19th Anniversary of the ADA

Friday, July 24, 11:30am-1pm
Arizona Capitol Towers Lobby
1800 W. Washtington, Phoenix, AZ
sponsored by ABIL

This year's theme is "Coming Full Circle - Getting back to the original intent of the ADA"


The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was intended to “provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.” Unfortunately, since 1999, several U.S. Supreme Court and other lower court decisions have significantly narrowed the definition of disability. As a result, individuals with certain health conditions, such as people with epilepsy, diabetes, psychiatric diagnoses, and other mental health conditions that are controlled with medications or other disease management strategies are not covered by the ADA. They are routinely dismissed as “not disabled enough” to warrant protection of the statute. In 2004, plaintiffs lost 97% of ADA employment discrimination claims, often due to the interpretation of definition of disability. Arizona’s Legislature needs to take action next session! Now that the Feds have passed the ADA Restoration Act, Arizona needs to pass legislation to bring our Arizona ADA law into alignment with the federal legislation.