Today marks the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)! In 1990, President Bush signed the act into law; this was our nation’s first act that was created specifically to serve people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination in the work place, school, transportation, and public spaces. The purpose of this law is to guarantee people with disabilities equal opportunities and civil rights protections similar to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was created to protect individuals from discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, race, etc. Prior to this legislation, people with disabilities struggled with obtaining jobs, could legally be paid less than their coworkers without disabilities, struggled riding public transportation ( if in a wheelchair one would have to sit in bus seat without wheelchair), were refused service in some restaurants, and much more. This bill revolutionized life for people with disabilities not only with civil protection, but also by making public places such as buses, trains, restaurants, restrooms, etc. have designated areas accessible for people with disabilities. Read more about how the creation of the ADA made an impact on people’s lives here.
