The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act is a sweeping civil-rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination — and requires the world to be more accessible to them. It’s organized into “titles” covering different areas of life.

In employment (Title I), a covered employer cannot discriminate against a qualified worker because of a disability, and must provide reasonable accommodations — changes like modified schedules, assistive equipment, or adjusted duties — unless that would cause undue hardship. The duty runs both ways: you’re protected if you can do the essential functions of the job with or without accommodation.

Beyond work, the ADA requires public accommodations — businesses open to the public like stores, restaurants, and theaters — to be accessible, and it requires state and local government programs and services to be usable by people with disabilities.

The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 is an important update: Congress broadened the definition of “disability” after courts had read it too narrowly, making clear the focus should be on whether discrimination happened, not on hair-splitting over who qualifies.