What law protects individuals with disabilities in the U.S.?

• A. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
• B. The Affordable Care Act
• C. The Civil Rights Act of 1964
• D. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Answer: (A)

The broad protection for individuals with disabilities in the United States is provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This law makes it illegal to discriminate against someone because of a disability and requires reasonable accommodations so people can participate fully in work, public services, and everyday life. It covers a wide range of areas, including employment, access to public buildings and transportation, and communication services, which is why it’s considered the central disability rights law.

Other options don’t offer the same comprehensive scope. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protects people with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal funding, and in federal employment, but its reach is narrower than the ADA. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 addresses discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, not disability. The Affordable Care Act focuses on health care reform and access, not on prohibiting disability discrimination across all areas of public life.