The Americans with Disablities Act marks its 20th anniversary today. An advocate for the disabled say the law has provided greater protection and accessibility. “I think the ADA has had a huge impact. Some of its been gradual year-by-year so you don’t really notice it as one great big bang,” says Disability Rights Wisconsin Executive Director Lynn Breedlove.
Breedlove says, for example, here in the badger state there is greater access for the disabled in restaurants, movie theaters, voting places, libraries and public transportation. Additionally it provides greater course of legal action for publically funded facilities not in compliance.
The ADA also allows the disabled to better integrate themselves into society he says. Those live in publically funded special living facilities that want to get their own house or apartment, have the right to use those same public funds to be individual dwellers.
Breedlove says the law also provides greater protection for disabled who are discriminated in the hiring process or while on the job.