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Disabilities and reasonable accommodation — Iowa

Signed into law on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the most comprehensive federal civil rights statute protecting the rights of people with disabilities. The ADA is divided into five titles, each addressing a unique area, including:

  1. employment (Title I)
  2. public services (Title II)
  3. public accommodations (Title III)
  4. telecommunications (Title IV)
  5. miscellaneous provisions (Title V).

Title I of the ADA directly affects employers and is the focus of this chapter.

In response to several Supreme Court decisions that limited the ability of disabled persons to recover in discrimination lawsuits under the ADA, Congress passed the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) which broadened the definition of “disability” and expanded the list of major life activities. The EEOC issued final regulations in May of 2011 that provide guidance as to what constitutes a disability under the ADAAA.

Additionally, the Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965 prohibits discriminatory treatment of individuals with a disability. Disability discrimination claims under the Iowa Civil Rights Act are analyzed in accordance with federal standards under the ADA and ADAAA. The Iowa Civil...


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