Indeed, on that hot summer day in 1990, George H.W. Bush signed into law the most comprehensive legislation ever crafted in the name of equal rights for people with disabilities. And yet, more than a quarter of a century later, despite the advances made, the journey to true equality is far from complete. 26 years post-ADA, the unemployment rate among people with disabilities soars above that of people without disabilities; healthcare settings remain fraught with inaccessible equipment and facilities; moms and dads with disabilities often face the threat of losing their children or are denied the right to adopt; and cities and municipalities repeatedly fail when it comes to integrated disaster planning and access to the vote.
What a trip it’s been, and still, we have miles to go before we can rest. Yet, as discouraged and exhausted as we may find ourselves at times, we need only look to the countless people with disabilities who are boldly using the power of the written word to proclaim the victory of the ADA and to keep alive the message of its vast potential to take us beyond the limitations of today. In their writing there is solace, sustenance and the will to press on.
Here are a few ADA-inspired selections well worth the read:
http://www.disabledparenting.com/welcome-to-the-disabled-parenting-project-community/blog/
http://www.momsrising.org/blog/disability-blog-carnival-living-in-a-post-ada-world
