On July 26, 1990, President George Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which bars discrimination against the disabled in both the public and private sector. The ADA prohibits discrimination against the disabled in the areas of employment, public services (including transportation), public accommodations and service operated by private entities, and telecommunications.
The nondiscrimination provisions of the ADA extend to virtually all employment-related decisions: recruitment, application procedures, hiring, promotions, compensation, job assignment, leaves of absence, fringe benefits, training opportunities, employer-sponsored social and recreational programs, layoffs, and termination.
The ADA requires that employment decisions must be based on individualized determinations and not on "generalizations, misperceptions, or irrational fears."
The term "disability" includes:
NOTE: The term disability includes drug addiction and alcoholism, but the Act specifies that an employee or applicant who is a current drug abuser is not protected by the law.
Among the requirements of the ADA:
Contact the Benefits Office at 918-357-6194 for additional information.