The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is one of the most important laws in American history. Before the passage of the ADA, employers could deny employment to a disabled worker simply because he or she was disabled. For no reason other than the person's physical disability, they were turned away or fired from their job. The ADA provides people with disabilities with civil rights protections similar to those afforded to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The law guarantees equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in public places, employment, transportation, national and local government services, and telecommunications. The ADA not only opened the door for millions of Americans to return to the workforce, but it also paved the way for new workplace facilities, new training programs, and the creation jobs designed for a disabled society (Frierson, 1990). This document will discuss the disabilities covered by the ADA, reasonable accommodations employers must make to accommodate individuals with disabilities, and steps employers can take when considering applicants with disabilities. Any business with 15 or more employees must be in full compliance with the ADA. The ADA “prohibits private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment” (US EEOC, 2007). This includes job applicants and existing employees. Individuals are considered to have a “disability” if they have a physical disability or m...... middle of paper ......ed). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Frierson, J. G. (1990). The ADA's public accommodations section lays out a long list of illegalities. (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990). Preventive Law Reporter, 9(4) 8(3), December 1990. Preston, PJ (2003-2006). Discrimination in the Workplace: Getting to KnowTitle VII. Think Avenue: Street Smarts for Growing Businesses. Retrieved February 17, 2008 from http://www.thinkavenue.com/articles/hr/article01.htmSack, SM (1999). Getting fired. New York, NY: Warner Books, Inc. U.S. Department of Justice, (2006). Americans with Disabilities Act. Retrieved February 18, 2008, from the ADA Home Page Website: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/q%26aeng02.htmU.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2007). Facts about the Americans with Disabilities Act. Retrieved February 18, 2008 from http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-ada.html