3122C - COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF EMPLOYMENT RELATED PROVISIONS OF ADA AND SECTION 504
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 | 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 | |
Issue | Section 504 | ADA |
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 examination, training materials or policies | |
Provision of readers or interpreters | Provision of readers or interpreters | |
Undue Hardship | Factors considered: | Factors considered: |
1) size of the organization and its budget 2) type of operation 3) nature and cost of accommodation | 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 | |
Issue | Section 504 | ADA |
Communicable Diseases | Term "individual with disabilities "excludes any individual with a communicable disease which would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety or 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 |