But litigation under the act has been rare. The Justice Department and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, together, have averaged fewer than 25 suits during each of the past five years. A Justice Department review revealed about 650 ADA cases nationwide. Further, the ADA does not require employers to hire anyone who is not qualified for the job. An employee or job applicant may not succeed in claiming discrimination under the ADA unless he or she meets all of the requirements of the job and can perform its essential functions.
Experience shows that most accommodations can be made without difficulty and at little or no cost.
We are committed to making the ADA's goals a reality, to give Americans with disabilities an equal chance to participate in all this nation has to offer. Ms. Reno is the attorney general of the United States. Mr. Thornburgh was attorney general in the Bush administration. This article is from The Wall Street Journal dated July 26, 1995.