THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 20

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

“I’m happy to see young folks speaking freely about disability life without shame, sharing info on social media.

That’s what we need to do: to keep telling our stories. For too long, others have told our stories for us, stories which reduced our civil rights to dollars and cents,” Johnson-Wright said.

“Don’t apologize for being disabled. 

Don’t hide in the shadows. We need more than just the ADA. We need to keep pushing the cultural shift forward.”

Steve Wright has contributed stories about travel, urban design and civil rights. He has been a professional journalist for 40 years and has covered disability rights and the built environment since before the ADA was enacted. The Miami-based writer/activist gained all his insights into the fundamental right to access and accommodation when he met his now-wife of 30-plus years, Heidi Johnson-Wright, when both were studying at Kent State University in the mid-1980s.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 19

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

“So, I filed a state civil rights complaint. 

When my boss found out, he flipped out and screamed at me!,” Johnson-Wright recalled.

“Ultimately, I got the toilet seat riser and a security guard was assigned to help me with the building entrance. 

I never got a door opener for the restroom. Such behavior would be inconceivable in today’s climate.”

Now with 30 years under the ADA, Johnson-Wright said PWD know their rights and are asserting them.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 18

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

Johnson-Wright, who has rheumatoid arthritis, started her first job out of law school when the ADA was brand new. 

She made a simple written request for a toilet seat riser and door openers for the restroom and the building’s main entrance. 

Weeks went by with no action and her state agency employer seemed to have zero understanding of the ADA.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 17

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

Heidi Johnson-Wright is an author, speaker and ADA compliance professional who has used a power wheelchair for mobility for 35 years. 

She graduated from law school and got married – to this writer -- all before the ADA was enacted. Her experience with the federal law spans its entire history.

“One of the big challenges is getting people to understand that the ADA is a civil rights law and not a building code. 

While people are a lot more informed today, there are still those who hear “ADA” and think it consists solely of curb ramps and restroom stalls,” she said. 

“So, it’s my job to explain how the ADA applies to access to programs and services. 

For the most part, people want to do the right thing. 

They sometimes feel awkward around people with disabilities and are looking for guidance.” 

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 16

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

Calise said the ADA has created major positive impacts in New York, such as:

The City Building Code goes above and beyond the mandates set forth in the ADA.

The Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) has steadily increased the number of wheelchair accessible taxis.  

It passed regulations to mandate wheelchair accessibility in all for-hire-vehicles bases, including ride-sharing app companies.

The city develops accessible and affordable housing units by ensuring that a percentage of units in new affordable housing developments are set-aside for PWD. 

All units in new construction are adaptable should a PWD tenant require reasonable accommodations.

NYC: ATWORK that connects a talent pool of PWD to living-wage jobs and internships that meet their qualifications.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 15

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

Victor Calise has served under two administrations as the Commissioner for the New York Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. 

He has used a manual wheelchair for mobility since an SCI in 1994. Calise, a 1998 Paralympics athlete, started with the city as its ADA point person for improving access in the parks system.

“As we approach the 30th anniversary of the signing of the ADA, I am proud that we have made great strides to increase accessibility and to prioritize disability rights in the City’s policy agenda,” Calise said.

“Disability Service Facilitators are strategically placed in City agencies so that disability rights are at the forefront of day-to-day decision-making.”

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 14

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

Kennedy said PWD need to demonstrate their existing and untapped buying power to businesses.

“According to an Open Doors/Harris Poll in 2015, (over a two-year period) 26 million travelers with disabilities took 73 million trips and spent $34.6 billion on travel,” said Kennedy,

noting that because of the ADA’s advances, PWD have more than $200 billion in disposable income. 

“People will only start treating us as equals when we show them that our money is the same as theirs.”

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 13

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

“It's not that difficult to be legally accommodating and doesn't cost that much money once you understand the basic needs of people.  

But those three letters instill fear in business owners to this day because they think they are going to get into trouble with the ADA police,” Kennedy said.

“The fact is that the ADA is a piece of paper that protects our rights as people with disabilities. 

There are no ADA police, and all you have to do is consult a local disability advocacy group for help in becoming more accessible -- help that is usually free.”

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 12

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

Craig Kennedy, program coordinator for Open Doors Organization, has used a manual wheelchair for mobility for 25 years due to a T-12 SCI. 

The Chicago-based non-profit’s mission is to create a society in which all persons with disabilities have the same consumer opportunities as everyone else. 

Open Doors sponsors studies demonstrating the buying power of PWD, operates 465 accessible vans/taxis in Chicago and works on accessibility policy for 74 domestic and foreign air carriers. 

Kennedy said the biggest obstacle to ADA acceptance is that most people don't understand what it is, so they are afraid of it.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 11

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

Altom said he never goes to explain accessibility modifications without a copy of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines in hand. 

He always has an extra ADAAG to give to the business owner.

“I want to work with the person. 

Maybe they always wanted to build a new door and now they can understand how to make the replacement door compliant, and maybe they can even use it as a tax write-off,” he said. 

“My mindset is to give the person the tools to help them, to let them make modifications that are cost-effective, so they see me and the ADAAG as an asset.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 10

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

Billy Altom is Executive Director of the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), based in Little Rock. 

He has used a manual wheelchair since a T-1 SCI in 1985.

“There is a huge difference in how you enforce the ADA in rural areas versus urban,” said Alton, who assists 46 member CILs.

“In an urban setting, if I go to a store and it’s not accessible -- I can file a complaint, or I can go 10 blocks down the street and get what I need at a place that’s accessible.

If I’m in rural America and I need to buy pig feed and there’s only one place in the county to buy pig feed and it’s not accessible – I may need to build a relationship with the owner and negotiate a way of making things accessible.”

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 9

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

“I was denied a ride by an Uber driver. That catapulted me into starting my own law firm,” said Simoneaux, who sued the rideshare firm.

“Micromobility – the sidewalks are littered with scooters that create barriers. Airbnb is largely inaccessible. 

We are going to have to look at regulations that speak to how people with disabilities fit into the tech-based world. 

We all need to commit – during the next 30 years -- to making sure technology improves the lives of people and is not a barrier.”

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 8

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

Kelley Simoneaux is owner of the Spinal Cord Injury Law Firm in Washington, D.C.

She has a T-12 SCI and uses a manual wheelchair for mobility.

“The ADA has provided me an opportunity to run my life. It has allowed more visibility for people to show we’re integral part of the economy and community,” she said.

Simoneaux is very concerned that the gig economy, which was not in existence when the ADA was adopted, is going to erase many gains made under the ADA – because app-based companies aggressively claim they are exempt from it.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 7

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

Ciotti’s activism resulted in 10 years spent on Arlington planning commission. Ciotti’s leadership has led to 75 roll-in showers in units in new buildings. 

Her goal is to increase the mandated number of accessible showers from two percent to Arlington requiring four percent then ultimately10 percent.

“It allows people to age in place. 

It gives you dignity and a clean shower – whether you are a veteran returning with a major SCI injury or a person who simply ripped up your knee on a ski trip,” she said. 

“We have the ADA, but your community is only as accessible as you insist it will be.”

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 6

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS
AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

Ciotti founded a NP group that represents the rights of patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI) and other PWDs. 

She knows the ADA paved the way to her having a successful business in our nation’s capital.

Ciotti, who counts legendary disability rights advocate/Crip Camp star Judy Heumann as a mentor, has campaigned for everything from automatic door openers at medical centers to more roll-in showers in public sector and private sector multifamily buildings. 

Combining ADA and Fair Housing advocacy, she first got interested in more accessibility in public housing high rises.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 5

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

Rosemary Ciotti was a successful nurse practitioner, pregnant with her second child, when an inflammatory disease similar to MS gave her stroke-like symptoms and ultimately quadriplegia-like loss of limb use when it reached her spine. 

That was 25 years ago and though it was in full force for five years, she was barely aware of the ADA.

“We moved from a big house into a condo in Arlington, Virginia – landing in the land of ADA activists,” said Ciotti, who uses both a manual and power chair for mobility, largely because her right leg is effectively paralyzed. 

“I had a baby on my lap, my speech was still slurred and I was getting stuck in elevators. 

These activists got me off the couch and into activism.

They taught me that I had rights, that I didn’t have to miss four elevators while (abled bodied) people crammed ahead of me.”

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 4

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

“Before the ADA, playgrounds were not accessible for adults or children with disabilities.  

In the 1990s, we wrote regulations and now you see more and more poured in place rubber surfaces and the equipment is more accessible than it was before.

You have beach access routes and beach wheelchairs – that was almost unheard of before.

Stadiums and arenas: before the ADA, you were lucky to have a stadium where you could find a wheelchair accessible seat at all.

Now, we address sightline over standing spectators, and accessible seating dispersed throughout the facility – because of the ADA,” Capozzi said.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 3

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

Capozzi said one of the biggest successes of the ADA was the effect on public transportation, specifically public buses.

In 1989, the year before the ADA was passed, 40% of fixed route buses were accessible.

“Now, 100 percent of fixed route buses are accessible,” he said.

“Now, you don’t have to wait for every other bus to come along and hope the lift isn’t broken. Now, they are accessible and generally they are low floor buses with ramps, so there isn’t a cumbersome lift to break.”

Capozzi said there still are challenges – such as old subway systems that have very limited elevator access – and the advent of ride share, created by billion-dollar companies that claim they are exempt from the ADA. 

But he said park and recreation opportunities have increased infinitely, thanks to the ADA.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 2

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

David Capozzi has been the Executive Director of the U.S. Access Board since 2008 and a staff member since 1992. 

The Access Board promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines.

He has a T-7 SCI injury and has used a manual wheelchair since 1977.

“I can remember before the ADA was passed -- in the early 80s -- you would have to call to a movie theater, restaurant, any place to see if it’s accessible. 

Now I assume it’s accessible,” Capozzi said. “I’ve seen a change in my own personal attitude: from thinking things were not accessible to expecting things to be accessible.”

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AT 30 -- PART 1

VOICES OF VICTORY, CELEBRATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS

AND REMAINING CHALLENGES 

The ADA at 30. It conjures thoughts profound and emotional.

Groundbreaking federal Civil Rights legislation. 

Reason for celebration because humankind is better when we remove barriers that prevent people from living their lives to the fullest.

Because the ADA is all about embracing diversity while (deservedly) uplifting quality of life, we reached out to a diverse group of PWD and asked them to share their thoughts on the ADA at 30.