A disabled person must be qualified to carry out the ____________________ before the protections of the ADA may be invoked.

The protections provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are designed to ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities have access to employment opportunities and are not discriminated against due to their disabilities. For these protections to apply, a disabled individual must be able to perform the essential functions of the job, which are the fundamental job duties that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Essential functions are critical to the role and are the primary reasons the job exists. If an individual can perform these essential functions, even with a disability, they are considered qualified under the ADA. This requirement underscores the law's intention to protect individuals who can fulfill the primary responsibilities of a position, thereby promoting inclusion and employment opportunities for disabled individuals.

In contrast, practical tasks, non-essential job functions, and marginal job functions pertain to aspects of the job that are not central to its overall purpose. While these may contribute to the role, they do not carry the same weight as essential functions when it comes to determining qualification under the ADA. Therefore, understanding which functions of a job are essential is crucial for invoking the protections of the ADA.