20 years of removing barriers

By The Gazette Editorial Board

Twenty years ago, anyone could ride a city bus in this country - provided they could walk up the stairs to board it. Anyone could enter a public building - if the doorway was wide enough for them to enter.

They could access information broadcast over public airways so long as they could see or hear the transmission; could work at a job for which they were qualified, if an individual employer decided to give them a chance.

Twenty years ago, people with disabilities had the same rights as every American, but no guarantee they could enjoy them. The Americans with Disabilities Act, written and sponsored by U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, changed all that - transformed the lives of tens of millions of Americans with disabilities by removing unnecessary barriers to work and participation in public life.

The law, signed on July 26, 1990, outlawed workplace discrimination against disabled workers and required improved access to public places and transportation. It also facilitated a broader attitude shift about disabilities in this country.

Still, there's much more to be done to fight persisting inequalities and to accommodate advances in technology.

One troubling example: Though more students with disabilities graduate from high school and attend college, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities still is disproportionately high.

The 2010 Kessler/NOD Survey of Americans with Disabilities found that only 21 percent of working-age people with disabilities are employed, compared with 59 percent of people without disabilities - it was the largest gap between people with and without disabilities that the survey identified.

President Obama last week signed an order requiring federal agencies to step up efforts to recruit and hire disabled workers. That's a start.

The survey also found only 54 percent of adults with disabilities reported having Internet access, compared to 85 percent of adults without disabilities - an issue partially addressed by a bill passed last week by U.S. Representatives that would require captioning for online television programs and require Internet phone equipment be compatible with hearing aids.

There are other areas with room for improvement - in housing, socialization and leisure, for example.

As we reflect upon how far we've come on the ADA's 20th anniversary, it's important to rededicate ourselves to eradicating remaining persistent barriers.