Individuals with Disabilities Act (ADA)
What are some examples of disabilities covered under the ADA?
According to my understanding, the disabilities covered under the ADA include walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, reading, concentrating,communicating, thinking, breathing, working, and learning.
Donald L. Buresh
Sabrina,
Oh those hidden disabilities can be complex and ever present. There are a lot more out there than most people realize.
Renee Shaffer
Disabilities covered under the ADA include a broad variety of disabilities. Physical, sensory, and mental disabilities are recognized and addressed. One I hadn’t considered enough was hidden disabilities and plan on making efforts to better recognize and better serve these students.
Any impairment that is either cognitive or physical in addition to causing a hardship on the students’ ability to thrive in the typical online environment can be covered under ADA. Specific examples are ADHD, visual/hearing impairments, and dyslexia. These conditions must also be diagnosed and document by the physicians. Specific test and treatments used may or may not be needed.
Visual and hearing impairments
From what I understand, those disabilities under the ADA are the same as those which are covered or are considered for reasonable accommodations. A later definition signed by President Obama in 2008 provided an even clearer definition of "Disability" and was approved by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [EEOC] as well by definition disability, falls into may categories but primarily physical, psychological and emotional ailments.
According to the ADA covered major disabilities include: being able to care for oneself, such as being able to see, hear, eat, walk, stand, breath, read, communicate, and etc.
Stephanie,
I agree that the ADA wording is not restrictive. Though some people think that is wrong, I don't.
Renee Shaffer
I am in agreement with many of the individuals that have posted here, that there are quite a number of examples of disabilities that are covered under the ADA. The good thing is that with the wording of the ADA, it is designed to not be restricted, so as conditions continue to be recognized they will automatically fall under the ADA.
The following are a small number of examples:
1. Autism
2. Epilepsy
3. Hearing
4. Vision
5. Physical
6. PTSD
7. Diabetes
8. Brain injuries
and many others...
Hi -
I have not had any ground students or brick or mortar that fell under ADA. However, after this online class I have learned a lot.
-Matthew Schwartz
Examples of disabilities would be someone who has a mobility issue, someone with a behavioral health issue, etc...
ADA defines a disability as either a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major activities. That being said, some examples of physical disabilities are loss of mobility, loss of sight or hearing, some chronic diseases. Mental disabilities include PTSD, ADD, ADHD, and learning disabilities.
Some of the ones covered could be visual impairments, hearing impairments, Post Traumatic Stress, Learning Disabilities, ADD, ADHD, and the list goes on. Must be documented and diagnosed to qualify.
-Chris
Hi -
Cancer treatment, deafness, blindness, diabetes and mental illness are all examples of disabilities that would be covered.
Thanks!
Jocelyn Williamson
Kevin,
Yes, and I was having a discussion today about the large population of students coming in who have PTSD. Almost epidemic proportions.
Renee Shaffer
In the broadest terms, the ADA has defined a person having a disability as having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, reading, concentrating, communicating, thinking, breathing, learning and working.
Examples of this would be hearing impairment, being legally blind, requiring a wheelchair or any other affliction which affects normal lifestyle/learning mentality.
Some disabilities that are covered under ADA are, audio, visual, and metal disabilities.
Michael ,
Well done. It looks as though you are getting a lot out of the course.
Renee Shaffer
Hello Renee,
Reading this module, we learned that the Americans with Disabilities Act covers a wide array of disabilities including physical, sensory and mental disabilities – “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity.â€
Each one of these categories covers several different disabilities. For instance, physical disabilities may include prosthesis or loss of a variety of bodily functions due to disease or accidents. That would include closed head injuries, loss of limbs, loss of vision or hearing, and so on.
What is also clear is that requiring access for people with disabilities doesn't guarantee success.
If a person is “otherwise qualified†for entrance into a college or university, then they should be admitted; and should be able to participate in the institution’s programs and activities. The act requires institutions to make reasonable accommodations so that disabled students may participate fully in university activities.
As others have noted, though, the law indicates that institutions may not change their curriculum or academic standards; and do not have to go beyond making ‘reasonable accommodations or incur ‘undue’ costs in making those accommodations. The legal interpretations seem daunting. Fair and sensible people might disagree about the meaning of terms like ‘reasonable,’ ‘undue financial burdens,’ and ‘reasonable accommodations.'
My institution does identify students with disabilities prior to the start of class and does require instructors to make specific accommodations for them. However, disabled students are still required to complete the same assignments as the rest of the students.
Sincerely,
Michael Luzius
