I was recently applying to be part of a focus group. When I was given the screener, they asked whether or not I ever had any interest in joining the armed forces (they were looking for people who were interested in the armed forces). I told them yes, but I would not be allowed to join the navy because I have schizoaffective disorder. They told me that they were unsure whether or not I could be part of the focus group and that they would get back to me. They never did.
Is this discrimination? Should I be talking to a lawyer? I don't think they're allowed to stop screening me because of a mental disability?
Hello Michael,
On the face of it I don't think it's necessarily discrimination.
People with mental illnesses are unable to join the U.S. armed forces and any of our various military divisions. It's like being ruled out of the draft in Vietnam because you have a physical disability like flat feet.
So I wouldn't take it personally.
They may have wanted to see about how they could tailor advertisements to target people to get them interested in joining the military.
This of course is all an interpretation on my part. You could have asked them why they were doing the focus group, and asked whether the fact that you couldn't join the military would be a disadvantage to them if they were choosing focus group members.
Maybe you could call them up and ask those questions now.
I think they may have been interested in only choosing people who could legally join the armed forces. That is the distinction that comes to my mind and it doesn't seem like discrimination to me.
Regards,
Christina