Final answer:
The ADA mandates that employers must make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities, enabling them to perform the job's essential functions, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the business.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, provided that the employees can perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations refer to any adjustments or modifications that would enable a qualified individual with a disability to have equal employment opportunities. This can include making existing facilities accessible, restructuring jobs, offering modified work schedules, acquiring or modifying equipment, and providing qualified readers or interpreters. Employers are not required to provide accommodations that would cause undue hardship to the operation of the business, which is determined by considering factors such as cost, resources available to the employer, and the nature and structure of the operation.
The act applies to employers with more than fifteen employees and includes various entities such as private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions. It is an essential piece of civil rights legislation that aims to prevent discrimination and promote equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the workplace.