Which act covers amendments defining individuals regarded as having a disability?

The ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) is specifically designed to clarify and expand the definitions of what constitutes a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADAAA was enacted in 2008 to ensure that individuals who are regarded as having a disability, even if they do not have an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, are protected from discrimination.

This act emphasizes a broad interpretation of disability and reinforces that even temporary conditions could be recognized as disabilities if they are considered significant by others. By delineating these amendments, the ADAAA plays a crucial role in protecting individuals who may face discrimination not necessarily due to an actual disability, but because they are perceived to have one.

In contrast, while the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) originally established the framework for disability rights, it was the ADAAA that introduced the more inclusive definitions. The Rehabilitation Act focuses primarily on programs receiving federal funding and the Fair Housing Act addresses discrimination in housing, thus making them less relevant in the context of clarifying disability definitions.