ADA Title II Action Guide for State and Local Governments

Broad Coverage

The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 states that the definition of disability should be construed in favor of broad coverage of people to the maximum extent permitted by the law and generally should not require extensive analysis. In the past, there was some debate over what activities were considered "major life activities" for ADA purposes. One of the most contentious issues was whether someone with a medical condition that only affected internal functions would be covered. Conditions such as gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, cancer and heart disease often only affect bodily functions without producing any outward limitations such as difficulty walking, talking or performing manual task. The ADA Amendments Act cleared up the confusion by stating that bodily functions are indeed major life activities. The law lists functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.

Congress wanted the focus to be on ensuring that people have an equal opportunity to participate and are not discriminated against, rather than on whether someone meets a narrow definition.