34th Anniversary of the ADA

On the 26th, we celebrated the 34th anniversary of the signing of the ADA (Americans with disabilities act). It is important to acknowledge its profound impact on promoting equality. Originally, I was going to have a story ready to post first thing on the day but I thought, maybe I should wait until after the day, after the celebrations and new things I learn. You should try to learn AT LEAST two new things every day. Learning is something we manage to do even in the worst situations and it improves your life.

Please check out the website for some very useful information:

https://www.ada.gov/

By official definition:

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 or ADA (42 U.S.C. § 12101) is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. It affords similar protections against discrimination to Americans with disabilities as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which made discrimination based on race, religion, sex, national origin, and other characteristics illegal, and later sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition, unlike the Civil Rights Act, the ADA also requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, and impose accessibility requirements on public accommodations.

But to me, it’s one of those things that mean too much for words. It gives you a feeling that you can kind of explain a little but never fully. It’s like the perfect hug that you never knew you always needed.

July is also disability pride month. I posted a picture of the disability pride flag, along with the explanation of each color on it, in a few support groups on Facebook. While many loved it, there were a few who were in that initial anger phase some of us know so well.

They said- nobody should be proud to be disabled! I never will be!

I said, it’s not called “I love being disabled” month! Not many people would choose to be disabled. I think the pride is in how you handle something very hard that you didn’t want or expect. To me, that’s the ultimate show of character. How someone handles a difficult situation. People look up to those who have money, power and influence but I truly think that admiration is so misdirected and says so much about society!

I’m sure that being rich and powerful has its hard times but it also has big payoffs for the hard work and relaxing, easy days. Being disabled has its ups and downs but you never get a day off or a vacation. There are definitely good times but not full, easy, relaxing days.

Those are the people who everyone should really admire! I have met so many people who face astronomical hurdles just to leave the house every day. They can stay home and do nothing. The state will pay people to do everything for you but not easily supply environmental accommodations to help thousands do things for themselves.

Society makes it so you need a whole other person sometimes. Someone recently questioned why I was alone! I hear that very often! I’m NOT 5 and in need of a babysitter! That’s SO insulting! Those people are actually stating that this world is too difficult for someone like me to be alone! So people understand the need for accommodations for others when it’s bothersome to them, but the same people don’t understand it when we need them to? That makes me so mad!

Of course society offers alternatives but a lot of those choices include giving up so much freedom.

The government is looking to cut CPAP and other health aide help so millions will have to go into nursing homes. If there are one time alterations that can help thousands live more independently, that’s much more cost effective than paying for more aide hours every month. Common sense.

The world is great for people who are totally fine or very sick but not so great for the people who are in between. People who are disabled but still want to live life. Some people make more accommodations for their pets.

But regardless of what people want, the ADA makes sure that everyone does what’s right and that’s why I’m so thankful for it. I’ll forever be grateful for the ADA and everyone who fought hard to make it happen!

The ADA has created more accessibility for people with disabilities. The ADA has transformed public spaces, workplaces, transportation systems, etc….. Ensuring greater inclusion and opportunities for millions.

The flag’s five colors represent different types of disabilities:

red (physical disabilities)

gold (neurodivergence)

white (invisible and undiagnosed disabilities)

blue (psychiatric disabilities)

green (sensory disabilities)

“The charcoal gray background commemorates and mourns disabled people who have died due to ableism, violence, negligence, suicide, rebellion, illness and eugenics. The gray background also represents rage and protest against the mistreatment of the disabled community.”