2013 California Standards for Accessible Design Pocket Guide

Advisory Definition of DISABILITY.  This is the definition of disability used and defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.◼

[ADA Titles II & III] Disability.  [§35.104 & §36.104] With respect to an individual, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an Impairment.

(1)    The phrase physical or mental impairment means—

(i)      Any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genitourinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine;

(ii)     Any mental or psychological disorder such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities.

(iii)    The phrase physical or mental impairment includes, but is not limited to, such contagious and noncontagious diseases and conditions as orthopedic, visual, speech and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental retardation, emotional illness, specific learning disabilities, HIV disease (whether symptomatic or asymptomatic), tuberculosis, drug addiction, and alcoholism;

(iv) The phrase physical or mental impairment does not include homosexuality or bisexuality.

(2)    The phrase major life activities means functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.

(3)    The phrase has a record of such an impairment means has a history of, or has been misclassified as having, a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

(4)    The phrase is regarded as having an impairment means—

(i)      Has a physical or mental impairment that does not substantially limit major life activities but that is treated by a _|Title II: public/ Title III: private|_ entity as constituting such a limitation;

(ii)     Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities only as a result of the attitudes of others toward such impairment; or

(iii)    Has none of the impairments defined in paragraph (1) of this definition but is treated by a _|Title II: public/ Title III: private|_ entity as having such an impairment.

(5)    The term disability does not include—

(i)      Transvestism, transsexualism, pedophilia, exhibitionism, voyeurism, gender identity disorders not resulting from physical impairments, or other sexual behavior disorders;

(ii)     Compulsive gambling, kleptomania, or pyromania; or

(iii)     Psychoactive substance use disorders resulting from current illegal use of drugs.