Americans with disabilities Act

Signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is considered one of the most "comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation" created. The bill was created to eliminate discrimination and guarantee individuals with disabilities the rights to participate in society and the American way of life, including the right to equal employment opportunities, to participate in government programs and services, and to buy goods and services.

Who is considered disabled under the ADA?

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act you will be considered disabled if you have a physical or mental condition which substantially limits one or more major life activities. More specifically, a physical impairment is a diagnosed medical condition which causes disfigurement or a condition which affects a body system including the following: neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitourinary, immune, circulatory, hemic, lymphatic, skin, or endocrine. A mental disorder can include a mental health condition such as PTSD, depression, or bi-polar disorder, or it can include mental retardation or other learning difficulties.

Under the AMA, public entities must provide services, programs and activities in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of the qualified individuals with disabilities, they must make reasonable accommodations to eliminate discrimination (unless "a modification would fundamentally alter the nature of their service, program or activity), they must have accessible buildings, and they must ensure effective communication with disabled participants (i.e. television captioning, readers or qualified interpreters).