The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by president George H. W. Bush. It is a civil rights law protecting people with disabilities from discrimination. ADA ensures equity and nondiscrimination in different aspects of life, or titles in the law - employment, (title I) state and local government services (title II), public accommodations and commercial facilities, (title III) and telecommunications (title IV). There are also provisions related to other laws and their relationship with ADA laws.
In 2008, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) was signed by President George W. Bush in 2008 and became law in January 2009. This was primarily done in response to Supreme Court rulings that had narrowly defined a disability and made it more difficult to invoke ADA protections. The ADAAA defines a disability as, "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment." According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the ADAAA "emphasizes that the definition of disability should be construed in favor of broad coverage of individuals to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of the ADA and generally shall not require extensive analysis." This should make it easier for an individual to establish they have a disability. The National Center for Learning Disabilities explains that the ADAAA also provides protections for learning disabilities because, although learning disabilities are not specifically mentioned, learning, reading, thinking, and concentrating are considered major life activities.
To learn more about how the ADA changed everyone's lives, read this blog post from the National Museum of American History.
The above image is a sign from the Disabled Peoples' Civil Rights Day Rally in 1979. The image is provided by the National Museum of American History.
According to ADA National Network, both the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act mandate full and equal access to facilities and services for people with disabilities. Visit the ADA National Network website to learn about requirements for facilities (both inside the facilities and in parking lots), medical equipment and exam rooms, and patient communication.
According to the CDC:
For more information, visit the CDC's Disability Impacts All of Us infographic page.
Patrisha Wright was instrumental in the passage of the ADA. She also helped co-found the Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund. According to Accessible Media, Wright planned on becoming an orthopedic surgeon rather than going into politics; however a degenerative muscle disease that left her with double vision and legally blind led to a different career path. After taking a job in a nursing home and witnessing the treatment of some patients, Wright became a disability rights activist.
Photo of Patrisha Wright courtesy of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.
You can learn more about Wright at these sites:
