Who is a disabled individual under the ADA?
A disabled individual under the ADA 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 such things as seeing, hearing, speaking, walking, standing, sitting, lifting, bending, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, breathing, and eating. Other examples of major life activities include mental and emotional processes such as sleeping, reading, concentrating, learning, thinking, communicating, and working. Additionally, the recent ADA amendments expand the non-exhaustive list of major life activities to include major bodily functions.
