§12102 Definition of Disability

Summary

Decides who counts as having a disability for this chapter. A person is covered if they have a physical or mental condition that greatly limits one or more important daily activities, if they have a record of such a condition, or if others treat them as having such a condition. Important daily activities include things like caring for yourself, seeing, hearing, walking, learning, thinking, working, and other bodily functions such as immune, digestive, brain, respiratory, and reproductive functions. Being "treated as" disabled covers people who face forbidden actions because someone thought they had an impairment, even if it did not actually limit them, except for short, minor problems that last six months or less. The definition must be read broadly and the phrase "substantially limits" follows the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. A condition that only affects one activity counts. Conditions that come and go or are in remission count if they would limit activity when active. When deciding if a limit is substantial, ignore helpful treatments or devices (like medication, prosthetics, hearing aids, mobility gear, therapy, or accommodations), except regular eyeglasses or contact lenses are counted. Ordinary eyeglasses or contacts mean lenses that fully correct vision; low-vision devices are tools that magnify or enhance images.