The act is designed to protect "qualified individuals with disabilities," where "qualified" is defined as a person having the necessary skills needed for a particular form of employment, and being able to do the work, with or without accommodation.

The act also states that it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of disability at any federal agencies or public institutions that are receiving federal funds. This technically extends civil rights to all people with disabilities, but does not change the surrounding culture, pathologization, or pattern of harmful abuses towards people with disabilities.