Amendment to ADA may increase disability claims 

An amendment to the Americans with Disabilities Act may significantly increase ADA-related claims and lawsuits against employers, according to Business and Legal Reports Inc., a compliance information services company. The amendment will become effective Jan. 1, 2009.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment (ADAA) provides broader protections for disabled workers and turns back the clock on Supreme Court rulings deemed too restrictive of disabled employees’ rights,” said Catherine L. Moreton, JD, managing editor for HR and Compensation at BLR. “The bottom line is that more employees will fit within the definition of disabled under the ADA and unless employers are prepared they will significantly increase their risk of lawsuits.”

According to BLR's summary of the amendment "more employees will be covered and in many cases, conditions will be covered for disabilities that are not readily apparent to employers." The company recommends interactive discussion with employees to determine what, if any, accommodations are necessary, and to focus on training supervisors.

The company noted in a press release that minor impairments, or those lasting six months or less, are not covered under the amendment.

More information is available at www.ada.gov, or find full text of the amendment at thomas.loc.gov.

• • 8/25/2009 12:54:31 PM
  • Amendment to ADA may increase disability claims An amendment to the Americans with Disabilities Act may significantly increase ADA-related claims and lawsuits against employers, according to Business and Legal Reports Inc., a compliance information services company. Visit This Article
• • 8/25/2009 12:54:31 PM
  • I would like to know what those amendments were?, also how will it effect small employers.
• • 8/25/2009 12:54:31 PM
  • The amendment clarifies and broadens the definition of disability, and covers more Americans under that definition. More information is available at www.ada.gov, or you can find full text of the amendment here.
• • 8/25/2009 12:54:31 PM
  • My mother was dismissed from her job while under psychiatric care. Her doctor recommened she return to work but the company would not let my mother return. There were not attempts of accomodations for her. At the time we were not aware of ADA. This lead to great depression and attempted suicide, I believe. She had voluntary disability benefits short term and long term that she never received. Is there a statute of limitation for my mother to retreive her benefits. Her emotional state is better now and it is something that she can do herself.
• • 8/25/2009 12:54:31 PM
  • The amendment clarifies and broadens the definition of disability, and covers more Americans under that definition. More information is available at www.ada.gov, or you can find full text of the amendment here. Thanks for the info, very helpful. We need to stop major corporations from playing with our lives when we are just trying to be productive human beings.
• • 8/25/2009 12:54:31 PM
  • I was dismissed by a major corporation due to the fact that I was becoming a financial burden due to the special equipment the company was forced to buy due to my spinal fusion. They then found out that I have the beginnings of glacoma and all of a sudden I could not do my job right at all. When I began to do the job just as they wanted I was set up and fired due to what they deemed as an ethics violation without the board of ethics or security even being given the chance to investigate. I was the last one of a long list prior to me, from my office. Gee, they stopped this practice right after they got the information that they were being sued, go figure.
• • 8/25/2009 12:54:31 PM
  • What is the amendment to the Americans with Disabilities act and how can I get more about it. Joseph W. Davis President,CEO NBC FAMILY COUNCIL, INC. 2011 8th Tuscaloosa, Al35401 (205) 349-1417 e-mail: nbcfc@comcast.net