The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is one of the most significant laws in American history. Before the ADA was passed, employers could deny employment to a disabled worker simply because he or she was disabled. For no other reason than the person's physical disability, they were removed or fired from their job. The ADA provides civil rights protections to people with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The law provides equal opportunities for people with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local services, and telecommunications. The ADA not only opened the door for millions of Americans to reenter the workforce, but it also pioneered new workplace structures, new training programs, and created jobs designed for a disabled society (Frierson , 1990). This document will discuss disabilities covered by the ADA, reasonable accommodations employers must make to accommodate individuals with disabilities, and actions employers can take when considering applicants with disabilities. Any business with 15 or more employees must be fully compliant with the ADA. The ADA "prohibits private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, and unions from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, and other procedures , Conditions, and Privileges of Employment” (U.S. EEOC, 2007). This includes job applicants and existing employees. Individuals are considered to have a "disability" if they have a physical handicap or m...... middle of paper ...... ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Frierson, J. G. (1990). The public accommodations section of the ADA makes a long list of illegalities. (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990). Preventive Law Reporter, 9(4) 8(3), December 1990. Preston, P.J. (2003-2006). Discrimination in the workplace: knowing Title VII. Think Avenue: street intelligence for growing companies. Retrieved February 17, 2008, from http://www.thinkavenue.com/articles/hr/article01.htmSack, S. M. (1999). Getting fired. New York, NY: Warner Books, Inc. United States Department of Justice, (2006). Americans with Disabilities Act. Retrieved February 18, 2008, from the ADA Homepage website: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/q%26aeng02.htmU.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2007). Facts about the Americans with Disabilities Act. Retrieved February 18, 2008, from http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-ada.html