According to the Americans with Disabilities Act National Network, about 44 million adults (over age 18) in the U.S. report having had any mental health condition during the past year, representing about 18.5% of the U.S. population.
It is essential to know that the words 鈥渕ental health condition,鈥� 鈥減sychiatric disability,鈥� and 鈥渕ental illness鈥� are interchangeable. Examples include anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
People with mental health conditions (or any disability) have two primary rights under the ADA. First, they have a right to privacy. Second, they have a right to accommodations. Possible accommodations can include a distraction-reduced environment, noise-canceling headphones, and extended time for tests. When requesting accommodations, applicants will disclose some information about their disability. This information is confidential. Employees seeking accommodations should contact Human Resources, while students can contact Disability Services in the Academic Support Center.
