Today, on the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, I’m thinking of unkept promises —
of buildings I still can’t enter, broken sidewalks I can’t traverse, and the hurtful stigma I’m faced with every day, 31 years later. We must do better. #ADA31
of buildings I still can’t enter, broken sidewalks I can’t traverse, and the hurtful stigma I’m faced with every day, 31 years later. We must do better. #ADA31
[image: A large group of wheelchair users and other disabled people lined up on a path with the Washington Monument visible behind them. Anna is closest to the camera, with Kings Floyd slightly behind her. The sky is a cloudless blue and they’re dressed for cold weather.]
People with disabilities make up nearly 25% of the American population.
But we’re still largely invisible, and made so by rampant inaccessibility, stigma, and a lack of representation in all spheres of life (media, schools, workplaces, etc.). But WE EXIST!! We’re 1 in 4! #ADA31
But we’re still largely invisible, and made so by rampant inaccessibility, stigma, and a lack of representation in all spheres of life (media, schools, workplaces, etc.). But WE EXIST!! We’re 1 in 4! #ADA31
The “invisibility” of disabled people is driven by the cyclical nature of inaccessibility:
When the sidewalks/buses/stores/schools aren’t accessible, we basically can’t exist in public space — so we’re left invisible and illegible as citizens and participants in public life.
When the sidewalks/buses/stores/schools aren’t accessible, we basically can’t exist in public space — so we’re left invisible and illegible as citizens and participants in public life.
The passage of the ADA was one important step to enabling disabled people to exist in our communities as equal citizens.
But it’s fallen short due to lack of enforcement and persistent societal ableism. We’ve got to do better — for the 1 in 4 Americans who are disabled. #ADA31
But it’s fallen short due to lack of enforcement and persistent societal ableism. We’ve got to do better — for the 1 in 4 Americans who are disabled. #ADA31
It also important to remember that laws ARE NOT ENOUGH.
This is one of the most important teachings of the disability justice movement. We can’t legislate stigma, hate, and other manifestations of ableism out of existence. So 31 years after the ADA, the fight goes on! #ADA31
This is one of the most important teachings of the disability justice movement. We can’t legislate stigma, hate, and other manifestations of ableism out of existence. So 31 years after the ADA, the fight goes on! #ADA31
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