What is the definition of disability under the ADA?

The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) is a civil rights law passed in 1990 that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including employment, education, transportation, and access to public services. Under the ADA, an individual with a disability is defined as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of their major life activities; has a record of such an impairment; or is regarded as having such an impairment. The ADA also specifies that a disability must have a significant impact on quality of life and daily activities in order to be considered a disability. This means that a person must have difficulty in activities such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, performing manual tasks, caring for themselves, and working. In addition, the impairment must have a long-term or permanent effect on these activities in order for it to be considered a disability under the ADA. In Florida, individuals with disabilities are also protected under the Florida Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing, education, and public accommodations. This includes the right to reasonable accommodations to ensure that individuals with disabilities can access equal opportunities to benefit from and participate in the same program, services, or activities.

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