Your Legal Rights

Laws are subject to continuous modifications as well as state enforcement variations.  Before engaging in legal action, we recommend that you check with an advocate or lawyer.

Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a civil rights law to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities. 

What does this law say?

1. Your employer is not allowed to discriminate against you because you have a disability.   “Discriminate” means that your employer treats you unfairly because you have a disability.  It is against the law to discriminate against someone because they have a disability. 

2. Your employer is required to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities.  A “reasonable accommodation” is one that the employer can provide without significant difficulty or expense.  

To what areas does ADA apply?

ADA applies to schools, workplaces, and state and local government.  ADA applies to both public and private programs and activities.  That means, even though you may work for a private company, they still must follow the law and are not allowed to discriminate against you. 

What is the purpose of ADA?

The purpose of ADA is to provide equal protection, or equal opportunity, to those with disabilities as compared to those without a disability.   Equal employment opportunity means that everyone should be treated the same, or equally, during the hiring process and on the job.  You should not be treated differently because of your race, gender, religion, native origin, age, or if you have a disability. 

For more information about the American Disabilities Act (ADA), please visit these sites: www.ada.gov www.eeoc.gov

How does the law define disability?

In order to be protected by ADA, you must have a disability as defined by the law.   ADA defines a disability as a physical or mental condition that significantly limits a major life activity (for example, walking, talking, seeing, hearing, or learning) OR a history of a disability (for example, cancer that is in remission). 

Someone with an established diagnosis of autism would qualify for having a disability under ADA.  Autism could significantly limit one’s communication or learning, for example.

The Americans with Disabilities Act The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):  A civil rights law to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities.  Disability:   According to ADA, it is a documented physical or mental condition that significantly limits a major life activity. Discriminate:  To treat someone unfairly because they have a disability. Accommodations: Accommodations are strategies that help you do your job to the best of your ability.  Reasonable accommodations:  According to ADA, an accommodation is reasonable if the employer can provide it without significant difficulty or expense. Equal employment opportunity:  Everyone should be treated the same, or equally, during the hiring process and on the job.  No one should be treated differently because of their race, gender, religion, native origin, age, or disability.