ADA guide for hiring persons with intellectual disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. Title I of the ADA makes it unlawful for any employer to discriminate in any aspect of employment against a qualified applicant or employee because of a disability. The ADA covers employers with 15 or more employees, including state and local governments.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has published a guide that explains how the ADA applies to job applicants and employees with intellectual disabilities. The guide covers:

  • when a condition qualifies as a disability under the ADA
  • under what circumstances an employer may ask an applicant or employee or a third party (such as a family member of an applicant or employee) questions about an intellectual disability
  • what types of reasonable accommodations may be needed by applicants and employees with intellectual disabilities
  • how to address safety concerns and conduct issues in the workplace
  • how an employer can prevent harassment of employees with intellectual disabilities

The guide is available for free at

http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/intellectual_disabilities.html