On this date in 1990 when I was 11 the ADA was passed. Six years before I was born 504 was passed. 504 was the law that said that all disabled children were entitled to an education, it was the disabled communities separate but equal legislation. Thirty years later I would go to a school that did not abide by either law. The ADA has straightened 504 and opened up transportation and school opportunities for many disabled people. We still have a long way to go, unemployment for the disabled is still much higher than for other people. Some schools are still claiming that it is not worth making a school accessible to "a few students" . Even despite the fact that a lot of people still have outdated views on what the disabled are capable of, there is a change happening. I have seen the positive benefits of the ADA in the last 20 years, I have even had the chance to help make computer labs at my university more accessible to blind students. My life project is to give the ADA more "balls" to require all businesses to use universal design so that no member of society is left out.
In the mid 1970's 504 came under attack and there was a sit in in a San Francisco federal building. For one month disabled people protested until the law was allowed to remain. In 1990 disabled men women and children crawled up the steps of the capitol building to fight for equal rights and the passage of the ADA. I am proud to count myself as one of the disabled. God bless those who fought and continue to fight.
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