9.41 ELEMENTS OF CLAIM: DISPARATE TREATMENT (Perceived Disability) is a legal concept that refers to an employer treating an individual differently because of their perceived disability. This form of discrimination is illegal under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and may be grounds for a lawsuit. There are three types of disparate treatment claims: disparate impact, intentional discrimination, and failure to accommodate. Disparate impact claims involve an employer's policies or practices that appear to be neutral but have a disproportionately negative impact on individuals with disabilities. Intentional discrimination claims involve employers treating disabled individuals less favorably than non-disabled individuals with similar qualifications. Finally, failure to accommodate claims involve employers failing to provide reasonable accommodations for disabled individuals. In all three cases, the burden of proof lies with the claimant.