried to address my lack of access to essential systems and programs, I was met with absurd responses like, "Lack of access isn’t a valid excuse for lack of productivity." I was forced to break down code and run scripts manually—tasks far beyond my training or job role just to attempt the job I was hired to do. When I finally succeeded in fixing my access, my efforts were dismissed claiming I wasn't authorized for "projects," and I was ordered to delete all my notes to "increase my productivity." I've saved that company millions of dollars that I never saw any credit for, created documentation for training and security, developed a following as the only person on that team who cared about anyone, only to be ostracized into oblivion.
The weight of being sidelined, ignored, and gaslit was suffocating. I wasn't given opportunities for training, collaboration, or growth. I was kept isolated, watching others succeed while I was set up to fail.
The effects didn’t stop outside of the office. My annual review, filled with baseless criticisms, was somehow leaked to potential employers, making it impossible to find another job. Recruiters lied about our conversations, and every door I knocked on was slammed shut.
The fallout was catastrophic. My children went hungry because we couldn’t afford food. Medical benefits vanished. My case with the EEOC was dismissed on a technicality just days before I was written up in retaliation for even contacting them. When I tried to tell the EEOC about the retaliation I was told to make another claim and wait another year. Where that case was written off as well. Now I'm spending $4000 on a lawyers gambling token to pull the lever on the slot machine called justice all due to the corruption of the systems that are in place to stop things like this.
The deepest wound came from a memory I once cherished. As a child, I met the founder of this company. He put his hat on my head and said there’d always be a place for me when I grew up. I carried that moment with me like a guiding light—only to realize, decades later, that it was just another empty promise.
No matter how hard I tried, no matter how much I gave of myself, I was always treated like an outsider. Like I didn’t belong. Like I didn’t matter.
The loneliness of that realization was beyond unbearable. I’ve clung desperately to values that no one around me seemed to share. I’ve fought with every fiber of my being to be treated as an equal, to be seen, to be respected. to share in the rights I swore to uphold. And yet, I was met with silence, indifference, and cruelty at every turn.
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55 and struggling
Just a little pick me up
Trouble finding a prescriber
New here - diagnosed at 46 and looking for people like me to speak with
Regarding my Symptoms and Solutions
