Title I of the ADA and Employer Requirements

The ADA prohibits employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities based solely on disability. The legal requirements employers must follow are covered in Title I of the ADA. These requirements prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment including hiring, firing, supervision and evaluation, advancement and compensation, training, and other benefits and conditions of employment such as social events or parking.

Title I regulations also require employers to provide reasonable accommodations needed to do the essential functions of a job, if requested by qualified individuals with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are changes or modifications to the job or workplace environment that do not cause an “undue hardship” to the employer.

Title I regulations apply to private employers with 15 or more employees and state and local governments. The regulations also apply to labor unions and employment agencies.

An overview of employers’ ADA compliance obligations can be found in the EEOC document The ADA: Your Responsibilities an an Employer


For more information about the ADA and employment topics, visit our ADA Employment Resources page.