The ADA is a law that was put in place to protect individuals with disabilities against discrimination, not provide them with privilege.  However, it can be tricky to exactly pinpoint what disability is, so the ADA provides us with a definition to bring some clarity to the subject.

 

Here is the text according to the law:

​

"The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities. The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability just as other civil rights laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The ADA guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to enjoy employment opportunities, purchase goods and services, and participate in state and local government programs.

​

The term “disability” means, with respect to an individual—

​

(A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual;

​

(B) a record of such an impairment; or

​

(C) being regarded as having such an impairment (as described in paragraph (3)).

​

(2) Major Life Activities

​

(A) In general

​

For purposes of paragraph (1), major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.

​

(B) Major bodily functions

​

For purposes of paragraph (1), a major life activity also includes the operation of a major bodily function, including but not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.

​

(3) Regarded as having such an impairment

​

For purposes of paragraph (1)(C):

​

(A) An individual meets the requirement of “being regarded as having such an impairment” if the individual establishes that he or she has been subjected to an action prohibited under this chapter because of an actual or perceived physical or mental impairment whether or not the impairment limits or is perceived to limit a major life activity.

​

(B) Paragraph (1)(C) shall not apply to impairments that are transitory and minor. A transitory impairment is an impairment with an actual or expected duration of 6 months or less."

​

​

To learn more about what protections you have under the ADA, visit the ADA's official website.