Adults With Learning Disabilities and the Underutilization of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Abstract

A B S T R A C T This article explored the use of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by individuals with learning disabilities (LD) in the workplace. A review of the extant literature revealed that people with LD were not likely to use the ADA as employees. Moreover, an analysis of selected, commonly used materials regarding transition indicated a lack of substantive information about the ADA for students with LD and professionals. In essence, the ADA is being underused during the beyond-school years by individuals with LD. Thus, the ADA has not realized its anticipated impact because people with LD largely have not benefited from the ADA legislation.