ADA
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 ADA entitles disabled citizens to legal protection, equal opportunity, and access to all jobs. Who does the ADA protect? ... 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. ... 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). ... However, the ADA indicates that the removal or architectural barriers and other changes to make a workplace readily accessible fall under accommodation for the disabled. ... There is not a dollar amount defined by the ADA. How the ADA determines if expense was an undue hardship is by evaluating the overall financial resources of the facility, number of employees, the effect on expenses and resources, and the overall impact of such an accommodation upon the operation of the facility. ... Since 1990, there have been thousands of ADA lawsuits filed by American citizens. ... Most believe that the favorable verdicts awarded on frivolous lawsuits are due to the vagueness of the ADA. One way that employers and managers can protect and educate themselves is by staying abreast of current ADA case studies. The following is an example of a good ADA lawsuit verdict. ... This verdict represents the largest monetary relief awarded by a jury in a case brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).