Throughout the year, we have been celebrating 30 years of progress in access and inclusion, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Anniversary. The ADA was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush on July 26, 1990. Through passing this law, President Bush ensured that individuals in the United States of America will no longer be socially defined or limited in life by a disability. The Anniversary milestone is a celebration that promotes awareness of equality for people with disabilities.
The ADA is the first comprehensive civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination based on their disability. It protects people with disabilities from discrimination in all areas of public life, including the workplace, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the public. The law guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, such as accessible buses for wheelchairs, tactile exhibits at parks and museums, captions, or a sign language interpreter at a theater, concerts, or ball games. Other changes include accommodations in local, state, and federal government services, and telecommunications. These are just some of the life-changing accommodations that were made possible for people with disabilities because of the American Disabilities Act.
We are grateful to the ADA for making a life-altering change for individuals with disabilities. If you have any questions, please visit the resources below:
This Tool Kit is a project of the ADA National Network and its ten regional ADA Centers across the United States that provide comprehensive “one-stop” information, guidance, and training on the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).