Employees who have a disability are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"). The ADA is a civil rights law that outlines the rights of people with disabilities. One qualifies as having a "disability" under the ADA if the person (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, (2) has a record of such an impairment, or (3) is regarded as (or seen as) having such an impairment. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") is responsible for enforcing the ADA and ensuring that a person with a disability at work is free from discrimination. The ADA applies to state and local governments, private employers with at least 15 employees, labor unions, and joint labor-management committees and prohibits discrimination against employees with a disability at work. The ADA applies to employees from the time they apply for a job, through full employment. The ADA provides that people with a disability at work are treated fairly when it comes to the decisions that employers make about hiring, pay, promotions, benefits, and training.