When Ella Williams’s doctor diagnosed her with carpal tunnel syndrome, Toyota transferred her from an assembly line position to a job in Quality Control Inspection Operations (QCIO). Employees in this department typically performed four different jobs, but Williams was initially assigned only two tasks. Toyota then changed its policy and required QCIO employees to rotate through all four jobs.

Williams began to perform the “shell body audit.” After applying oil to the outside of cars, she visually inspected each car for flaws. To perform this task, she had to hold her hands and arms up around shoulder height for several hours at a time.

A short while after beginning this job, she began to experience pain in her neck and shoulders. She asked permission to perform only the two tasks that she could do without difficulty. Williams claimed that Toyota refused this request. Toyota said that Williams simply began missing work regularly. Ultimately, Williams’s doctor told her she should not do any work of any kind. Toyota fired her.

The Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit found that Williams was disabled under the terms of the ADA because her impairments substantially limited her in the major life activity of performing manual tasks. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Questions:

1. Was Williams disabled, within the terms of the ADA? Did Toyota violate the ADA?

2. Could Williams perform her job at Toyota?

3. Could Williams operate without assistance in her personal life?

4. Was she disabled, under the terms of the ADA?

5. Do you agree with this decision? Is it compassionate?

6. Why didn’t Toyota let her continue to perform just the two jobs she was capable of doing?