ADA Restoration Bill Passed

Posted on June 26, 2008 by Christopher McKinney
The New York Times is reporting that the U.S. House has passed a major civil rights bill on Wednesday that would expand protections for people with disabilities and overturn several Supreme Court decisions issued in the last decade.  We previously addressed this bill here. 

The bill, which was approved 402 to 17, would make it easier for workers to prove discrimination. It would explicitly relax some stringent standards set by the court and says that disability is to be “construed broadly,” to cover more physical and mental impairments.

Perhaps the most important change contained in the bill is a fundamental change in what by definition would qualify as a protected disability.  Under the bill,  a less stringent standard, that an impairment qualifies as a disability if it “materially restricts” a major life activity like seeing, hearing, eating, walking, reading or thinking would replace the existing strict standard.

Tags: , ,

Disability Advocates Working with Business Leaders to Achieve Compromise on ADA Restoration Act

Posted on June 19, 2008 by Christopher McKinney

House Leaders are working on H.R. 3195, the ADA Restoration Act, a bill that had prompted a lot of concern with the business associations.

Disability activists and business representatives have come together to agree on language that helps clarify the Americans with Disabilities Act, protects and strengthens the protections for the disabled — covering people who should be covered – while seeking to avoid the more onerous and expensive rules that employers fear.

According to Shopfloor.org, a coalition of groups who have worked on the issue sent a letter to the Hill yesterday outlining the compromise. A copy of the letter is available here. Key provisions it cites.

  • Coverage under the ADA - The proposal clarifies that Congress intended the ADA’s coverage to be broad, to cover anyone who faces unfair discrimination because of a disability.
  • Definition of Disability - The proposal retains the requirement that an individual’s impairment substantially limits a major life activity in order to be considered a disability and an individual must demonstrate that he or she is qualified for the job. 
  • Protection for Mitigating Measures - The proposal would overturn several court decisions to provide that people with disabilities not lose their coverage under the ADA simply because their condition is treatable with medication or can be addressed with the help of assistive technology.
  • Regarded As - The proposal includes a “regarded as” prong as part of the definition of disability which covers situations where an employee is discriminated against because of his or her actual or perceived impairment.  Moreover, the proposal makes it clear that accommodations do not need to be made to someone who is disabled solely because he or she is “regarded as” disabled.

Hat Tip: NPR Morning Edition
Source: Shop Floor.org
Tags: ,