July 26 marked the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The ADA made it illegal to discriminate against someone living with a disability. But what did it really change?
Before the ADA:
- …individuals with disabilities could be prohibited from appearing in public.
- …employers could fire or refuse to hire an individual with a disability.
- …individuals with disabilities could be denied the right to vote or hold office.
- …individuals with disabilities could be unnecessarily segregated in nursing homes or institutions.
This legislation didn’t end discrimination, but it radically changed the protections afforded to the disability community – and that’s something worth celebrating.
In our blog post, we explore what the ADA does and doesn’t cover, and how it’s impacted real lives in the decades since its passing – including Help Hope Live clients like Linda Jara, pictured above:
