Definition of Disabilities 

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), the term, "disability", means with respect to an individual: (a) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; (b) a record of such an impairment; or (c) being regarded as having such an impairment. An impairment must still substantially limit a major life activity to qualify as a disability. An individual, however, may now be considered disabled even if the substantial limitation is corrected by mitigating measures or even if the individual is not currently substantially limited. The ADAAA defines major life activities to include operation of any major bodily function, including the immune system, normal cell growth, and digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine and reproductive functions. The ADAAA now defines major life activities to specifically include such things as standing, lifting, bending, reading and concentrating, along with performing manual tasks, thinking, working, caring for oneself, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, speaking, breathing, learning and communicating. An individual may also now be disabled even if the individual's impairment or condition does not currently substantially limit a major life activity. Under the ADAAA, an impairment that is episodic or in remission (for example, cancer) will be considered a disability if, when active, it would substantially limit a major life activity.