Models of Disability and the Americans with Disabilities Act

For nearly a decade, the Americans with Disabilities Act has been the main protection for people with disabilities against discrimination in employment, public accommodations, public transportation, and telecommunications. While popular criticism of the ADA persists, the legal system has become the primary arena for challenges to the ADA's broad focus and underlying assumptions. This article suggests that much of the larger disagreement over the Americans with Disabilities Act can be characterized as a clash of perspectives about the meaning of disability.