Final answer:
An employer may not question a job applicant about the severity of their disability; it is prohibited by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which requires reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
False, an employer may not specifically question a job applicant about the severity of his or her disability. Titles I and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) provide protection against discrimination on the basis of disability. This protection extends to job application procedures, hiring, and other employment-based operations. It is also required that employers make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the business.
However, the employer can inquire about the applicant's ability to perform job-related duties. If there is a bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) related to a certain position that requires specific physical or mental abilities, the employer may ask if the applicant can meet those requirements, provided that the questions are framed in terms of the job tasks and not the specific disability.