Final answer:
A disability, under the ADA, is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. It includes conditions like alcoholism, former drug use, obesity, or psychiatric disabilities and mandates reasonable accommodations in the workplace. The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a disability is correctly defined as a physical or mental impairment that causes substantial limitation to a major life activity. An impairment under the ADA includes any condition that significantly restricts activities such as hearing, seeing, walking, speaking, breathing, learning, working, caring for oneself, and performing manual tasks. Furthermore, the ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment, unless such accommodations would result in undue hardship to the employer.
Conditions such as alcoholism, past drug addiction, obesity, or psychiatric disabilities might also be considered under the ADA, expanding the scope of protected individuals. However, the law does not consider a condition a disability if it can be mitigated with corrective measures like a hearing aid, medication, or is in remission. Therefore, the ADA moves away from a solely medical model and importantly integrates a sociological perspective, recognizing the barriers imposed by society on individuals with impairments.
Mental health conditions that cause significant impacts on everyday life and require long-term treatment also fall under the definition of disability within the ADA. Employees and applicants must not be discriminated against on the basis of disability, providing equitable opportunities in employment and mandated access to public accommodations and transportation.