| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Reasonable Accommodation | In general, an accommodation is any change in the work environment or in the way things are customarily done that enables an individual with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities. These may include modifications or adjustments to the environment or schedule, or additional tools or training. A modification or adjustment is "reasonable" if it seems reasonable, feasible or plausible on its face, and must be effective in meeting the needs of the individual. |
| Disability | The ADAAA and the final regulations define a disability as:
a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities (sometimes referred to in the regulations as an "actual disability"), or
a record of a physical or mental impairment that substantially limited a major life activity ("record of") |
| Physical Impairment | Any physiological condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory (including speech organs); cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genitourinary; immune; circulatory; hemic; lymphatic; skin; immune; circulatory; and/or endocrine. |
| Mental Impairment | Any mental or psychological condition, particularly one that affects emotion, thinking, or learning processes. |
| Major Life Activities | Activities that an “average” person could perform with little or no difficulty, e.g. seeing, hearing, breathing, walking, speaking. |
| Substantially Limiting | To have an "actual" disability (or to have a "record of" a disability) an individual must be (or have been) substantially limited in performing a major life activity as compared to most people in the general population. An impairment need not prevent or severely or signaificantly limit a major life activity to be considered "substantially limiting." Nonetheless, not every impairment will constitute a disability. The term "substantially limits" should be construed broadly in favor of expansive coverage to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of the ADA, and requires an individualized assessment. |
Portland and the federal government
Learn about our sanctuary city status, efforts to block federal overreach: Portland.gov/Federal