APA Dictionary of Psychology

a U.S. federal law that prohibits hiring and other employment practices that discriminate on the basis of physical or mental impairments, unless it can be shown that these would prevent the individual from performing the essential or primary functions of the job. Impairments are defined as limitations that detract from one or more major life activities. The ADA also prohibits discrimination in other areas, such as access to programs, services, and activities provided by a public agency (e.g., health care, social services, courts, community meetings); access to public accommodations (e.g., restaurants, hotels, schools and colleges, recreational facilities); and access to telecommunications (e.g., telephone, computers). See also bona fide occupational qualification.