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Chapter 2: Individuals With Disabilities

III-2.6000 "Regarded as."

1. An individual who has a physical or mental impairment that does not substantially limit major life activities, but who is treated as if the impairment does substantially limit a major life activity;

   ILLUSTRATION: A, an individual with mild diabetes controlled by medication, is barred by the staff of a private summer camp from participation in certain sports because of her diabetes. Even though A does not actually have an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, she is protected under the ADA because she is treated as though she does.

2. An individual who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities only as a result of the attitudes of others towards the impairment;

   ILLUSTRATION: B, a three-year old child born with a prominent facial disfigurement, has been refused admittance to a private day care program on the grounds that her presence in the program might upset the other children. B is an individual with a physical impairment that substantially limits her major life activities only as the result of the attitudes of others toward her impairment.

3. An individual who has no impairments but who is treated by a public accommodation as having an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity.

   ILLUSTRATION: C is excluded from a private elementary school because the principal believes rumors that C is infected with the HIV virus. Even though these rumors are untrue, C is protected under the ADA, because he is being subjected to discrimination by the school based on the belief that he has an impairment that substantially limits major life activities (i.e., the belief that he is infected with HIV).

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Virginia Commonwealth University | www.dbtac.vcu.edu
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (#H133A060087-01)
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