Center for American Progress

30 Years Later, The American Dream Is Still Not ADA-Compliant
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30 Years Later, The American Dream Is Still Not ADA-Compliant

Rebecca Cokley explains how, on the 30th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, structures that keep people with disabilities poor remain in place throughout the United States.

July 26, 2020, commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, arguably the most broad-reaching civil rights legislation since the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For decades before the ADA, people with disabilities — all 61 million of us, who exist in one-third of households — were institutionalized, kept hidden out of shame, and isolated from society because of a lack of access. The legislation protected us from discrimination and increased our participation in public life.

The above excerpt was originally published in Refinery 29. Click here to view the full article.

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Authors

Rebecca Cokley

Director, Disability Justice Initiative