Advocacy Agency Faces Discrimination Suit
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
August 15, 2006

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK--A program that advocates for the rights of people with disabilities is itself facing allegations that it discriminated against a former employee because of his disabilities.

According to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Thomas J. Wega filed a $2.5 million federal lawsuit last month against the Center for Disability Rights, an independent living center.

Wega, 57, worked for the center as director of human resources and training for about a year and half when he was fired in August 2004. He claims that the program discriminated against him by failing to accommodate a disability he experiences from a 1994 stroke.

He filed the suit after the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunities Commission adopted findings of the state Division of Human Rights, which found no discrimination.

Most of the employees at the center have disabilities, said executive director Bruce Darling.

Related:
"Federal suit: Agency for disabled discriminated" (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/06/red/0815f.htm

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Reproduced here under special arrangement with Inclusion Daily Express international disability rights news service.
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