Today is the 16th anniversary of the signing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Happy Birthday ADA! This morning the American Council of the Blind (ACB) participated in a national dialogue on the state of disability in America. Sponsored by the National Council on Disability (NCD), this town hall meeting was attended by several notables from various federal agencies such as the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education; the Department of Justice; the Department of the Interior, Homeland Security, the Federal Communications Commission, Housing and Urban Development and even a representative from the White House.
The discussion centered around three distinct areas: Equality of Opportunity and Full Participation; Independent Living; and Economic Self-Sufficiency.
It was an opportunity to celebrate the successes of the ADA.
Examples given were:
- Telephone relay services being used at the highest levels ever
- Huge increases in transportation access (of which ACB has been an integral part)
- Voting amongst people with disabilities is at the highest level ever
- Shrinking education gap between students with disabilities and their non-disabled peers
- People generally experiencing less discrimination
The meeting was also a time to look at a number of barriers still ahead:
Examples given were:
- Lack of affordable housing
- Litigation issues that have been identified as having a negative impact – including class actions that did not protect the class at large
- Administrative settlements where the defendant is not followed up on and the settlement enforced
- Litigants who sue for their own gain, giving the ADA a negative appearance (drive-by lawsuits)
Most of all, the discussion focused on the fact that the ADA is a roadmap for behavior and tool for change. As commerce shifts more and more to the internet, as contractual and multi-career paths grow; as interagency problems change and private partners gain a larger and larger role, the ADA will have a larger and more complex role in our society. To date there have been technical updates that point the way; they are consensus building efforts that work towards keeping the ADA alive and vibrant. With the ADA as our roadmap we can reshape the way most Americans live in the most positive and inclusive way. As stated by Lex Frieden, Chair of NCD - It is our choice.
Day Al-Mohamed
Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind
1155 15th St. NW
Washington DC 20005
Tel. 202-467-5081
dalmohamed@acb.org