The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and its protection applies primarily, but not exclusively, to disabled individuals. An individual is disabled if he or she meets anyone of the following criteria:
He or she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of his/her major life activities.
He or she has a record of such an impairment.
He or she is regarded as having such an impairment.
Other individuals who are protected in certain circumstances include:
Those, such as parents, who have an association with an individual known to have a disability.
Those who are coerced or subjected to retaliation for assisting people with disabilities in asserting their rights under the ADA.
