Thomas DeLeire

In the following viewpoint, Thomas DeLeire contends that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted in 1990 to increase job opportunities for people with disabilities, has unintentionally led to less employment of disabled workers. According to DeLeire, under the "reasonable accommodation" provision of the ADA, employers may be required to make costly modifications to the workplace and are increasingly faced with lawsuits when disabled employees feel that their accommodation needs have not been met. Fearing these negative consequences, employers have reduced their hiring of the disabled, in the author's opinion. DeLeire is an assistant professor at the Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies at the University of Chicago.

As you read, consider the following questions: 1. According to DeLeire, what percentage of men and women in the working-age population reported...