Last September, President George Bush signed the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA)
of 2008, which requires courts to interpret the ADA broadly when
determining whether an individual has been discriminated against because
of a disability. On June 17, 2009, the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC) voted in favor of revising its rules to conform to the
ADAAA. These amendments, as well as the proposed rules, will make it
easier for individuals seeking protection under the ADA to establish that
they have a disability. The changes to the rules, approved by the EEOC in
a 2-1 vote, must now be reviewed by other federal agencies, including the
Department of Transportation, the Justice Department and the Office of
Management and Budget.
