The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990...
Introduction to the ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush. The ADA is one of America's most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life -- to enjoy employment opportunities, to purchase goods and services, and to participate in State and local government programs and services. Modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin – and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 -- the ADA is an "equal opportunity" law for people with disabilities. https://www.ada.gov/ada_intro.htm
In 1977, Judy Heumann helped lead peaceful protest that forced the government to follow through with Section 504. As part of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, the law would force hospitals, universities and other public spaces that received federal money, to remove barriers to accessibility for all Americans. But its implementation was long delayed over the costs necessary to retrofit buildings to comply with the law.
"We were being disregarded, not having ramps, not having accessible bathrooms, not being able to get across the street, not being able to get on buses," Heumann said in an interview with NPR.
Imani Barbarin, a disability activist with cerebral palsy grew up under the protection of ADA. Still, she said, the law "didn't really do much to change perceptions about disability"
Still, 30 years later, the disability activist says there are places where ADA has fallen short."I think the ADA is really good at codifying and making written into law equal opportunity, but it didn't really do much to change perceptions about disability," Barbarin said.
What ADA means to these Americans with disabilities and what challenges they still face.
Today, it's estimated 1 in 4 American adults has a disability. And it's not just visible disabilities, like using a wheelchair, being blind or deaf. There are common mental health conditions and learning disabilities. And the disabilities of old age, like Alzheimer's.
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