disability

Disability is defined under federal law, particularly the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as a recorded physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. It also includes individuals who have a history of such an impairment or who are perceived as having one, even if they do not. Major life activities include tasks like walking, hearing, speaking, learning, and eating.

Physical impairments may include conditions like cerebral palsy, visual or hearing loss, or muscular dystrophy. Mental impairments may involve learning difficulties, psychiatric disorders, or developmental conditions.

The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in areas such as employment, transportation, and access to public services. Most people with disabilities retain full legal capacity. However, in contract law, a person may lack capacity to contract due to extreme physical or mental impairment or minority status, which is a separate legal issue from disability under civil rights law.

For more information, visit ADA.gov

[Last reviewed in July of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team] 

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