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Author Topic: 2008 ADA Amendment NOW LAW!!!:  (Read 4021 times)

Description: This is very, very good for us (McCobbre)

Offline ajasfolks2

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« Last Edit: March 12, 2013, 05:39:27 AM by ajasfolks2 »
Is this where I blame iPhone and cuss like an old fighter pilot's wife?

**(&%@@&%$^%$#^%$#$*&      LOL!!   

Offline ajasfolks2

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Re: 2008 ADA Amendment NOW LAW!!!:
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2011, 07:16:45 AM »
(Momcat posted body of the law)
__________________________________________________________



ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)

--S.3406--

S.3406


One Hundred Tenth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday,

the third day of January, two thousand and eight

An Act

To restore the intent and protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `ADA Amendments Act of 2008'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

(a) Findings- Congress finds that--

(1) in enacting the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Congress intended that the Act `provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities' and provide broad coverage;

(2) in enacting the ADA, Congress recognized that physical and mental disabilities in no way diminish a person's right to fully participate in all aspects of society, but that people with physical or mental disabilities are frequently precluded from doing so because of prejudice, antiquated attitudes, or the failure to remove societal and institutional barriers;

(3) while Congress expected that the definition of disability under the ADA would be interpreted consistently with how courts had applied the definition of a handicapped individual under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, that expectation has not been fulfilled;

(4) the holdings of the Supreme Court in Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc., 527 U.S. 471 (1999) and its companion cases have narrowed the broad scope of protection intended to be afforded by the ADA, thus eliminating protection for many individuals whom Congress intended to protect;

(5) the holding of the Supreme Court in Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184 (2002) further narrowed the broad scope of protection intended to be afforded by the ADA;

(6) as a result of these Supreme Court cases, lower courts have incorrectly found in individual cases that people with a range of substantially limiting impairments are not people with disabilities;

(7) in particular, the Supreme Court, in the case of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184 (2002), interpreted the term `substantially limits' to require a greater degree of limitation than was intended by Congress; and

(8) Congress finds that the current Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ADA regulations defining the term `substantially limits' as `significantly restricted' are inconsistent with congressional intent, by expressing too high a standard.

(b) Purposes- The purposes of this Act are--

(1) to carry out the ADA's objectives of providing `a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination' and `clear, strong, consistent, enforceable standards addressing discrimination' by reinstating a broad scope of protection to be available under the ADA;

(2) to reject the requirement enunciated by the Supreme Court in Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc., 527 U.S. 471 (1999) and its companion cases that whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity is to be determined with reference to the ameliorative effects of mitigating measures;

(3) to reject the Supreme Court's reasoning in Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc., 527 U.S. 471 (1999) with regard to coverage under the third prong of the definition of disability and to reinstate the reasoning of the Supreme Court in School Board of Nassau County v. Arline, 480 U.S. 273 (1987) which set forth a broad view of the third prong of the definition of handicap under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;

(4) to reject the standards enunciated by the Supreme Court in Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184 (2002), that the terms `substantially' and `major' in the definition of disability under the ADA `need to be interpreted strictly to create a demanding standard for qualifying as disabled,' and that to be substantially limited in performing a major life activity under the ADA `an individual must have an impairment that prevents or severely restricts the individual from doing activities that are of central importance to most people's daily lives';

(5) to convey congressional intent that the standard created by the Supreme Court in the case of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184 (2002) for `substantially limits', and applied by lower courts in numerous decisions, has created an inappropriately high level of limitation necessary to obtain coverage under the ADA, to convey that it is the intent of Congress that the primary object of attention in cases brought under the ADA should be whether entities covered under the ADA have complied with their obligations, and to convey that the question of whether an individual's impairment is a disability under the ADA should not demand extensive analysis; and

(6) to express Congress' expectation that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will revise that portion of its current regulations that defines the term `substantially limits' as `significantly restricted' to be consistent with this Act, including the amendments made by this Act.

SEC. 3. CODIFIED FINDINGS.

Section 2(a) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101) is amended--

(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

`(1) physical or mental disabilities in no way diminish a person's right to fully participate in all aspects of society, yet many people with physical or mental disabilities have been precluded from doing so because of discrimination; others who have a record of a disability or are regarded as having a disability also have been subjected to discrimination;';

(2) by striking paragraph (7); and

(3) by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively.

SEC. 4. DISABILITY DEFINED AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

(a) Definition of Disability- Section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102) is amended to read as follows:

`SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF DISABILITY.

`As used in this Act:

`(1) DISABILITY- The term `disability' means, with respect to an individual--

`(A) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual;

`(B) a record of such an impairment; or

`(C) being regarded as having such an impairment (as described in paragraph (3)).

`(2) MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITIES-

`(A) IN GENERAL- For purposes of paragraph (1), major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.

`(B) MAJOR BODILY FUNCTIONS- For purposes of paragraph (1), a major life activity also includes the operation of a major bodily function, including but not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.


`(3) REGARDED AS HAVING SUCH AN IMPAIRMENT- For purposes of paragraph (1)(C):

`(A) An individual meets the requirement of `being regarded as having such an impairment' if the individual establishes that he or she has been subjected to an action prohibited under this Act because of an actual or perceived physical or mental impairment whether or not the impairment limits or is perceived to limit a major life activity.

`(B) Paragraph (1)(C) shall not apply to impairments that are transitory and minor. A transitory impairment is an impairment with an actual or expected duration of 6 months or less.

`(4) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING THE DEFINITION OF DISABILITY- The definition of `disability' in paragraph (1) shall be construed in accordance with the following:

`(A) The definition of disability in this Act shall be construed in favor of broad coverage of individuals under this Act, to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of this Act.

`(B) The term `substantially limits' shall be interpreted consistently with the findings and purposes of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.

`(C) An impairment that substantially limits one major life activity need not limit other major life activities in order to be considered a disability.

`(D) An impairment that is episodic or in remission is a disability if it would substantially limit a major life activity when active.

`(E)(i) The determination of whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity shall be made without regard to the ameliorative effects of mitigating measures such as--

`(I) medication,
medical supplies, equipment, or appliances, low-vision devices (which do not include ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses), prosthetics including limbs and devices, hearing aids and cochlear implants or other implantable hearing devices, mobility devices, or oxygen therapy equipment and supplies;

`(II) use of assistive technology;

`(III) reasonable accommodations or auxiliary aids or services; or

`(IV) learned behavioral or adaptive neurological modifications.


`(ii) The ameliorative effects of the mitigating measures of ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses shall be considered in determining whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity.

`(iii) As used in this subparagraph--

`(I) the term `ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses' means lenses that are intended to fully correct visual acuity or eliminate refractive error; and

`(II) the term `low-vision devices' means devices that magnify, enhance, or otherwise augment a visual image.'.

(b) Conforming Amendment- The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) is further amended by adding after section 3 the following:

`SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS.

`As used in this Act:

`(1) AUXILIARY AIDS AND SERVICES- The term `auxiliary aids and services' includes--

`(A) qualified interpreters or other effective methods of making aurally delivered materials available to individuals with hearing impairments;

`(B) qualified readers, taped texts, or other effective methods of making visually delivered materials available to individuals with visual impairments;

`(C) acquisition or modification of equipment or devices; and

`(D) other similar services and actions.

`(2) STATE- The term `State' means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the United States, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.'.

(c) Amendment to the Table of Contents- The table of contents contained in section 1(b) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is amended by striking the item relating to section 3 and inserting the following items:

`Sec. 3. Definition of disability.

`Sec. 4. Additional definitions.'.

SEC. 5. DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY.

(a) On the Basis of Disability- Section 102 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12112) is amended--

(1) in subsection (a), by striking `with a disability because of the disability of such individual' and inserting `on the basis of disability'; and

(2) in subsection (b) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking `discriminate' and inserting `discriminate against a qualified individual on the basis of disability'.

(b) Qualification Standards and Tests Related to Uncorrected Vision- Section 103 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12113) is amended by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively, and inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection:

`(c) Qualification Standards and Tests Related to Uncorrected Vision- Notwithstanding section 3(4)(E)(ii), a covered entity shall not use qualification standards, employment tests, or other selection criteria based on an individual's uncorrected vision unless the standard, test, or other selection criteria, as used by the covered entity, is shown to be job-related for the position in question and consistent with business necessity.'.

(c) Conforming Amendments-

(1) Section 101(8) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12111(8)) is amended--

(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking `WITH A DISABILITY'; and

(B) by striking `with a disability' after `individual' both places it appears.

(2) Section 104(a) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12114(a)) is amended by striking `the term `qualified individual with a disability' shall' and inserting `a qualified individual with a disability shall'.

SEC. 6. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

(a) Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12201 et seq.) is amended--

(1) by adding at the end of section 501 the following:

`(e) Benefits Under State Worker's Compensation Laws- Nothing in this Act alters the standards for determining eligibility for benefits under State worker's compensation laws or under State and Federal disability benefit programs.

`(f) Fundamental Alteration- Nothing in this Act alters the provision of section 302(b)(2)(A)(ii), specifying that reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures shall be required, unless an entity can demonstrate that making such modifications in policies, practices, or procedures, including academic requirements in postsecondary education, would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations involved.

`(g) Claims of No Disability- Nothing in this Act shall provide the basis for a claim by an individual without a disability that the individual was subject to discrimination because of the individual's lack of disability.

(cont'd ) . . .

« Last Edit: March 12, 2013, 08:28:08 AM by ajasfolks2 »
Is this where I blame iPhone and cuss like an old fighter pilot's wife?

**(&%@@&%$^%$#^%$#$*&      LOL!!   

Offline ajasfolks2

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Re: 2008 ADA Amendment NOW LAW!!!:
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2011, 07:18:37 AM »
(. . . cont'd)

`(h) Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications- A covered entity under title I, a public entity under title II, and any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation under title III, need not provide a reasonable accommodation or a reasonable modification to policies, practices, or procedures to an individual who meets the definition of disability in section 3(1) solely under subparagraph (C) of such section.';

(2) by redesignating section 506 through 514 as sections 507 through 515, respectively, and adding after section 505 the following:

`SEC. 506. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING REGULATORY AUTHORITY.

`The authority to issue regulations granted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Transportation under this Act includes the authority to issue regulations implementing the definitions of disability in section 3 (including rules of construction) and the definitions in section 4, consistent with the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.'; and

(3) in section 511 (as redesignated by paragraph (2)) (42 U.S.C. 12211), in subsection (c), by striking `511(b)(3)' and inserting `512(b)(3)'.

(b) The table of contents contained in section 1(b) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is amended by redesignating the items relating to sections 506 through 514 as the items relating to sections 507 through 515, respectively, and by inserting after the item relating to section 505 the following new item:

`Sec. 506. Rule of construction regarding regulatory authority.'.

SEC. 7. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

Section 7 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705) is amended--

(1) in paragraph (9)(B), by striking `a physical' and all that follows through `major life activities', and inserting `the meaning given it in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)'; and

(2) in paragraph (20)(B), by striking `any person who' and all that follows through the period at the end, and inserting `any person who has a disability as defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).'.

SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2009.

« Last Edit: March 12, 2013, 08:28:22 AM by ajasfolks2 »
Is this where I blame iPhone and cuss like an old fighter pilot's wife?

**(&%@@&%$^%$#^%$#$*&      LOL!!   

Offline ajasfolks2

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« Last Edit: March 12, 2013, 08:28:30 AM by ajasfolks2 »
Is this where I blame iPhone and cuss like an old fighter pilot's wife?

**(&%@@&%$^%$#^%$#$*&      LOL!!   

Offline ajasfolks2

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Re: 2008 ADA Amendment NOW LAW!!!:
« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2011, 07:20:43 AM »
Follow ons:

ajasfolks2
Quote
Some good commentary here in this document and some quotable-quotes!

http://www.law.georgetown.edu/archiveada/documents/ADAAACR9.17.08.pdf


~ ~ ~



ETA -- link to another brief thread in Schools where we celebrated the passage of this legislation:

http://allergy.hyperboards.com/index.php?action=view_topic&topic_id=6654&start=1



Quote from: 13 post_id=180866 date=1236624138
Impact of the 2008 ADA Amendment on School Districts
by Sue Gamm, Esq.


http://www.publicconsultinggroup.com/Research/Education/ADA_Amendment.html



Link that appears to be .pdf version of this:

http://www.casecec.org/pdf/ADA%20Amendment%20Explanation%2012-14-08--Sue%20Gamm.pdf


ETA -- It appears we're starting to see some available online commentary about this Act and the impact for schools.

Please feel free to comment or add things you've found here as well!



Quote from: 13 post_id=180878 date=1236624771
More (note, some of these are from the school-attorney's slant and some from the disability-rights take):

"School Law Bullet"
http://www.kingspry.com/documents/SLB29-2009.pdf


Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities
http://www.ocecd.org/ocecd/h_docs/FORUM/08_1112_ADAdefinesDisability.cfm


Interesting posted online letter addressed to Pres Obama, supposedly from an educator in Texas:

http://webcenter.netscape.governmentguide.com/congressorg/bio/userletter/?letter_id=2977662146&content_dir=politicsol



Quote
OCR's Revised Q&A doc --

THANK YOU to WarmT for posting this!

http://allergy.hyperboards.com/index.php?action=view_topic&topic_id=10259

http://www.ed.gov/print/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html






WarmT:

Quote
http://specialedlaw.blogs.com/home/2008/09/ada-amendments.html

Importantly for children with disabilities, the ADAAA applies equally to 504.  Unlike the situation with employment, most school districts appropriately applied the law to 504 eligibility questions, and accommodated a range of students with disabilities. Thus, the ADAAA will not make any substantial changes in what most districts already do. But the law provides an important remedy for those children who have inappropriately been denied 504 eligibility.  COPAA had received reports of some school districts denying 504 eligiblity to children with diabetes, life-threatening food allergies, learning disabilities, ADHD, Aspergers Syndrome, and other disabilitiesFor example, one school district argued that because a 6yo with a life-threatening nut allergy could care for himself about as well as other 6yos, and because he could breathe just fine when not suffering from anaphylaxis, he wasn't substantially limited and didn't have a disability under 504. Other 504 situations involved children with disabilities who are unable to obtain 504 plans with appropriate behavioral supports and access to appropriately challenging school work.

Bold added by me.
I think the child they refer to might be my sons case.
 :heart: WarmT





ajasfolks2
Quote
Kentucky recent pub about ADA AA and how it may/may not effect how they handle 504s:

http://www.grrec.ky.gov/CaveWeb/Advisory%20Council/504%20and%20the%20ADAA.doc

Connecticut attorney commentary:

http://www.connecticuteducationlawblog.com/2008/10/articles/student-matters/ada-amendments-will-require-changes-to-504-forms-and-procedures/



Quote
Related org link:

Council for Exceptional Children

http://www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=10412



Quote
Site to explore --

DBTAC: Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
Your regional Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC)

http://www.adainfo.org/


Would like to see any publications or written info that come out of this:

2009 National ADA Symposium:
Revitalizing the ADA
June 8-10, Hyatt Regency Crown Center, Kansas City, MO




Quote
Discussion of new ADA as related to pupil transportation:

Volume 7, No 3 May 2009
http://www.legalroutes.com/SampleIssue.pdf

If you want this saved, I'd do it to harddrive or print a copy.  I'd bet this gets changed out regularly.




Quote
More updated discussion and reference to the ADA amendment 2008:

http://www.franczek.com/frontcenter-323.html



« Last Edit: March 12, 2013, 08:28:38 AM by ajasfolks2 »
Is this where I blame iPhone and cuss like an old fighter pilot's wife?

**(&%@@&%$^%$#^%$#$*&      LOL!!   

Offline Macabre

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Re: 2008 ADA Amendment NOW LAW!!!:
« Reply #5 on: March 06, 2013, 02:21:20 PM »
Wright's Law has a wonderful summary, courtesy of COPAA (Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates)

ADAAA becomes law, strengthens 504 & ADA
http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/504/ADAAA.law.pdf


Quote
The law also overturns Sutton's holding that a disability must limit more than one major life activity. Moreover, the bill will clarify that major life activities include working, communicating, concentrating, thinking, reading, and other activities of central importance.


Quote
Importantly for children with disabilities, the ADAAA applies equally to 504. Unlike the
situation with employment, most school districts appropriately applied the law to 504
eligibility questions, and accommodated a range of students with disabilities. Thus, the
ADAAA will not make any substantial changes in what most districts already do. But the
law provides an important remedy for those children who have inappropriately been
denied 504 eligibility. COPAA had received reports of some school districts denying 504
eligiblity to children with diabetes, life-threatening food allergies, learning disabilities,
ADHD, Aspergers Syndrome, and other disabilities. For example, one school district
argued that because a 6yo with a life-threatening nut allergy could care for himself about
as well as other 6yos, and because he could breathe just fine when not suffering from
anaphylaxis, he wasn't substantially limited and didn't have a disability under 504


--Jess(ica Butler)
© Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA), 2008
Me: Sesame, shellfish, chamomile, sage
DS: Peanuts