Grzegorz and Magda. (flickr: dominikgolenia)
President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law 20 years ago, today. Since then, we’ve almost come to take for granted many of the things it required: accessible public transportation, reserved parking, more frequent curb cuts, equal access to employment and education opportunities, and much more.
To take stock of how much has changed, and how far we still have to go, John Hockenberry joins us, even though he’s still technically on vacation. Hockenberry was paralyzed from the chest down in a car accident when he was 19.
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Comments [2]
I did not receive fair treatment in my job of 25 years. When they knew I had breast cancer I was told it was no bif deal at least I knew what I was dying of. After 6 weeks of radiation when I returned to work, I was told if I could not do my job they would find someone who could. The following month I was told I was being laid off in January due to my job being eliminated. The job wasn't eliminated it was given to a person who made more money. They kept an employee who had only been there one year. But because of job classifications they told me there was nothing I could do. I had been to HR about my supervisor touching me, trying to record a conversation without my persmission and they did nothing. I was laid off. 25 years. So don't kid yourself, HR can do what ever they want because no one will say anything. I am disabled officailly.
I am an architect and 20 years ago passage of the ADA signaled a fundamental change in American attitudes about people with disabilities, namely they would no longer be ignored and invisible, shut away in institutions and confronted with barriers in public places.
Today on the 20th anniversary of the signing into law by the first Pres Bush, I note there remain numerous instances of architectural barriers and, in addition, see that all kinds of people take advantage of curb ramps and no-step entry into buildings: parents with strollers, furniture & appliance delivery people, in addition to those with mobility impairments.
The benefits of “useable” architecture extend far beyond the original beneficiaries, and the extra costs are small if any.
Thomas Hirsch, AIA, Madison, Wisconsin
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