The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 The purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is to provide equal access and opportunity for the more than forty-three million disabled Americans living in the United States. On July 26, 1990, President Bush signed into law the ADA. The world's first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities, this event was a historical benchmark and a milestone in America's commitment to full and equal opportunity for all citizens. The President's directive on that day was, "Let the shameful walls of exclusion finally come tumbling down" ( n.a. no author. gopher://trace.wisc.edu/00/ftp/PUB/TEXT/ADA_INFO/HANDBOOK/PREAMBLE .TXT). The ADA entitles disabled citizens to legal protection, equal opportunity, and access to all jobs. Who does the ADA protect? It protects any individual with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of a person, or a record of this impairment, or being regarded as having such impairment. The following are examples of individuals who qualify under the ADA: those who are blind, in a wheel chair, facially disfigured; however, the less apparent disabilities are hearing loss, mental illness, and Aids. In addition, successfully rehabilitated drug users or alcoholics are also protected (n.a. no author. gopher://trace.wisc.edu/00/ftp/PUB/TEXT/ADA_INFO/HANDBOOK/FREG1.TXT.). Since 1990, there has been a sweeping forbiddance of discrimination against qualified disabled individuals in hiring, promotions, termination, job application procedures, compensation, and job training, and other terms of employment. A disabled individual is qualified if he or she can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. An employer who refuses to make a reasonable accommodation, and thereby denies an employment opportunity to a qualified but disabled individual, is guilty of unlawful discrimination under the ADA (Wells 70-80).
