Justice cannot be blind to invisible disabilities — especially for our veterans

On Veterans Day, we honor those who served — and too often forget the invisible wounds they carry home. Nearly 30% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to Mission Roll Call. Yet when they enter our courtrooms seeking accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), many face a new kind of battle: judges who deny the very rights they fought to protect.

When Congress passed the ADA in 1990, it promised equal access to public life, including the courtroom. Thirty-five years later, that promise is breaking down — especially in Maryland, where judges still decide who is and isn’t “disabled,” often without medical evidence.

When judges play doctor

The ADA is clear: Determining disability is a medical question, not a judici