Question

According to NY State law, when is an individual considered disabled with HIV+ or AIDS?

a. When they are diagnosed with either one
b. When symptoms first appear
c. After a specific period of time
d. Only if symptoms become severe

Answer 1

In NY State, an individual with HIV+ or AIDS is considered disabled upon diagnosis, regardless of symptoms' presence or severity.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to New York State law, an individual is considered disabled with HIV+ or AIDS when they are diagnosed with either one. This encompasses the point of diagnosis, irrespective of whether symptoms are present or how severe they are. It is crucial to understand that HIV/AIDS is diagnosed based on blood tests and then staged based on the presence of signs and symptoms. When a person's CD4 T-cell count drops below 200 cells/μL or when certain opportunistic illnesses manifest, they are considered to have AIDS, which is the most advanced stage of HIV infection.

Over the course of the disease, an individual living with HIV progresses through distinct stages. In the final stage, known as AIDS, the immune system is severely compromised, making the individual susceptible to opportunistic infections and certain rare cancers that typically do not affect individuals with a healthy immune system. These conditions often become the immediate cause of death in those with AIDS.