Quick Guide to the ADA for Employers


The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990 and amended in 2008 (ADA Amendment Act) to expand and clarify the definition of disability. The intent of the law is to protect people with disabilities from discrimination and eliminate barriers to participating fully in American life. The law is very broad covering activities of private businesses, state and local government and employment.


Employment Practices Covered under Title I

Title I of the ADA contains the regulations that pertain to employment. It covers employers who have 15 or more employees (both full and part-time). Title I protects individuals with disabilities from employment discrimination if they are qualified for the position and can do the "essential functions" (fundamental duties) of the job, whether or not they need to use a reasonable accommodation. For instance, if a person with a disability applies for a position that requires a college degree and does not have one, that individual cannot claim discrimination on the basis of disability.

These regulations cover all aspects of employment including:

Recruiting and Hiring Termination
Pay Job Assignments
Promotion Layoff
Training Fringe Benefits

Employers' Responsibilities

  • Ensure that applicants and employees are free from harassment because of a disability. Harassment is illegal when it creates a hostile or offensive work environment.
  • Make sure job postings, recruitment efforts, applications and interviews are accessible to people with disabilities. Website postings should be accessible. Provide reasonable accommodations such as interpreters, large print or an accessible interview space when needed.
  • Do not make hiring decisions based upon a person's disability or try to identify which applicants may have a disability. To ensure this doesn't happen, the ADA requires employers to avoid questions that could reveal a disability or questions that focus on disability rather than the ability to do the job.
  • Supervision, evaluation, job assignments and promotions should be based upon job performance only. Avoid decisions based upon assumptions about the individuals ability to do a job or possible problems due to a disability.
  • Medical exams should only be required post job offer, and only if the exam is required of all prospective employees.
  • Keep medical information confidential and separate from personnel files.
  • Provide "reasonable accommodations" that an employee with a disability may need to do their job.

  • Employers are not Required to:

  • Hire or promote an employee who doesn't have the qualifications required for the position. (E.g., experience, degree, and/or specific skills)
  • Provide accommodations that would be an undue financial hardship or administrative burden to your business.
  • Lower performance and production standards for essential job functions.
  • Take any actions that would pose a direct threat or safety hazard to other employees or customers.
  • Lower conduct standards. (Example: requiring a drug and alcohol free workplace.)
  • Reasonable Accommodation


    Reasonable accommodation is a major requirement of the ADA that allows many people with disabilities to work successfully, when they might not be able to otherwise. An accommodation is simply a change or modification in the way a job is usually performed. Accommodations may be anything from a change in the work schedule, a raised or lowered work station, or a screen magnifier on a computer. The ADA only requires employers to provide accommodations that are reasonable for their specific workplace. That means accommodations that would pose an "undue hardship" (very costly) or an "administrative burden" (e.g., change the nature of the workplace/job or require excessive supervision). Since every job and workplace is different, deciding whether or not an accommodation is reasonable is made on a case by case basis. For instance, it may not be reasonable to have a flexible work schedule if a job involves making sure a business is open at a specific time every day. However, other jobs (such as data entry) may allow for a flexible schedule as long as the work is completed.

    Job applicants may also request accommodations and should receive them if they are reasonable. Example: An individual who is deaf may request an interpreter for a job interview.


    Definition of a Disability: Who is Covered


    A person is considered disabled if he or she has a physical or mental condition that substantially limits a major life activity or major bodily function with or without “mitigating measures”.

    Major life activities include, but are not limited to; seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.

    Major bodily functions
     include, but are not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions. Cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson’s Disease are examples of conditions that covered under the ADA because they are the result of an impairment in a major bodily function.

    Mitigating measures refers to what individuals with disabilities use to eliminate or reduce the impact of a disability. This can include medications, hearing aides, mobility devices such as wheelchairs, therapy, etc. Often people with disabilities don't need accommodations on the job because of the use of a "mitigating measure". However, they are still considered to have a disability and protected from discrimination by the ADA. For example, a person who has diabetes may have her condition fully under control with the use of insulin, but she is still considered to have a disability and protected from discrimination.

    Employees and applicants are also protected by the ADA if they have a history of a disability or are “regarded” as a person with a disability. Example: an employee who had cancer in the past, but is now in remission would be protected from discrimination; or a job applicant with facial scars may not actually have a disability, but would be protected by the ADA if treated as if he or she had a disability.

    CEC Fact Sheets

    Job Coaches
    Interviews and Applications
    ADA & Employers: Myths & Facts
    Hiring Process Checklist

    Agencies & Organizations

    Abilities for Business
    (Columbia based resource)
    Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
    ADA National Network
    Section 503 Resources for Federal Contractors!
    Business Leadership Network

    Links

    Employers & ADA Survey
    Disability Etiquitte in the Workplace
    Job Analysis How To's
    Leading Practices on Disability Inclusion
    Employing People with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
    Youth in Transition & Employment Brochure.pdf
    Improving Lives Through Supports & Services that Foster Sef-Determination