On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. The ADA is a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life, including employment, education, transportation, and public accommodations. This July will mark the 33rd year the ADA has been in effect.
The History of the ADA
The ADA was the result of decades of advocacy by people with disabilities and their allies. The first significant piece of disability rights legislation was the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which banned discrimination against people with disabilities in federal programs and activities. In the years that followed, other important disability rights laws were passed, two significant laws being the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (1975) and the Air Carrier Access Act (1986).
The ADA was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. The law greatly impacted the lives of people with disabilities, creating new opportunities for employment, education, and community involvement.
The Future of Disability Rights
The ADA has made great progress in advancing equality for people with disabilities, but there is still more work that needs to be done. We must continue to advocate for the proper implementation of the ADA and for the continued passage of new laws that safeguard the rights of people with disabilities.
National Disability Independence Day is a time to reflect on the progress that has been made, as well as recommit to the work that still needs to be done so people of all abilities have equal rights. We must work together to break barriers and create a world where everyone, regardless of their disability, can reach their full potential.
Resources
- ADA National Network: https://adata.org/
- Adaptive Living Aids: https://adaptivelivingaids.com/what-does-ada-stand-for/
- ADA Anniversary Tool Kit: https://adaanniversary.org/
- National Disability Independence Day: https://www.inclusionhub.com/articles/national-disability-independence-day
