On July 26, 1990, the American with Disabilities Act was signed into law. In the 20 years since, people with disabilities have seen huge strides in the workplace, the home, the community and the attitude of general public.

ADA turns 20
Laws that opened the world go unnoticed by most

OKLAHOMA CITY — What now seems common place did not exist 20 years ago. Imagine pulling up to your local grocery store and not seeing a single accessible parking space or stepping into an elevator that does not have braille on the buttons. These simple little things that make mobility and independence for people with disabilities did not exist as law 20 years ago.

On July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act, the first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities.

“We used to have to try to work miracles for our clients with disabilities,” Mike O’Brien, director of the Department of Rehabilitation Services, said. “Often buildings were not accessible limiting the jobs our clients could apply for. Not to mention, the attitudes of employers where disabled people can’t work.”

“Things that we don’t even notice today were huge in providing dignity and independence. Imagine not eating or drinking while you are at the store or mall because your wheelchair won’t fit in the bathroom stall, or, worse yet, the door handle to the bathroom is round and you can’t turn it to get in the bathroom due to your paralysis.”

The Americans with Disabilities Act provided equality in attitude with the general public toward those with disabilities and opened a whole new world for those who wanted to work or simply take care of themselves.

There are five titles within the act:

•  Title I: Employment – Title I requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide qualified individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from the full range of employment-related opportunities available to others. Businesses must provide reasonable accommodations to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of employment. Possible changes may include restructuring jobs, altering the layout of workstations or modifying equipment.
  
• Titles II: State and Local Government Activities - Title II covers all activities of state and local governments regardless of the government entity’s size or receipt of Federal funding. Title II requires that state and local governments give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all of their programs, services, and activities such as public education, employment, transportation, recreation, health care, social services, courts, voting, and town meetings.
  
• Title III: Public Accommodations and services Operated by Private Entities - also known as public accommodations, focuses on private businesses. All new construction must be accessible, and existing facilities’ barriers to services must be removed if readily achievable. Public accommodations include facilities such as hotels, restaurants, bars, theaters and grocery stores.
  
• Title IV: Telecommunications – addresses telephone access for people with hearing and speech disabilities. Telecommunications companies must provide telephone relay service to individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TTYs) or similar devices.
  
• Title V: Miscellaneous Provision - clarifies that both states and congress are covered by all provisions of the ADA. It also provides for recovery of legal fees for successful proceedings pursuant to the Act and establishes a mechanism for technical assistance along with specific instructions to many federal agencies required to implement the Act.

“The ADA has afforded those with disabilities the equality and dignity that should have been there in the first place. The ADA has helped to teach the general public to set aside the old mores that said the disabled can’t work, can’t take care of themselves,” O’Brien said.

“We must stay vigilant to protect the ADA laws. And we must advocate to improve the ADA provisions as advancement in technology provide even better accessibility.”

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Editors Note: Press quality photos:

  90s montage
Wheelchair driver
  Braille computer
Employee who is blind
Laborers