Definitions:
In order for a determination to be made that a person is covered under the ADA an individual must meet one of the following definitions:
Have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities;
have a record of such an impairment; or
be regarded as having such an impairment.
A determination that a person is disabled in other contexts, short-term or veterans’ disability for example, will not necessarily mean that a person is covered under the ADA.
Major life activities include, but are not limited to caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.
An impairment is substantially limiting if it prohibits or significantly restricts an individual's ability to perform a major life activity as compared to the ability of the average person in the general population to perform the same activity. An impairment substantially limits an individual's ability to work if it prevents or significantly restricts the individual from performing a class of jobs or a broad range of jobs in various classes not just the job the employee is currently doing.If a person is determined to be covered under the ADA (See Employment or Educational Programs/Activities for process) the University must provide reasonable accommodation to the individual to permit them to perform the essential functions of the job or access educational programs/activities.The determination of whether an accommodation is reasonable is made on a case by case basis and may vary among individuals with the same impairment.