Learners With Disabilities

More than 5.8 million children throughout the United States live with some type of disability (WEEA Equity Resource Center, 2000). Professionals working Learners with Disabilities can use these recommended resources to address barriers to assist students to make the transition from school to work, postsecondary education or further training.

Definition

Disability is defined in Section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102). The ADA defines a person with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. This includes people who have a record of such impairment, even if they do not currently have a disability. It also includes individuals who do not have a disability but are regarded as having a disability. The ADA also makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person based on that person’s association with a person with a disability.