This month we celebrate the 21st anniversary of the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Twenty-one years of advocacy for the rights of people with disabilities is a noteworthy accomplishment.  Yet, we still have a long way to go before the barriers for people with disabilities are all broken down.

The Census Bureau shed some light on a disturbing statistic this year–12 percent of people without a disability have not earned a high school diploma; that figure more than doubles toa discouraging 28 percent for students with disabilities.  This statistic not only speaks to the struggles that schools are still addressing, but it impacts future issues that students with disabilities will face, such as post-secondary educational/training options, unemployment, and independence.

President Obama stated in his Proclamation on the Anniversary of the ADA (July 25, 2011), “…there is more work to be done and my Administration remains committed to ending all forms of discrimination and upholding the rights of Americans with disabilities…Together, we can ensure our country is not deprived of the full talents and contributions of the approximately 54 million Americans living with disabilities, and we will move forward with the work of providing pathways to opportunity to all of our people.”

The ADA has made a significant difference in the world of disabilities.  People with disabilities and their advocates continue to work towards equal opportunities for all.  Let’s hope that in the next decade, statistics will paint a different picture and it will truly be an occasion for celebration.

Twenty years ago the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed by President Bush– July 26, 1990.  After two decades, change is coming to the ADA.

Starting today, Tuesday, March 15, 2011,  the newly revised regulations will take effect.

“The new rules usher in a new day for the more than 50 million individuals with disabilities in this country,” said Thomas E. Perez, assistant attorney general for civil rights. “The rules will expand accessibility in a number of areas.”

Those areas include first-ever accessibility requirements for swimming pools, parks, and other recreational facilities.  Additionally, the revised regulations set standards for the use of wheelchairs versus other mobility devices and address accessible seating at entertainment venues and hotel room reservations.

Businesses will get some options with the new regulations, since only buildings constructed or altered after March 15, 2012 will have to comply with these new accessibility requirements.

WebAIM has long advocated for improved Web accessibility.

The people at WebAIM have long advocated for better web accessibility, so executive director Cyndi Rowland wrote a happy blog earlier this week on their website after learning that the Department of Justice is investigating  applying the Americans with Disabilities Act to the Internet (WebAIM is an initiative of the CPD).

“In short, the Department is seeking comments on their desire to revise regulation to ‘…establish specific requirements for State and local governments and public accommodations to make their websites accessible to individuals with disabilities,”” she wrote. “The Department is seeking specific comment on many things including the standards they should adopt, and if there should be any exemptions for certain entities (e.g., small business) before they publish their Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. This is amazing news! The impact that this will have for individuals with disabilities cannot be expressed.”

The blog was cited by Slashdot, a technical news website. The Chronicle of Higher Education also blogged on the development and quoted WebAIM’s Jonathan Whiting. Education Week’s Digital Eucation blog has also looked at the topic.

These blogs, in turn, started more discussion on web accessability. It wasn’t all happy, particularly on the slashdot site.

“If they don’t cater to a particular audience, that audience doesn’t have to visit the site,” said one commernter. ”Not that this is specific to this aspect of the ADA; the same applies to brick-and-mortar stores as well. What gives anyone the right to use legal force against a business owner who doesn’t configure his property so that it caters to particular people?”

Another said, “This is about every citizen having equal access to government, for example.”

And it goes on for at least 290 comments.

Some of the responses surprised WebAIM Executive Director Cyndi Rowland. ”It is important for those of us who are disability advocates to hear how others process disability-rights information.  This  experience made me think that I am more insular than I would want to believe,” she said. “I did not know that some of these opinions still existed. With that said, we need to move forward with an understanding that they do.”

WebAIM Associate Director Jared Smith addressed the topic and what it means for websites and web designers today on the WebAIM blog. In his post, he both refutes the notion that ADA requirements will send web pages back to the 1990s and agrees that implementation will be tricky.

“ The ADA and its implementation is far from perfect, but I believe that we live in a world where people with disabilities should have opportunities to engage in commerce and online activities uninhibited by discrimination,” he wrote. ”This has generally not occurred to date.”

Here’s to some good discussion.

Today is a great day of celebration for persons with disabilities, their families and advocates.  It is a time to join with others in proclaiming a recommitment to the vision and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act–full inclusion of people with disabilities into American life!

The Center for Persons with Disabilities has joined the “2010 by 2010 Campaign,” sponsored by the National ADA Symposium in recognition of the passage of this landmark civil rights legislation, by signing the “Proclamation of Recommitment” to the spirit of the ADA.

A version of the Proclamation follows:

Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

A Proclamation of Recommitment to Full Implementation of the ADA

On July 26, 1990, President George H. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities. This legislation established a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

The ADA has expanded opportunities for Americans with disabilities by reducing barriers and changing perceptions, increasing full participation in community life. However, the full promise of the ADA will only be reached if public entities remain committed in their efforts to fully implement the ADA.

On the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we (_name of public entity_) celebrate and recognize the progress that has been made by reaffirming the principals of equality and inclusion and recommitting our efforts to reach full ADA compliance.

NOW THEREFORE, the ______________ (County Board of Commissioners/City Council/Mayor/President) do hereby reaffirm our commitment to work toward full ADA compliance in _________________(name of public entity). 

The CPD is proud to be one of the 2010 and will continue to work toward full ADA compliance. You and your organization can also sign this recommitment to the ADA and become one of the 2010 this year.