What is a Disability Under Federal Law?

Dallas, United States, 06/15/2014 / SubmitMyPR /

Many Americans wonder what is considered a “disability” under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Under this federal employment law, an employee is considered “disabled” if:

• The employee has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities;
• The employee has a record of a physical or mental impairment that substantially limited a major life activity; or
• The employee’s employer perceives that the employee has an impairment that is not both transitory and minor.

A “physical or mental impairment” may be any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more body systems. The term covers a mental or psychological disorder, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities. The term includes impairments that are episodic or in remission if those impairments would substantially limit a major life activity when active. Examples of major life activities include: caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, sitting, lifting, breathing, learning, communicating, and working.

To discuss a disability discrimination matter with an employment law attorney, contact an employment lawyer in your area. This article is presented by the Dallas employment lawyers at Clouse Dunn LLP. For inquiries, send an email to [email protected] or call (214) 239-2705.