In June 2009, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted to revise its rules to conform to changes made by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), which was signed into law by President Bush in September 2008 and broadened the scope of disability protected under the law. On March 24, 2011, the EEOC released the much-anticipated final regulations pertaining to the ADAAA. The new regulations become effective on June 24, 2011, 60 days from publication.

The ADAAA, which went into effect on January 1, 2009, clarifies the terminology used to define disability, and directs the EEOC to overhaul its regulations to expand protection for disabled individuals seeking protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).