Preventing Disability Discrimination on the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Thirty-five years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. It was the first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities — ensuring everyone has equal access in various areas of public life, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, and state and local government services.

Specifically for employment, the ADA prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities. It also requires employers to provide a reasonable accommodation for a qualified applicant’s or employee’s known disability, unless it would impose undue hardship on the employer’s business, or unless the