The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published proposed revisions to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations and accompanying interpretive guidance in order to implement the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA). The ADAAA significantly expands the scope of ADA coverage, enabling more individuals alleging disability-based employment discrimination to establish that they are disabled under the ADA. To that end, Congress directed the EEOC to revise its ADA regulations to comply with the ADAAA.

There are several important changes that also include a list of conditions that will “consistently meet the definition of disability.” These impairments include, but are not limited to, autism, cancer, cerebral palsy, diabetes, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, major depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia.

Topics addressed:

• The significance of the changes to such terms as what the EEOC considers as substantially limits, major life activity, mitigating measures, regarded as, bodily functions, etc.;
• The legislative history, findings and purpose of the ADAAA and how it can help broaden interpretation of the legislation.
• Challenges business owners are likely to face in interpreting the ADAAA.

Featured Speaker:
Joe Bontke, Manager
EEOC Office of Outreach and Ombudsman
Mr. Bontke is the outreach manager and ombudsman for the Houston District office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Mr. Bontke has been in the field of human resources and civil rights for the past 24 years and has experience in employment law and adult education. With a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in education, he has been a human resources director, a training coordinator for the American Disabilities Act (ADA) Technical Assistance Center for Federal Region VI, was appointed as assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine and recently has been named to the Governors’ Committee for People with Disabilities by Governor Rick Perry. Using his entertaining style, Mr. Bontke has educated groups throughout the country and most recently, his work at the EEOC has enabled him to empower employers and employees with the understanding they need to work effectively at their jobs.