americans with disabilities act

Reflecting on the Americans with Disabilities Act 31 Years Later

Featured by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

This week marks 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. It was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990.

This anniversary gives us a moment to think about how this law for people with disabilities has impacted our lives. Reflecting on how this piece of legislation has impacted the lives of people with disabilities helps us understand where we have been. It also helps us gain a better perspective of where we need to be.

Being a person with a disability in the 1980s, when people with disabilities didn’t have the rights we have today was very interesting. I was also a person who used a wheelchair to compensate for my lack of mobility. As a kid, the idea of going to school was both exhausting and exciting. I liked being with kids my age but had to struggle just to get in the building or use the bathroom. The idea of my school being accessible for me seemed like a dream I wasn’t sure would ever come true.

By the time I got home, I was exhausted from the trip. Then I had to make sure to get my homework done for the next day. Being mainstreamed at 7 years old left me with another job. I had to explain to the kids in my class why I had to use a wheelchair to get around.

When I went to high school, I remember having to advocate for my English class be relocated to one if the lower floors for my junior year. At that time, the school’s elevator didn’t reach the top floor where the classroom was located. That was after the ADA had been signed into law, but before buildings were fully brought into compliance. It was a major victory for me as a student because it meant that I could be in an integrated setting with other kids who were just as smart as me. If that didn’t happen, I probably wouldn’t have been able to receive the education that matched my intellectual abilities because of my physical limitations.

These may seem like simple things people with disabilities don’t have to endure now but, they help us appreciate the changes that have been made to improve the lives of people with disabilities. That’s not to say other advances do not need to be made to continue the necessary progress. There are still many areas where things need to be more accessible for people with disabilities. Only then will the Americans with Disabilities Act be fully utilized to ensure access to services for all people with disabilities.

While there is still much work to done, it’s safe to say that the advocates who came before us left a good framework on how to engage in effective advocacy that sparks real change. Their work has also allowed us as a community to recognize where further change is needed. Now it is our chance to continue where they left off. Our efforts can be the catalyst to help us finally gain the ability to be fully integrated into mainstream society.

The Inauguration of a New President of the United States and What it Means for People with Disabilities

Featured by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Along with the Inauguration of a new president and vice president of the United States, comes new possibilities for people with disabilities.

As I sat watching history being made when Kamala Harris took the oath of office, I realized she has knocked down many barriers. Not only for women and women of color, but also for people with disabilities.

The theme of inclusion and unity was not only prevalent but relevant during the historical event. Because Vice President Harris is now in office, the possibility of further inclusion for all is now a reality more than ever. The firefighter who led the Pledge of Allegiance in spoken word and sign language was a surprising change. It was also a sign of the times. In my opinion, it symbolizes the dedication the current administration has of including everyone in this country, even people with disabilities.

When President Franklin D. Roosevelt was in office, he spent most of the time hiding his disability. Researching the political climate that existed during those years for other projects I’ve done on his presidency and its importance for people with disabilities, I’m not sure society would have been accepting of openly having a person with a disability serving in a political office. The fact that he occupied the highest political position in our land may have made it even more mind-boggling for some. During Roosevelt’s time, people with disabilities were hidden in the shadows. Individuals with disabilities were regularly being housed in institutions instead of in community settings when possible. We had not gained the rights from laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act just yet. The ADA helped people with disabilities acquire the opportunity of a level playing field to accomplish individual goals. It also gave them the chance to be more active and visible in society. That includes things like voting and even running for political office.

The possibilities available to us now are only limited to how big we allow ourselves to dream. Since the passage of the ADA, people with disabilities have been making strides to increase not only representation but acceptance of our community into the mainstream. Society is increasingly interested in diversity and inclusion more than ever. That conversation cannot be complete unless people with disabilities are part of the equation. It’s more likely now that a young person with a disability can see themselves as the next vice president or even president of the United States.

This is the perfect opportunity to increase our visibility and make our mark on society. The steps we take today to let our voices be heard and our influence felt can only help us move the ideas of what it really means to live with a disability forward. We can be the reason long-standing myths are eradicated and new ideas become the norm. There are always opportunities to change the outdated and inaccurate stereotypes that surround disability.

While there are disabled politicians such as Senator Tammy Duckworth (D) from Illinois, who currently occupies a political office, for some reason this seems different. Now is the time to set goals and take action to increase representation of people with disabilities in all aspects of society. Every step forward is needed and welcomed. Every victory toward increased representation should be celebrated. We can accomplish anything we want to achieve. There are so many aspects of society that need the input of the disability community. The only question that remains is what is the most efficient course to chart in pursuit of your personal success?

Proposed U.S. Bill Helps Traveling Parents with Disabilities

June 3, 2015June 3, 2015 by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Summer months are a time for kids to be out of school. It also makes me think about lazy days drinking lemonade to cool off from the hot sun, having barbecues and family reunions, just to name a few fun things. It also stirs up images of taking vacations with family. Thinking about what part of the country, or even the world, you’d like to see, or what adventure you might go on to get a break from everyday life are fun and necessary for most people to “recharge their batteries” from the stresses of life.

Have you ever thought about traveling with your baby? For most parents, while there’s lots of planning that needs to happen for the event, others may sometimes be nervous about this undertaking. Parents with disabilities may even think this isn’t a possibility for them at all. Luckily, there seems to be hope on the horizon. There’s a proposed new U.S. Bill trying to make lactation rooms available to breastfeeding mothers. The room also has to be accessible to people with disabilities. I realize that traveling with a baby or young child isn’t the easiest thing to do when you have a disability. But, due to small changes like this, we could have the opportunity to share in experiences and memories with more ease and less anxiety about the experience. People may not have given the idea of traveling a second thought but maybe now, with this new proposed Bill, parents with disabilities can think a little bit more about the possibility of travel with their families.

While the Bill isn’t intended to focus directly on parents with disabilities, I feel like it’s another step in the right direction. Whether you breastfeed your kids or not, it’s a great idea to have a room at the airport accessible to parents with disabilities to tend to their baby’s needs. I wonder how many more parents with disabilities would entertain the thought of traveling with their families, or even by themselves with their babies and young children, if they felt like airports and other entities that facilitate travel would be more welcoming to them?

Would more accessible services to parents with disabilities make you more willing to go on vacation with your family?

Thanks for reading..

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-airport-breastfeeding-duckworth-met-20150526-story.html

Law Enforcement’s New Disability Consideration..

March 29, 2015March 29, 2015 by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Sometimes I use my posts to shed light on subjects that may not be considered relevant to disability as an issue but, could use some exposure in some way. This week, I wanted to shed some light on law enforcement and their treatment of people with disabilities. I know there’s a large push to increase disability sensitivity among law enforcement but this post is going to talk about something that’s reaching into a totally new dimension.

The issue I’m thinking about is totally different. It involves the split-second decisions a law enforcement officer had to make at a group home in Georgia that injured one of its residents. This is clearly a case of entering uncharted waters as it relates to law enforcement and their interactions with people who have a disability. I’m not sure if, or how law enforcement can act less aggressively when their primary job is to ensure the safety of the general public. In emergency situations faced by law enforcement on a regular basis and, as in this situation, I’m not sure how the ADA fits in.

Somehow, some people feel if there’s a suspect in a crime who has a disability, and that person’s disability isn’t considered in crisis or emergency situations, that’s a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is an attempt to “level the playing field” for those with disabilities on a daily basis. Once the situation has been deescalated, steps should be taken in accordance with the ADA to ensure things like effective communication, if the person has a hearing impairment, and access to the courthouse, if the person a mobility impairment, for example, are observed. These are just a few ways of how the ADA was meant to be utilized as it’s currently written. Quite honestly, I’m not sure if law enforcement has time to consider the ADA when you’re talking about life and death.

I’ll be interested to see what the Supreme Court decides. Maybe, instead of using part of the ADA to regulate this sort of situation, a new law should be drawn up in an effort to have a clearer framework available. I’m not saying the situation should be ignored, because it does need attention. It might just be that another avenue needs to be explored to have more effective action plan put in place.

Thanks for reading..

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For more information on this story check out the link below:
http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2015-03-21/supreme-court-considers-impact-disability-law-police-mentally-ill#.VQ4SleFGSSo

The Bionic Chef

April 3, 2014April 3, 2014 by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

When choosing a career path, the average person doesn’t take disability into consideration. That can change in an instant, if the person has some sort of accident, causing them to become disabled in some way, shape, or form.

An excellent example of this is the “Bionic Chef”. When people think of notable chefs, Mario Batali, Emeril Lagasse, or even Bobby Flay might come to mind.

When I was younger, there was a time I wanted to go to cooking school. At the personalized orientation the cooking school offered, the interviewer had no problem telling me that because I didn’t have full use of both hands, the idea of me even attempting cooking instruction was almost impossible. Now that I’m more knowledgeable on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), I wonder if that’s actually true.

On the other hand, for Eduardo Garcia, the “Bionic Chef”, what seemed like an impossibility for that Admissions Counselor was far from that for him. He’s known as the “Bionic Chef” because he had a hunting accident and as a result, had a portion of his arm amputated. He was then fitted with a prosthetic arm that allows him to continue his dream of being a chef. The only difference in how he cooks now is that he has had to approach his craft with a different perspective to complete each task.

The video that’s attached to the link at the bottom shows the interviewer, Josh Elliott from “Good Morning America”, in awe of Eduardo’s abilities. In my opinion, it reinforces the message that with persistence, anyone can figure out how to overcome any obstacle, no matter how big or small.
Thanks for reading..
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http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2013/12/chefs-bionic-hand-implant-better-than-new/

Nelson Mandela Memorial Interpreter

December 14, 2013December 14, 2013 by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

While visiting with family for an early Christmas this week, I noticed the news about the sign language interpreter used during Nelson Mandela’s memorial service. I’m not sure as to whether or not there are standards in place for South African sign language interpreters but, I’m a bit amazed this interpreter has been previously utilized at other functions with the same results and nothing, thus far, has been done about him.

Now that this has happened at such a widely televised event, for all the world to see, hopefully something will be done to fix the problem so it won’t occur again. I’m not proficient in sign language but, if this person would like to continue in the profession, a strict requirement should be made of him that he acquire the proper knowledge and skills to do the job.

Everyone should have full access to all ceremonies made available to the general public. Although I’m aware that South Africa is it’s own country and may not have laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in place, maybe this can begin the conversation to come up with something similar to the ADA for them.

Nelson Mandela was a great activist for the world. It would be a great show of respect for him if we could use this incident to really honor his memory by making some more positive changes for all abilities, so equality can keep moving forward, and may one day be reached for all.

Thanks for reading..

Impostor Service Animals?

October 12, 2013 by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I’ve written at least one post about service animals so, I feel like today’s post is equally important. As I was looking around the Internet at different articles, I noticed that there seem to be those using “impostor service animals”. These animals aren’t really trained to help disabled people and the people who are using them just want to go out with their pet and aren’t disabled.

While the article debates there’s no way to really regulate this problem, something clearly needs to be done. The pets that aren’t service animals create a nuisance and are a safety risk for the general public. Similar to my post a few weeks ago about Disney park guests that were paying disabled people to be their “tour guide” to get to the front of lines, here’s unfortunately another example of people who don’t need certain services abusing the system. As a result, the only people who really suffer are those for which the laws were intended.

As we all know, it’s very easy to buy almost anything on the Internet and have it shipped directly to your home. Accessories for your pet with some sort of believable service animal insignia is no exception. Along with guidelines on carrying an identification card for your “assistant” as mentioned in the article below, maybe there can also be approved websites where you can buy the necessary extras for when you’re out in public.

I really hope this issue can be remedied because service animals are a very important part of the lives of the disabled people who need them.

What other ways could help identify the “Real McCoy’s”?

For more information on this article visit the link below:

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2013/oct/11/impostor-service-animals-posing-growing-problem/

Thanks for reading..

Accessible Playgrounds

September 18, 2013 by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

One of my favorite things to do is go with my son to the playground. We’re very lucky that one of his mom’s friends doesn’t live too far and picks us up every week so that he can go and have some fun with his friends. As a child, I remember going to the park in Brooklyn and playing on the swings but, not much else. I also had a swing set at home and my friends used to come to my house and play for a little while when they could.

Last week, it occurred to me that most places don’t have accessible playgrounds where everyone has the opportunity not only to play but also interact with each other. Then, I heard something on the radio about accessible playgrounds so, I did a bit of research. There are some playgrounds in different parts of the country that are specifically constructed for kids with disabilities. While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that public places, like public playgrounds be accessible, these modifications only need to be made to playgrounds already in existence if they’re undergoing renovations. Accessibility of playgrounds also applies to those playgrounds being newly constructed.

Then, another thought occurred to me. Accessible playgrounds allow for disabled parents to play at the playground with their kids too. That’s a wonderful idea since some of the best memories we have as kids are the times we spend having fun with our parents.

What do you think about the idea of an accessible playground?

To find out more information, you can go to:

http://www.npr.org/2013/08/27/213827534/for-kids-with-special-needs-more-places-to-play

Thanks for reading..

Starbucks Discriminates Against Deaf Customers

July 18, 2013 by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Being a very frequent coffee drinker and Starbucks customer, I was very upset and disturbed to see this story on Yahoo. Ironically enough, while drinking my coffee, I caught the tail end of the story on “Good Morning America” too.

I’ve talked a lot about the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) in previous posts. This law is supposed to prohibit discrimination of a person with a disability. Sadly, like when I was a child, there are still people who will laugh and make blatant fun of someone just because of their differences. While enduring some taunting by students in early childhood isn’t necessarily against the law, because kids sometimes do those kinds of things to others who may not be just like them, it’s a different story when you participate in that kind of behavior as an employee of a company.

I’ve seen “deaf chats” happen in places like the local mall and even at Panera. In this case though, the police were called to break up a meeting of a group of deaf individuals such as the “deaf chats” I describe above. Isn’t this a free country where people can assemble peacefully without repercussion?

I’ve previously worked with the local deaf community for many years, and understand there are many forms of communication that deaf individuals utilize to communicate with hearing individuals. In this story, one of the customers wrote their order on a piece of paper. As a result, the person at the cash register told them they weren’t going to serve them because they’re deaf. What if the person just had a bad case of laryngitis? Wouldn’t that employee have felt dumb?

Toward the end of the story, one of the attorneys suggests that employees receive disability sensitivity training so that similar incidences don’t happen again. While this seems to be needed and helpful, I hope the training doesn’t just focus on one particular disability.

After this incident, it’s my sincere hope that Starbucks and other companies realize the amounts of money disabled people as a whole contribute to their bottom line each year, and that this sort of thing never happens again at Starbucks or any other store.

What other measures do you think could be taken to smooth over this occurrence in the disabled community?

Thanks for reading..

For more information check out the link below:

http://gma.yahoo.com/deaf-customers-sue-starbucks-discrimination-233751945–abc-news-topstories.html