The Rights of Disabled Americans Are Under Attack

Author Rebecca Cokley describes recent attacks on the civil rights of Americans with disabilities.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been law for 28 years now — and I can honestly say that rights for Americans with disabilities, including accessibility to public spaces, are now facing more uncertainty and outright hostility than at any time in recent memory.

Recently, Delta Airlines began pushing back on service and support animals, introducing a new policy that requires increased documentation to register the animals at least 48 hours in advance of flying. No other population is required to submit additional paperwork 48 hours before a flight. This will undoubtedly impact people with disabilities’ access to the ability to “get up and go” with the same level of flexibility as individuals without disabilities.

The above excerpt was originally published in CNN. Click here to view the full article.

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Authors

Rebecca Cokley

Director, Disability Justice Initiative