CONTACT: Kimberli Meadows, (301) 918-3747, kmeadows@efa.org

Kisha James, (301) 918-3768, kjames@efa.org

Congress and President Bush Restore the Promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 25, 2008—The Epilepsy Foundation applauds Congress and President Bush for passing the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), which secures protections against workplace discrimination for every American with a disability. The ADAAA marks a historic move toward assuring the promise of the original Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law by President George H. W. Bush in 1990.

"For those of us with epilepsy, this legislation is even more important than the passage of the original ADA. This bill was primarily focused on correcting our exclusion from the ADA by misguided courts. Congress listened to us and we thank them," said Tony Coelho, immediate past chair of the Epilepsy Foundation Board of Directors and former U.S. congressman from California, who served as the primary author of the original ADA.

The ADA opened many doors for people with disabilities. It changed our country’s expectations and opinions of people with disabilities, setting a positive standard for the rest of the world; however, Supreme Court decisions over the past 18 years narrowed the definition of disability leaving thousands of people without civil rights protections in the workplace. The new law will overturn several Supreme Court decisions that have inappropriately narrowed the protections of the ADA.

The Foundation joined hundreds of employer, disability, faith, civil rights and veterans’ organizations in a strong collaboration with bi-partisan congressional leaders to give new hope to the 45 million Americans living with disabilities, including the three million people coping with epilepsy.

“The ADA Amendments Act is a strong and balanced compromise that protects the needs of both businesses and people with disabilities. It is about equal employment opportunity for people with epilepsy and other disabilities. As concerns over the economy and job security increase, the fact that this law becomes effective January 1 is sure to give Americans with disabilities one less thing to be anxious about,” said Eric R. Hargis, President and CEO.