The Connecticut Paid Leave Administration said disabled workers with serious health conditions and their caregivers will be given paid leave.
HARTFORD, Conn. — July marks the 34th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which bans discrimination on the basis of disability.
In an announcement this week, the Connecticut Paid Leave Administration reminded Connecticut residents that workers with disabilities that are deemed to have serious health conditions and their caregivers are provided paid leave.
According to the CT Paid Leave Administration, paid leave can be taken as continuous leave for a specific period of time, intermittent leave, or on a compressed schedule.
“Connecticut’s paid leave program provides workers with needed income when they need time off to care for themselves or a loved one, including people with disabilities,” Erin Choquette, CEO of the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority, said in the release.
Choquette added that workers with disabilities may be more likely to consider employment opportunities if they have the safety net of paid leave.
“Caregivers are also more likely to look for work if they are insured when they take time off to care for a loved one,” Choquette said.
One in four Connecticut adults has a disability, or more than 671,000 people, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study cited by the Connecticut Paid Leave Administration.
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“Connecticut adults with disabilities experience health disparities and are more likely to suffer from depression, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease,” the release reads. “CDC estimates that disability care costs in the state are approximately $12.5 billion, or up to 37 percent of the state’s health care costs.”
Harc, Inc. provides lifelong support to individuals with intellectual and related disabilities and their families to help them live quality, inclusive and dignified lives. In its announcement, the Connecticut Paid Leave Administration quoted Russell Coleman, president and CEO of Harc, Inc., who said the ADA is groundbreaking legislation for the disability community.
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“Connecticut’s paid leave policy is a necessary addition to the protections and benefits provided by law,” Coleman said in the release. “Individuals with physical, mental and developmental disabilities have much to offer their employers and the workplace, and they derive great benefits from interacting with coworkers and customers.”
Coleman added that paid time off would allow these workers to enjoy the benefits of being an active participant in the workforce without worrying about losing income to get a doctor’s appointment or procedure.
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According to the announcement, workers must first create an account on CT.gov and apply for CT paid leave benefits online, which allows applicants to have a single identity and is expected to take about 10 minutes.
Applicants can submit a claim online or by phone by dialing 877-499-8606 and will be spoken to by a live human resource available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer for FOX61 News. He can be reached at [email protected].
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