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Services and Supports for Longer-Term Impacts of COVID-19
Individuals Who Experience
Disabilities from Long COVID
For some, whose Long COVID substantially limits their
major life activities, their illness may qualify as a
disability under disability rights laws. Whether Long
COVID is a disability depends on how Long COVID
affects the individual. Other laws define disability
differently, and individuals will need to meet those
definitions to qualify for those programs. The following
examples highlight cases where Long COVID may be a
disability according to the Americans for Disabilities Act
(ADA) and other disability rights laws.
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• A person with Long COVID who has lung damage
that causes shortness of breath, fatigue, and
related effects is substantially limited in
respiratory function, among other major life
activities
• A person with Long COVID who has symptoms
of intestinal pain, vomiting, and nausea that
have lingered for months is substantially limited
in gastrointestinal function, among other major
life activities
• A person with Long COVID who experiences
memory lapses and cognitive impairment (or
“brain fog”) is substantially limited in brain
function, concentrating, and thinking.
When Long COVID qualifies as a disability under federal
disability rights laws, individuals are eligible for
reasonable accommodations, such as
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• Modifying a policy to allow a person who
experience dizziness when standing to be
accompanied by their service animal that is
trained to stabilize them
• Providing an employee who has fatigue issues a
modified work schedule
Long COVID and Disability
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• According to official guidance
from the Office for Civil Rights of
the Department of Health and
Human Services, the Civil Rights
Division of the Department of
Justice, and the Equal
Employment Opportunity
Commission, Long COVID can be a
disability under the ADA, Sections
501 and 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act, and Section 1557 of the
Affordable Care Act if it
substantially limits one or more
major life activities
• These federal laws provide
protection from discrimination for
people with disabilities
• Major life activities include, but
are not limited to, caring for
oneself, performing manual tasks,
seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping,
walking, standing, sitting,
reaching, lifting, bending,
speaking, breathing, learning,
reading, concentrating, thinking,
writing, communicating,
interacting with others, and
working. The term also includes
the operation of a major bodily
function, such as the functions of
the immune system,
cardiovascular system,
neurological system, circulatory
system, or the operation of an
organ
• The limitations do not need to be
severe, permanent, or long-term