What Is the Disabilities Act of 1990?

The ADA requires reasonaable accommodations for the disabled.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 outlaws discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The ADA established civil rights protection for disabled Americans similar to the civil rights protections enjoyed by people of different races, sex, national origin and religion.

History

The history of the ADA began with court cases in the 1980s. Judges struggled to interpret "disability" in light of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibited federal employers and government contractors from discriminating against handicapped individuals who were otherwise qualified for the job. Employers in those cases were uncertain about what handicapped meant. The 1980s cases established that protection was available for individuals who had multiple sclerosis, diabetes, post-traumatic stress disorder, intellectual disabilities, epilepsy and HIV.

Application

In 1990, the ADA replaced the Rehabilitation Act. Among other provisions, the ADA extended the scope of authority to include private enterprise. However, the ADA does not apply to very small businesses. If a business employs fewer than 15 workers, it is not subject to the ADA.

2008 Amendments

Congress amended the ADA in 2008 to address the scope of the term "disability." Congress found that courts and some federal agencies had improperly narrowed what Congress intended to be the broad scope of the ADA.

References

• Georgetown University School of Law: Archive ADA
• US Department of Education: Office for Civil Rights, ADA
• The 110th Congress of the United States of America: ADA Amendments Act of 2008