The ADA Amendments Act: P.L. 110-325 (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Revised Sept. 22, 2010 |
| Report Number |
RL34691 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Nancy Lee Jones, Legislative Attorney |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Premium Sept. 29, 2008 (11 pages, $24.95)
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Summary:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a broad civil rights act prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities. As stated in the act, its purpose is "to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities."
The threshold issue in any ADA case is whether the individual alleging discrimination is an individual with a disability. Several Supreme Court decisions, including those in Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc., 527 U.S. 471 (1999), and Toyota Motor Manufacturing v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184 (2004), have interpreted the definition of disability, generally limiting its application. Since these Supreme Court interpretations, lower court decisions also interpreted the definition of disability strictly. Congress responded to these decisions by enacting the ADA Amendments Act, P.L. 110-325, which rejects the Supreme Court and lower court interpretations and amends the ADA to provide broader coverage. On September 23, 2009, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued proposed regulations under the ADA Amendments Act.
