Practical Law Glossary Item 7-501-9331 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
A federal law that prohibits employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against qualified individuals based on disability (42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 to 12213). The ADA was amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 and specifically prohibits discrimination based on disability in:
Application procedures.
Hiring.
Termination of employment.
Compensation.
Job training.
Other terms and conditions of employment.
The ADA is also the primary federal law governing:
Reasonable accommodations of disabilities in the workplace.
Pre-employment examinations.
The ADA is enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The ADA applies to private, state government, and local government employers with 15 or more employees.