Issue

Section 504

ADA

Coverage

Covers only recipients of Federal funds

Covers all employers with 15 or more employees; adds 2-year exemption for employers with less than 25 employees

Definition of
"Qualified
Individual with
Disability"

A disabled person who, with "reasonable" accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the job

An individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the employment position

Reasonable 
Accommodation

Reasonable Accommodation may include:

Reasonable Accommodation may include:

making facilities used by employees readily accessible and usable by disabled persons

making facilities readily accessible

job restructuring, part-time or modified work schedules

job restructuring, part-time or modified work schedules

No comparable provision 

reassignment to a vacant position

acquisition or modification of equipment or devices

acquisition or modification of equipment or devices

No comparable provision

appropriate adjustment or modifications of examinations, training materials or policies

provision of readers or interpreters

provision of readers or interpreters

Undue Hardship

Factors considered:

1. size of the organization and its budget

2. type of operation

3. nature and cost of accommodation

 Factors considered

1. size of the organization and its budget

2. type of operation

3. nature and cost of accommodation

Drug and Alcohol Use

Current drug use is not considered a disability

Current drug use is not considered a disability

Current alcohol abuse that prevents individual from performing duties of the job or that constitutes direct threat to property or safety of others is not considered a disability

Current alcohol abuse that prevents individual from performing duties of the job or that constitutes direct threat to property or safety of others is not considered a disability

Communicable Diseases

Term "individual with disabilities" excludes any individual with a communicable disease which would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of others or which renders the individual unable to perform the job

Permits qualification standard requiring that an individual with a currently-communicable disease or infection not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others

Relationships or Associations

No comparable provision

Prohibits discrimination based on relationship to or association with another disability