Jay Trucks and Associates Legal Blog

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a person is considered to have a disability if he:

• Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities
• Has a record of this impairment
• Is regarded as having this impairment

Due to the broadness of this definition, there are many possibilities for impairments that can qualify as a disability. Furthermore, any one particular disability may vary in the degree to which it impacts the lives of different individuals living with it. Therefore, it is difficult to come up with a completely exhaustive list of disabilities.

The following list covers many of the common disabilities affecting Americans today:

• AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) – AIDS is the most serious stage of the HIV disease and is marked by severe immune system problems
• Blindness/Visual Impairment – Blindness indicates a complete loss of vision, while visual impairment refers to a partial loss of vision
• Chemical Sensitivity – An adverse reaction to commonly used chemicals such as cleaning supplies or perfumes
• Congenital Disability – A physical impairment acquired at birth
• Deaf/Hard of Hearing – Deaf indicates a complete loss of hearing, while hard of hearing describes a partial loss of hearing
• Developmental Disability – A permanent mental or physical impairment developing before a person’s 22nd birthday that may limit self-care, language aptitude, independent living, motor functions, or economic well-being
• Epilepsy – A disorder characterized by central nervous system issues which typically lead to seizures
• Learning Disability – An impairment affecting spoken or written language centers in the brain
• Mental Illness – A psychiatric condition typically caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain
• Mental Retardation/Cognitive Disability – An impairment in cognitive abilities characterized by below average mental functioning
• Motor Disability – A condition caused by central nervous system damage (i.e. multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Paralysis/Spinal Cord Injury – Partial loss of functioning to a particular region of your body (paraplegia affects your legs, quadriplegia affects your arms and legs)
• Speech Impairment – Problems in speech patterns (i.e. stuttering, lisp, slurring)

The ADA prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals in the workplace on the basis of a disability. If you feel that you have been unfairly discriminated against due to your disability, it is important to consult with an experienced employment law attorney to find out if you are eligible to receive compensation for your damages.

The attorneys at Jay Trucks & Associates have defended the rights of discrimination victims across Michigan. Please contact our Lansing, Michigan employment law attorneys today to schedule a consultation.