Disability Rights & The Continued Fight
Disability Rights & The Continued Fight In July 2023, the United States of America celebrated the 33rd Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA into law after decades of advocacy by disability rights activists and supporters. Under the ADA, schools and workplaces are now required to have ramps, elevators, designated parking spots and curb cuts, and to provide accommodations for people with a range of disabilities, including those who are blind or deaf. Historically, the legal provisions of the ADA were inspired by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The ADA was designed to protect people with disabilities against discrimination and to ensure they can participate fully in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, transportation and telecommunications. Congress stated the purpose of the ADA is “to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.” As of 2023, the ADA is the most comprehensive of the nation’s disability laws. However, despite the advancements of the Disability Rights movement, there are major gaps that need to be filled to maximize inclusion and accessibility for every community, especially people with disabilities. Let’s face it, equality in theory does not equate to equality in practice. After over 30 years since the passage of the ADA, Claudia Center, the legal director of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, reports, “disability-related complaints remain the largest category filed with the federal agencies that enforce fair housing and employment laws, and many businesses and institutions remain inaccessible. To date, we have American children with disabilities who are less likely to graduate from high school and far less likely to attend college than their nondisabled peers. People with disabilities are also disciplined more often in educational settings…