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524US2

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BRAGDON v. ABBOTT

Opinion of the Court

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U. S. C. 790 et seq.) or the
regulations issued by Federal agencies pursuant to such
title.”

42 U. S. C. § 12201(a).

The directive requires us to construe the ADA to grant at
least as much protection as provided by the regulations
implementing the Rehabilitation Act.

1

The ﬁrst step in the inquiry under subsection (A) requires
us to determine whether respondent’s condition constituted a
physical impairment. The Department of Health, Education
and Welfare (HEW) issued the ﬁrst regulations interpreting
the Rehabilitation Act in 1977. The regulations are of
particular signiﬁcance because, at the time, HEW was the
agency responsible for coordinating the implementation and
enforcement of § 504 of that statute. Consolidated Rail
Corporation v. Darrone, 465 U. S. 624, 634 (1984) (citing
Exec. Order No. 11914, 3 CFR 117 (1976–1980 Comp.)). Sec-
tion 504 prohibits discrimination against individuals with
29
disabilities by recipients of federal ﬁnancial assistance.
U. S. C. § 794. The HEW regulations, which appear without
change in the current regulations issued by the Department
of Health and Human Services, deﬁne “physical or mental
impairment” to mean:

“(A) any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic
disﬁgurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more
of the following body systems: neurological; musculo-
skeletal; special sense organs; respiratory,
including
speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive, digestive,
genito-urinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endo-
crine; or

“(B) any mental or psychological disorder, such as
mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional
or mental illness, and speciﬁc learning disabilities.”
45
CFR § 84.3( j)(2)(i) (1997).