ADA study: Much accessibility work remains to be done

A study by the National Council on Disability released on July 26 titled “The Impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act: Assessing the Progress Toward Achieving the Goals of the ADA” shows that, while much has been accomplished, there remains much work to be done to improve access and opportunities for people with disabilities.

“Options for independent living have improved for people with disabilities since the ADA was passed,” the report says. “However, outdated government restrictions, budget priorities and medical attitudes are slowing progress. Economic self-sufficiency appears to be the goal having the least success. While many Americans with disabilities are experiencing improvements in quality of life, some people with disabilities remain disenfranchised.”

The findings of the study include these impacts on the lives of Americans with disabilities over the past sixteen years since the law went into effect:

• Most people with disabilities perceive improvements in their quality of life and many attribute those improvements to the ADA ;
• A majority of people with disabilities surveyed by a Harris Poll perceived significant improvements in public facility access and public attitudes;
• Public transit systems in the United States have made significant progress in becoming more accessible, especially to wheelchair users. Private transportation companies lag behind. People in rural areas continue to be underserved by public transportation, and, as a result, participate less in all aspects of community living;
• A significant number of curb ramps have been installed and sidewalks have been made more accessible in some areas, but full access to public rights-of-way lags behind that of other facilities and there are no regulations for public rights-of-way access;
• People with physical disabilities have seen steady, although inconsistent, progress in access to public accommodations, including restaurants, theaters, stores, museums, Web sites, and government services. People with sensory or communication disabilities were less likely to report experiencing progress in access to public accommodations;
• The ADA has brought about significant improvements in access to telecommunications. Telephone relay services are being used to a greater degree, and changes in technology are making usage easier. However, some businesses are reluctant to use these technologies;
• The percentage of Americans with disabilities voting in 2004 increased dramatically from prior years;
• The education gap between people with disabilities and people without disabilities is shrinking, and people with disabilities are attending postsecondary institutions in greater numbers. Educational supports and services for students with disabilities now are available at most of the nation’s postsecondary institutions;
• Many employees with disabilities are experiencing less discrimination on the job. However, people with visible and severe disabilities continue to experience discrimination in hiring;
• There is no clear evidence that Americans with disabilities are becoming economically self-sufficient;
• There is a surprising absence of ongoing, systematic data collection about the ADA , and the result is significant knowledge gaps about the impact of the ADA.

Based on these findings, the report makes more than 40 recommendations for action in eight categories: transportation, sidewalks and curb ramps, public accommodations, telecommunications, state and local government services, voting, community integration and economic self-sufficiency. Click here to view the whole report.