WASHINGTON—The American Psychological Association applauded the signing into law today of the Americans with Disabilities Restoration Act, which clarifies the definition of "disability" to restore the original congressional intent.
"This is an important event, and will have a significant impact for years to come on the lives of people with and without disabilities," said Gwendolyn Puryear Keita, PhD, executive director of APA's public interest directorate. "As a result of judicial decisions, the scope of the original Americans with Disabilities Act had been significantly narrowed, limiting its protection for individuals with certain disabilities such as epilepsy, diabetes, cancer, HIV, psychiatric diagnoses and other mental health conditions. These people were routinely dismissed as ‘not disabled enough' to warrant protection of the statute. We are particularly heartened by this change."
For the past two years, APA has been working in coalition with other groups and key congressional staff to pass this legislative fix. The bill signed today addresses the use of "mitigating measures," such as medications and behavioral adaptations/accommodations. This has been of particular concern to APA since the largest number of people potentially affected by the ADA either have mental disabilities or are being treated for emotional or psychological problems.
The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 148,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting human welfare.