People with disabilities and their supporters

What is a disability?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a law that protects people with disabilities against discrimination.  Different laws may have different definitions of the word disability.

According to the ADA, you have a disability if it is very difficult or impossible for you to do everyday things like:

• Hear
• See
• Speak
• Focus
• Sleep
• Walk
• Breathe

Here’s another way to understand it: your brain, body, or organs (like your heart or kidneys) work differently compared to how most people’s do.

Learn more about who is protected by the ADA and see examples of disabilities

How the Pacific ADA Center can help

We can help you:

• Understand your rights
• Know how to ask for accommodations
• Learn how to make a complaint