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The Lasting Legacy of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

By Eileen F

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990. This landmark civil rights law ensures people with disabilities have equal opportunities in all aspects of life, including employment, health, social inclusion, transportation, and communication. Many people from the disability community often refer to July 26 as National Disability Independence Day. At the core of this commemoration is promoting and recognizing the rights and independence of people with disabilities.

When President George H.W. Bush signed the legislation into law in 1990, it was a remarkable bipartisan effort acknowledging the centuries of discrimination suffered by the disability community, and a fundamental change to how they live their lives. It was especially meaningful because it was the world’s first and only comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities, and it was a message to the world that people with disabilities should not only have protections but a fundamental right to live their life with dignity. In 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that 13.6% of the U.S. population lives with a disability.

In July 2010, I was personally invited to the White House by the Obama Administration to celebrate the then 20th anniversary of the ADA. It was one of the greatest honors of my professional career. As a parent of an adult child who requires 24/7 care, I have advocated for full inclusion and equity for decades. From schools, parks, churches, and health care facilities, I have partnered with policy makers to make systems more accessible not just for my child but for all people. While I don’t live with a disability myself, I treasure the depth of friendships I have in the disability community because of the resilience, hope, and wisdom shared with me. Even though my daughter is unable to speak, she has communicated to me in countless ways to keep pushing for comprehensive equity and inclusion.

The anniversary of the ADA is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate the progress that has been made and the continued efforts to make our communities more accessible for everyone. You have likely benefited from some of the provisions of the ADA, such as:

  • Elevators and ramps in public settings are used not only by individuals who use wheelchairs, but also families with strollers, delivery workers, and cyclists
  • Accessible workplaces that offer flexible workspaces, open seating, and remote work arrangements
  • Closed captioning in a noisy setting, business meeting, or while watching a movie
  • Accessible businesses with wider aisles and clear signage.

As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of this critical legislation, I encourage you to look around and celebrate all the richness that the ADA has ushered in to the community as a whole. The ADA’s legacy is empowerment, so take a moment to embrace what that means to you and how so many more people with disabilities are thriving as a result of this National Disability Independence Day!

You can learn more about the ADA here.