The American Disabilities Act (ADA) & POTS
Living with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, more commonly known as POTS, can leave the individual feeling completely disabled. The question then arises – is POTS a disability under the American Disabilities Act (ADA)?
Overview of the ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law which prohibits discrimination against those living with a disability. In order for an individual to be considered as having a disability, four criteria should be met:
- The individual must have a physical or mental impairment
- The impairment must place a substantial limitation on one or more major life activity
- The impairment must have occurred in the past or have a present or future impact
- The impairment must be verifiable
Does POTS Qualify as a Disability?
In deciding whether or not POTS is a disability, each criterion must be taken into consideration.
The individual must have a physical or mental impairment: According to the POTS Care Centre, POTS is an autonomic nervous disorder, meaning it affects the autonomic nervous system, an area that is considered physical. Consequently, POTS is a physical impairment.
The impairment must place a substantial limitation on one or more major life activity : Living with POTS can lead to an individual having difficulty with basic life activities, such as sleeping, showering and exercising, all activities that the ADA considers as major life activities.
The impairment must have occurred in the past or have a present or future impact: POTS is a long-term condition, meaning it has an ongoing impact on a person’s life.
The impairment must be verifiable: As POTS is diagnosable through clinical and diagnostic tests, it is considered a verifiable impairment.
All criteria have been met meaning POTS can, indeed, be considered a disability under the ADA.
Conclusion
Living with POTS can be extremely difficult and can lead to an individual feeling completely disabled. As POTS does meet the criteria for a disability under the ADA, individuals living with the condition can take legal action should they believe they have encountered discrimination due to it.
