Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a U.S. civil rights law that protects individuals with physical and mental disabilities. It ensures equal opportunities in areas such as employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. The ADA defines disability as an impairment that substantially limits major life activities.

In 2008, the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) was signed into law, clarifying and expanding upon the original ADA. The ADAAA aimed to counteract certain Supreme Court decisions that had narrowed the definition of disability. It emphasized that mitigating measures, like medication, should not be considered when determining if someone has a disability, though corrective eyewear was an exception. The amendment also broadened the definition of "major life activity" to include fundamental functions like eating, sleeping, seeing, and learning.1