Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
What Is the ADA?
This includes the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which only prohibited disability discrimination in places that received federal funding.
Jointly, these recommendations were the basis for the initial draft of the ADA to Congress in 1988.
However, people who are currently using drugs illegally are not covered.
It applies to private, non-profit, and governmental employers with at least 15 employees.
An employer does not have to provide reasonable accommodations unless it’s requested.
The exception is if any modifications to them would fundamentally change programs or services.
A complaint can be filed against:
What Qualifies As Discrimination?
Most offer several ways to file them including online, by phone, and through the mail.
Possible next steps may include mediation or an investigation, which may result in a lawsuit or settlement.
The law prohibits discrimination in employment, transportation, telecommunications, commercial spaces, and state and local government.
It also includes accessibility design standards for new buildings and modifications to existing structures.
Those who experience discrimination based on disability can file a complaint to take action and seek a remedy.
With which federal agency you file the complaint will depend on the nature of the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
No.
Employers can’t ask if you have a disability, what it is, or its severity.
The ADA does not outline all applicable disabilities.
People who currently use drugs illegally are not covered under the ADA.
The ADA ensures equal opportunity employment for people with disabilities.
It prohibits disability discrimination in employment but doesn’t ensure job security.
You must be qualified for the job and able to perform its essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations.
you might qualify if you have a documented disability.
U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.Guide to disability rights laws.
U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.ADA history-in their own words: part one.
U.S. Department of Labor.Family and Medical Leave Act.
Equal Opportunity Employment Commission.Notice concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act of 2008.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.Fact sheet: disability discrimination.
U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.File a complaint.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.Disability discrimination.
American Civil Liberties Union.Know your rights disability rights.
Equal Opportunity Employment Commission.Your employment rights as an individual with a disability.
