The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

1464 Words3 Pages

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is one of the most significant laws in American History. Before the ADA was passed, employers were able to deny employment to a disabled worker, simply because he or she was disabled. With no other reason other than the person's physical disability, they were turned away or released from a job. The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The act guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications. The ADA not only opened the door for millions of Americans to get back into the workplace, it paved the road for new facilities in the workplace, new training programs, and created jobs designed for a disabled society (Frierson, 1990). This paper will discuss disabilities covered by the ADA, reasonable accommodations employers must take to accommodate individuals with disabilities, and the actions employers can take when considering applicants who have disabilities. Any company with 15 or more employees must be in full compliance with the ADA. The ADA, "prohibits private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment" (U.S. EEOC, 2007). This includes applicants for employment and existing employees. Individuals are considered to have a "disability" if they have a physical or m... ... middle of paper ... ...ed). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Frierson, J.G. (1990). ADA public accommodations section sets up long list of illegalities. (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990). Preventive Law Reporter, 9(4) 8(3), December, 1990. Preston, P.J. (2003-2006). Discrimination In The Workplace: Getting To Know Title VII. Think Avenue: Street Smarts for Growing Businesses. Retrieved February 17, 2008 from http://www.thinkavenue.com/articles/hr/article01.htm Sack, S.M. (1999). Getting Fired. New York, NY: Warner Books, Inc. U.S. Department of Justice, (2006). Americans with Disabilities Act. Retrieved February 18, 2008, from ADA Homepage Web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/q%26aeng02.htm U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2007). Facts About the Americans with Disabilities Act. Retrieved February 18, 2008 from http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-ada.html

Open Document