Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary-July 26

By: Kaylee Powell

On July 26th, 1990 President George H.W. Bush signed The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) thus making July 26th a historical day. This new civil rights law “prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in many areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and many public and private places that are open to the general public,” states the ADA National Network . On this day we reflect on the progress we have made to be more inclusive and accessible but also continue to learn about other ways we can improve.

ADA Breakdown

The ADA is a piece of legislation that is broken down into five titles, each detailing different aspects of accessibility and equality.

Title I: Employment

This section applies to any person employing 15 or more people. It states that qualified individuals cannot be discriminated against during the hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, or any other process during employment. They are also required to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities.

Title II: Public Services
Title II prohibits the government, its departments, and agencies from discriminating against those with disabilities from participating in programs, activities, or services provided by public entities. Places that receive government funding must also follow these rules, for example, public transportation such as a bus, metro, or AMTRAK. The government must review their current services and keep them up to date on accommodation to avoid unintentional discrimination along with properly marking areas for people with different needs.

Title III: Public Accommodations

Title III applies to all privately owned places that provide public places and prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. This can be in restaurants, libraries, pharmacies, doctor's offices, retail stores, museums, parks, private schools, and hotels. Title III also requires newly constructed buildings of public accommodations to comply with ADA standards. Religious groups and organizations comply with these rules as well but their standards are slightly different.

Title IV: Telecommunications

Title IV all telephone and internet companies to provide an inclusive nationwide system that relays messages in a way for all individuals with speech and hearing disabilities to be able to communicate over the phone. This also applies to public service announcements.

Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions

Title V covers a variety of provisions related to the ADA overall. It relates to other laws like state immunity, insurance providers and benefits, retaliation, coercion, etc.

Impact of the ADA

The enactment of the ADA has impacted the lives of millions of Americans allowing them to become more involved in their communities and be more independent. The addition of wheelchair ramps to speaking crosswalk polls has been an improvement in public accessibility. The Law has also created a greater understanding of civil rights for disabled individuals. The ADA has also served as a model for how other countries can also reduce barriers for people with disabilities.

How to Celebrate

There are many ways to celebrate the anniversary of the ADA, for example continuing to educate yourself and others is a great way to bring awareness to the day and all of its successes along with encouraging a change. Another way to celebrate is by advocating for more updated laws and for more places to be made accessible for people with different abilities. You can also participate in events such as webinars, workshops, and community gatherings to commiserate the day.

July 26th was a monumental day for people with different abilities because it was the day their civil rights were put on paper and made into legislation. This day commemorates all the hard work put into advocating and raising awareness. It also reminds us of all the work that can still be done to create a more inclusive environment.

Sources:

“Disability Awareness Day.” World Forgotten Children, www.worldforgottenchildren.org/blog/disability-awareness-day/72#:~:text=The%20goal%20for%20this%20day,to%20social%20and%20cultural%20life. Accessed 19 June 2024.

“Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act.” ADA.Gov, 21 June 2024, www.ada.gov/topics/intro-to-ada/#businesses-that-are-open-to-the-public.