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.
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Federal Documents > Regulations > 24 CFR Part 100—Discriminatory Conduct Under the Fair Housing Act (with amendments issued through Sept. 2016)
§100.305(e)(4)
(4) There are units occupied by persons who are necessary to provide a reasonable accommodation to disabled residents as required by §100.204 and who are under the age of 55....
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Federal Documents > Technical Assistance > Withdrawn Technical Assistance: COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SERVICE ANIMALS IN PLACES OF BUSINESS
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SERVICE ANIMALS IN PLACES OF BUSINESS
Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SERVICE ANIMALS IN PLACES OF BUSINESS...
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Federal Documents > Regulations > 36 CFR Part 1193 Telecommunications Act (Section 255) Accessibility Guidelines
Peripheral devices
connection with telecommunications equipment or customer premises equipment to translate, enhance, or otherwise transform telecommunications into a form accessible to individuals with disabilities...
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Federal Documents > Regulations > 28 CFR Part 35 Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in State and Local Government Services (2010 ADA Title II Regulations with amendments issued through Aug. 2016)
§ 35.130(e)(2)
(2) Nothing in the Act or this part authorizes the representative or guardian of an individual with a disability to decline food, water, medical treatment, or medical services for that individual...
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Federal Documents > Regulations > 28 CFR Part 35 Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in State and Local Government Services (2010 ADA Title II Regulations with amendments issued through Aug. 2016)
§ 35.152(b)(2)(iv)
(iv) Shall not deprive inmates or detainees with disabilities of visitation with family members by placing them in distant facilities where they would not otherwise be housed....
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State and Local Documents > Codes and Standards > 2016 California Standards for Accessible Design Pocket Guide - Eff. Jan. 1, 2017
ACCESSIBLE
[DSA-AC & HCD 1-AC] A site, building, facility, or portion thereof that is approachable and usable by persons with disabilities in compliance with this code....
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State and Local Documents > Codes and Standards > 2019 California Standards
ACCESSIBLE
[DSA-AC & HCD 1-AC] A site, building, facility, or portion thereof that is approachable and usable by persons with disabilities in compliance with this code....
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Federal Documents > Regulations > 28 CFR Part 36 Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations - Movie Theaters; Movie Captioning and Audio Description Final Rule
A. Purpose of the Rule
Public accommodations that own, lease, or operate movie theaters have an existing obligation to provide effective communication to persons with disabilities through the use of auxiliary...
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Federal Documents > Regulations > 28 CFR Part 36 Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations and in Commercial Facilities (2010 ADA Title III Regulations with amendments issued through Dec. 2016)
Two-tiered definitional approach. (Section-by-Section Analysis)
Nearly every disability advocacy group said that the Department's two-tiered approach strikes the proper balance between ensuring access for individuals with disabilities and addressing...
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Products and Additional Resources > Products
Garaventa Evacu-Trac CD7 Evacuation Chair
During an emergency even most elevators are disabled (for safety reasons)....
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Federal Documents > Standards > 2010 ADA Standards
Alterations: ADA Standard Section 223.1.1
Section 223.1.1 ADA Standards for alterations to medical care and long-term care facilities.
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State and Local Documents > Codes and Standards > 2022 California Standards
11B-408.1 General
DSA regulates the usability of elevators and platform (wheelchair) lifts for persons with disabilities....
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State and Local Documents > Codes and Standards > 2025 California Standards
11B-408.1 General
DSA regulates the usability of elevators and platform (wheelchair) lifts for persons with disabilities....
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State and Local Documents > Codes and Standards > 2025 California Standards
11B-214.3 Clothes dryers
clothes dryers are provided in individual dwelling units, front loading accessible washing machines and clothes dryers may be required as a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities...
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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)
Enplaning, Deplaning, and Connecting Assistance
It also proposed requiring carriers to make a general announcement in the gate area offering preboarding to passengers with disabilities....
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Federal Documents > Standards > 2010 ADA Standards
Prescription Drug Container Labels: ADA Standard Section 10.
Review the updated information on the revisions to the ADA Standards regarding prescription drug container labels.
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State and Local Documents > Codes and Standards > 2022 California Standards
COMMERCIAL FACILITIES
intercity passenger rail cars (including coaches, dining cars, sleeping cars, lounge cars and food service cars), any other railroad cars described in Section 242 of the Americans With Disabilities...
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State and Local Documents > Codes and Standards > 2025 California Standards
COMMERCIAL FACILITIES
intercity passenger rail cars (including coaches, dining cars, sleeping cars, lounge cars and food service cars), any other railroad cars described in Section 242 of the Americans With Disabilities...
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State and Local Documents > Codes and Standards > 2025 California Standards
11B-207.1 General
In an emergency situation much time can be wasted if persons with disabilities must travel the full distance to the inaccessible exit door before there is a sign posted indicating that the...
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State and Local Documents > Codes and Standards > 2025 California Standards
1.1.2 Purpose
establish the minimum requirements to safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare through structural strength, means of egress facilities, stability, access to persons with disabilities...
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Rulemaking Process Documents > NPRMS > 36 CFR Part 1194 - Proposed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Standards and Guidelines NPRM - Preamble
A. Existing 508 Standards and 255 Guidelines (1998-2000)
The existing 508 Standards require federal agencies to ensure that persons with disabilities—namely, federal employees with disabilities and members of the public with disabilities—have...
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State and Local Documents > Codes and Standards > 2013 California Standards for Accessible Design Pocket Guide
11B-203.9 Employee workstations
Spaces and elements within employee work areas shall only be required to comply with 206.2.8, 207.1, and 215.3 and shall be designed and constructed so that individuals with disabilities...
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Federal Documents > Technical Assistance > Title I Technical Assistance Manual
3. Modified Work Schedules
Many people with disabilities are fully qualified to perform jobs with the accommodation of a modified work schedule....
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Additional Access Publications > 5 “G’s” Getting Access to Health Care for People with Physical Disabilities
1. Getting Started
These additional access barriers to health care faced by people with physical disabilities are the focus of this paper....