Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008

The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) broadened the original ADA to better include individuals with disabilities. It clarified that people with a wide range of conditions—such as mental health issues, chronic illnesses, or learning disabilities—should be protected from discrimination and entitled to reasonable accommodations at work, in housing, and public spaces. The amendments emphasized that the focus is on whether a person's condition substantially limits major life activities, rather than on specific diagnoses or whether the impairment is temporary. Overall, it aims to promote equal access and prevent discrimination based on disability.