What is a Disability?

The Americans with Disabilities Act provides comprehensive civil rights protections for “individuals with disabilities.” An individual with a disability is a person who:

  • has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities
  • or has a record of such impairment
  • or is regarded as having such impairment
Examples of physical or mental impairments include, but are not limited to contagious and non-contagious diseases and conditions as:
  • orthopedic, visual, speech, hearing impairments
  • cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis
  • cancer, heart disease, diabetes
  • mental retardation, emotional illness, specific learning disabilities
  • tuberculosis, HIV disease (whether symptomatic or asymptomatic)
“Major life activities” include functions such as:
  • caring for oneself
  • performing manual tasks
  • walking
  • seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing
  • learning, working.

 

Resource for Access Information

VSA Nevada  (VSAN) is the only statewide source of participatory art programs for the 11% of Nevada’s population with some type of disability.
250 Court Street
Reno, NV, 89501
Voice/TDD:  775.826.6100
Fax: 775-337-6107
Email