Q. “What Actually Qualifies as a Disability?”

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Answer:

The ADA prohibits private employers (including churches and ministries) from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, etc.


So What Is a Disability?

According to the ADA, an individual with a disability is a person who:

  • Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities;

  • Has a record of such an impairment; or

  • Is regarded as having such an impairment.


Major life activities include:

  • Caring for oneself

  • Performing manual tasks

  • Seeing or hearing

  • Eating

  • Sleeping

  • Walking or standing

  • Lifting or bending

  • Reading

  • Concentrating or thinking

  • Speaking or communicating

  • Working


What Should You Do?

If an employee requests an accommodation, you should begin the interactive process. This is where you and the employee determine what, if anything, can be done to accommodate them so that the essential functions of the job get done to your standards and the employee is able to continue to work. As part of this conversation, you may request a doctor's note to substantiate the disability.

 

Still Confused?