On September 25, 2008 President Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA). The statute, which expands protection of persons with disabilities in the workplace, will become effective on January 1, 2009. Expansion of Who the Act Covers as Disabled The ?Findings and Purposes? section of the ADAAA notes that the U.S. Supreme Court, and lower courts, have interpreted the definition of disability too restrictively, meaning that persons who should have been protected under the ADA have not been. Although not changing the ADA?s technical definition of disability, Congress states that the term must be interpreted in favor of broad coverage to the maximum extent permitted under the terms of the law.

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