Lawsuit Claims Amtrak Discriminated Against a Man With Epilepsy
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against Amtrak that claims the company discriminated against a potential employee with epilepsy, according to The Associated Press.
Latest estimates say 4.8 million people in the United States have had an epilepsy diagnosis, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. While epilepsy can certainly impact day-to-day life, people with epilepsy can hold jobs and have successful careers. It’s often discrimination, not the diagnosis, that gets in the way of people with epilepsy finding employment, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.
Other relevant stories:
• When Was Epilepsy Discovered
• Is Epilepsy Genetic
• Can You Join the Military with Epilepsy
Amtrak was allegedly on track to hire Shawn Moe as a journeyman machinist, but withdrew the job offer in 2013 after discovering Moe has epilepsy, according to The Hill. Moe had worked in a similar position with a locomotive company in the past. The EEOC says refusing to hire someone because of a disability doesn’t comply with the Americans Disability Act, according to The Associated Press.
Update: Amtrak sent the following statement to The Mighty.
We do not comment on pending litigation. However, Amtrak takes very seriously its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and does not discriminate against employees or applicants based on disability.
Margaret is excited to join The Mighty team for the summer as an editorial intern. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. A California native, Margaret loves going to the beach. She studied abroad in London for the spring semester and has caught the travel bug. In her free time, Margaret enjoys working out, baking and spending time with her family.
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