ADAAA Effective January 1, 2009

On Sept. 25, 2008, the President signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), which unanimously passed Congress. The ADA Amendments Act was introduced to make legislative fixes in light of several court rulings that had limited the scope of protections offered under the statute. Key provisions include:

• Clarification of the definition of disability
• Exclusion of consideration of mitigating measures
• Expansion of the "regarded as" disabled prong
• Additions to the list of major life activities

The new law became effective on January 1, 2009.