The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 identifies an individual with a disability, as a person who has one or more of the following characteristics except for which one?

Having a record of a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities is explicitly the second prong of the ADA's statutory definition of disability.

Being regarded as having an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities is explicitly the third prong of the ADA's definition and a recognized basis for protection under the law.

The ADA's three-part definition of disability covers: (1) having an actual physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, (2) having a record of such impairment, and (3) being regarded as having such impairment - 'is believed by employers' is not a recognized statutory prong and is a distorted paraphrase that does not appear in the statute. Because it matches none of the three official categories, it is the one characteristic that does not belong.

Having an actual physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities is the first and primary prong of the ADA's definition of disability.