In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was created which marked a milestone in the fight for civil rights. It was initially a promise so that disabled Americans would finally be able to have equal access to public life, specifically in schools, sidewalks, jobs, and justice. For the majority, the ADA opened doors literally and figuratively. The government implemented curb cuts, more braille signs, and employers faced pressure to accommodate workers with disabilities.
However, that “promise” remains unfulfilled. After 3 decades injustice is still active in small and systematic ways. For example, disabled people are still twice as likely to be unemployed, many buildings remain inaccessible, and social media ignore the issue altogether. The overall enforcement of the ADA is weak which creates major conflicts like placing a burden on people to file lawsuits just to receive their given basic rights. Additionally, disability justice often doesn’t include the voices of those who are most affected such as people of color, individuals with invisible disabilities, and people living in poverty.
Yes the ADA changes rules but what about the culture, power structures, and funding priorities? Now that is a much harder fight. What we should be doing for disabled people is centering their leadership, expanding access beyond just checklists, and treating their rights not as “special accommodations” but as part of basic human morale.