The ADA to Me
Author: Tony Trott
What does the ADA mean to me? That’s a question I have been thinking about a lot lately. I was just 32 when it became law in 1990, and although I knew I had a physical disability, I had only been using a
wheelchair part-time for about 5 years. So, the true importance of accessibility was not really something I was, personally, worried about for myself. Of course, things are quite different now and I am extremely aware of accessibility issues (and, of course, issues of inaccessibility). I have been a full-time wheelchair user for about 17 years and unless there is a miracle, I will be for the rest of my life. To me the ADA means access of all kinds; physical, emotional, psychological, et al.
When I think about the ADA, I focus on the civil rights it creates for me and all people with disabilities. I also realize that there are six critical words that should 
be added to the previous sentence: who know how to apply it.
Therein lies a big problem with the ADA, as is the case with many other civil rights laws. In order to benefit from it, you need to understand it. You need to know your rights. The ADA is not a law of entitlement, it’s one of empowerment. That is why Happy on Wheels tries to educate people (especially the younger generation) about how the ADA can benefit them. This applies to both people with disabilities and those without disabilities.
For example, people with disabilities make up a rather large portion of the population (the exact percentage differs slightly depending on where you get your information, but according to census.gov in 2018 the percentage of non-institutionalized adults was 12.6%) It makes sense for businesses to want to include people with disabilities in their list of patrons!
And that is where I find the rub. Why do businesses
build counters that are inaccessible? Why do hotels say they have roll in showers when they don’t? Why do stores say that they are accessible and upon arrival there is one step? Understanding what is required from a range of individuals is necessary to fully realize the benefits of the ADA. If I had my way, every architect, doctor, developer, and store owner, among others, would receive a crash course on what is required under the ADA. It is only then that we will reach systemic accessibility because it will be applied correctly from the start.
Is everything perfect because of the ADA? Of course not. We must keep a vigilant eye out for violations and scams involving accessibility, but the ADA was a necessary start to inclusion.
institutions to be accessible to individuals with disabilities in their programs and activities. The ADA broadened coverage to include employment, public accommodations, and later websites and other technology through addition of Section 508 to the Rehabilitation Act.
altar, bathroom, entryway, and programs that are accessible for those that are blind and deaf. These are major achievements that should be applauded. There are individuals all around this country that donate their time and resources to places of worship and many religious institutions have used donated resources to support making religious buildings more accessible for everyone, including individuals with disabilities.
individuals that are knowledgeable about the needs of people with disabilities and can help critique construction plans, review procedures, and help leadership of religious institutions figure out what they can do within their budget and how much more they can do if they have a fundraising campaign for specific accommodations. This is often people who have disabilities.
They had a vision of a better world for those with disabilities coming behind them. One where fighting for access to education, employment and places of public accommodation like restaurants and movie theaters would be accessible to all. That you could go in the front door and not the back door. That you could GET IN THE DOOR!
and architects still don’t understand or don’t comply with the ADA. Compliance with new laws for accessibility to keep pace with emerging technology are woefully inadequate. Travel by air is covered under a different law and remains beyond challenging. And basic compliance with the ADA requires constant vigilance. We can celebrate how far we have come but the fight must go on. As the famous Justin Dart would say, “Lead On.”