What Federal Law is Discrimination based on Disability?

Question

What Federal Law is Discrimination based on Disability?

Answer 1

FEDERAL LAW

The federal law is called the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). ADA is a wide-ranging civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities – similar to the protections given to women and minorities under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U. S. C. A. § 12101 et. seq. ). Title 1 of the ADA protects individuals with disabilities from employment discrimination (if they are able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation).

A person has a disability if he:

1. has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities;

2. has a record or history of such an impairment; or

3. is perceived or regarded as having such an impairment.



Title 1 of the ADA bars employment discrimination in the public and private sectors and in state and local governments.   It bans discrimination and requires reasonable accommodation in recruiting, hiring, employing, promoting, and training qualified workers with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation means any modification or adjustment to the work environment or circumstances under which a position is customarily performed, enabling a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of the position.