2010 ADA Definition
Disability: Disability means, with respect to an individual, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment.
(1) The phrase physical or mental impairment means – (i) Any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genitourinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine; (ii) Any mental or psychological disorder such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities; (iii) The phrase physical or mental impairment includes, but is not limited to, such contagious and noncontagious diseases and conditions as orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental retardation, emotional illness, specific learning disabilities, HIV disease (whether symptomatic or asymptomatic), tuberculosis, drug addiction, and alcoholism; (iv) The phrase physical or mental impairment does not include homosexuality or bisexuality.
(2) The phrase major life activities means functions such as caring for one´s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.
(3) The phrase has a record of such an impairment means has a history of, or has been misclassified as having, a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
(4) The phrase is regarded as having an impairment means – (i) Has a physical or mental impairment that does not substantially limit major life activities but that is treated by a private entity as constituting such a limitation; (ii) Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities only as a result of the attitudes of others toward such impairment; or (iii) Has none of the impairments defined in paragraph (1) of this definition but is treated by a private entity as having such an impairment.
(5) The term disability does not include – (i) Transvestism, transsexualism, pedophilia, exhibitionism, voyeurism, gender identity disorders not resulting from physical impairments, or other sexual behavior disorders; (ii) Compulsive gambling, kleptomania, or pyromania; or (iii) Psychoactive substance use disorders resulting from current illegal use of drugs.
-
Federal Documents > Preamble to Regulations > 49 CFR Parts 37 and 38 -- Transportation for Individuals With Disabilities at Intercity, Commuter, and High Speed Passenger Railroad Station Platforms; Miscellaneous Amendments, Preamble
Disability Law Coordinating Council (DLCC)
-
Webinars, Videos, and Training > Spirit of the ADA
Enable The Disabled | Kevin Brousard | TEDxColoradoSprings
Blind athlete Kevin Brousard addresses the social stigma surrounding disability, and the part that we all play in providing acceptance for every person....
-
Federal Documents > Preamble to Regulations > 14 CFR Part 382 Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel (Air Carrier Access Act): Preamble and Section-by-Section Analysis (with amendments issued through July 2010)
Qualified Individuals with Disabilities
Qualified Individuals with Disabilities6
6 See Glossary.
-
Additional Access Publications > Testimony of John L. Wodatch Before the Foreign Relations Committee Of the United States Senate
I. The Disabilities Convention and U.S. Disability Rights Law
The Disabilities Convention is modeled on the disability rights laws of the United States and adopts the successful and balanced approach of U.S. federal disability rights law dating back...
-
Federal Documents > Preamble to Regulations > 14 CFR Part 382 Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel (Air Carrier Access Act): Preamble and Section-by-Section Analysis (with amendments issued through July 2010)
382.117 Must carriers permit passengers with a disability to travel with service animals?
382.117 Must carriers permit passengers with a disability to travel with service animals?...
-
Federal Documents > Technical Assistance > Commonly Asked Questions About Child Care Centers and the Americans with Disabilities Act
16. Q: We do not normally diaper children of any age who are not toilet trained. Do we still have to help older children who need diapering or toileting assistance due to a disability?
Do we still have to help older children who need diapering or toileting assistance due to a disability?
A: It depends....
-
Additional Access Publications > Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide For People with Disabilities
Cognitive Disabilities
A cognitive disability prevents a person from using or accessing building features due to an inability to process or understand the information necessary to use those features....
-
State and Local Documents > Guidelines > Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails
What Terminology Should Be Used?
Although people who have disabilities refer to themselves in many different ways and numerous "buzz words" have been used to describe people with disabilities over the years, direction for...
-
Federal Documents > Preamble to Regulations > 14 CFR Part 382 Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel (Air Carrier Access Act): Preamble and Section-by-Section Analysis (with amendments issued through July 2010)
382.29 May a carrier require a passenger with a disability to travel with a safety assistant?
382.29 May a carrier require a passenger with a disability to travel with a safety assistant?...
-
Webinars, Videos, and Training > Spirit of the ADA
Love Story: Seeing Beyond the Disability! | Elizabeth Wampler & Stephen Wampler | TEDxCincinnati
Navigating the brave new world of disability, and the possibilities therein.
Elizabeth Wampler is married to Steve Wampler, and together they have two teenaged children....
-
Webinars, Videos, and Training > Spirit of the ADA
Able Privilege, Re-Conceptualizing Disability: Alan Larson at TEDxSFA
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video...
-
Federal Documents > Technical Assistance > Appendix to 29 CFR Part 1630—Interpretive Guidance on Title I of the Americans With Disabilities Act
Section 1630.5 Limiting, Segregating and Classifying
such a disability, or on a presumption about the abilities of an individual with such a disability....
-
Webinars, Videos, and Training > Spirit of the ADA
Promoting the status of women with disabilities | Bethany Hoppe | TEDxNashville
Hoppe is an author and speaker who advocates for the rights of women with disabilities through writing, speaking, performance, and educational outreach....
-
Rulemaking Process Documents > Other Documents > 28 CFR Parts 35 and 36 Amendment of ADA Title II and Title III Regulations To Implement ADA Amendments Act of 2008 - Final Rule
§ 35.101 Purpose and broad coverage
L. 110–325, 122 Stat. 3553 (2008)), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public entities.
(b) Broad coverage....
-
Webinars, Videos, and Training > Spirit of the ADA
Disability: more than meets the eye | Pam Relph | TEDxUniversityofBirmingham
Paralympic Champion Pamela Relph discusses the changing perceptions of people with disabilities and how that has been affectedly the media....
-
Webinars, Videos, and Training > Spirit of the ADA
Removing the Stigma of Disability | Adam Pearson | TEDxBrighton
Adam will share important lessons he has learned while carving out a career for himself in the public eye, whilst overcoming the stigma attached to his disfigurements.
Adam...
-
Federal Documents > Regulations > 14 CFR Part 382 Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel (Air Carrier Access Act) (with amendments issued through May 2016)
§382.93 Must carriers offer preboarding to passengers with a disability?
As a carrier, you must offer preboarding to passengers with a disability who self-identify at the gate as needing additional time or assistance to board, stow accessibility equipment, or...
-
State and Local Documents > Laws > Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 (with amendments issued through 2008)
12101(a)(2)
(2) historically, society has tended to isolate and segregate individuals with disabilities, and, despite some improvements, such forms of discrimination against individuals with disabilities...
-
Federal Documents > Technical Assistance > Examples and Resources to Support Criminal Justice Entities in Compliance with Title II of the ADA
Ensure that people with mental health disabilities or I/DD have an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the entities’ programs, services, and activities
Ensure that people with mental health disabilities or I/DD have an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the entities’ programs, services, and activities....
-
Federal Documents > Preamble to Regulations > 14 CFR Part 382 Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel (Air Carrier Access Act): Preamble and Section-by-Section Analysis (with amendments issued through July 2010)
382.33 May carriers impose other restrictions on passengers with a disability that they do not impose on other passengers?
382.33 May carriers impose other restrictions on passengers with a disability that they do not impose on other passengers?...
-
Federal Documents > Technical Assistance > Title I Technical Assistance Manual
12101(a)(2)
(2) historically, society has tended to isolate and segregate individuals with disabilities, and, despite some improvements, such forms of discrimination against individuals with disabilities...
-
Additional Access Publications > Emergency Evacuation Preparedness: Taking Responsibility For Your Safety A Guide For People with Disabilities and Other Activity Limitations
Emergency Evacuation Preparedness: Taking Responsibility For Your Safety A Guide For People with Disabilities and Other Activity Limitations
By June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant
© June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant, Playa del Rey, California and The Center for Disability Issues and the Health...
-
Federal Documents > Technical Assistance > Federal Aviation Administration Draft Advisory Circular 150/5360-14A, Access to Airports by Individuals with Disabilities
3.1 FAA Office of Civil Rights and the Airport Disability Compliance Program Staff.
This office may be contacted at:
Airport Disability Compliance Program (ADCP)
Office of Civil Rights
Federal Aviation Administration
2300 E....
-
State and Local Documents > Codes and Standards > Elimination of Architectural Barriers - TDLR Government Code, Chapter 469
Sec. 469.001(b)
(b) This chapter relates to nonambulatory and semiambulatory disabilities, sight disabilities, hearing disabilities, disabilities of coordination, and aging....