"The central inquiry must be whether the claimant is unable to perform the variety of tasks central to most people's daily lives," not just those of a particular job, said Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in what could be another landmark decision for people with disabilities in America. Since 1990, the scope of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been narrowed significantly, easing the compliance burden for employers and property owners. Somehow, over the next several years, a clearer line will be drawn between claims that are reasonable and unreasonable--this is a very difficult task. Will conservative politicians attempt to steer the law too far in favor of employers? (NYT; user name: opensewer; password: iswatching.)