Happy Birthday, ADA! Here’s to 34 Years of Success.

Quick Takeaways

• We’re saying “Happy birthday!” to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which turns 34 this year.
• This law improved civil rights and provided equal treatment for people with disabilities.
• The ADA requires the removal of both physical and communication barriers.
• Providing accessible documents like braille, large print, audio, and accessible PDFs helps your organization comply with ADA standards and gives your customers a great experience.

Throwback to 1990

Even though many may not know it, July 26 holds significance for Americans. It’s the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) becoming law in 1990. Happy birthday, ADA! This law improved the civil rights of millions of Americans and was a step toward equality, making it a day worth celebrating.

Before the Americans with Disabilities Act was law, people with disabilities encountered exclusion and unnecessary hurdles in many aspects of their daily lives. There were often barriers to accessing goods, services, and information. Did you know that it was legal to discriminate against and not hire people with disabilities before the ADA was passed?

When President George H. W. Bush signed the act, he said something that sadly rang true for many: “Let the shameful wall of exclusion, finally come tumbling down.”

Before the ADA

The ADA was not the first disability law, but it was revolutionary.

Before the ADA, there was the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. You may have heard of it, especially if you work for a federal agency. This law benefits everyone with a disability and is divided into Sections. Certain Sections are crucial and address topics like employment in Section 501, accommodations and modifications in Section 504, and digital accessibility in Section 508.

As helpful as the Rehabilitation Act is, every organization doesn’t have to follow it. This law only applies to government agencies and organizations receiving federal funding. That’s where the ADA comes in and why it’s so important.

5 Titles Worth Celebrating

The ADA is divided into five parts, called Titles. Each Title outlines ways in which organizations must include people with disabilities.

Title I focuses on employment and applies to companies with 15 or more employees. It ensures that people with disabilities have equal access to jobs and benefits. Title 1 also requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees who need them. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces this part of the ADA.

Title II requires state and local governments to be more inclusive. It outlines how agencies should make their physical spaces and communications more accessible. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) oversees this and Title III of the ADA.

Title III deals with private organizations. These businesses include hotels, private schools, doctor’s offices, and restaurants. Like Title II, it provides direction for removing physical and communication barriers.

Related: A Tale of Two Titles – Title II and Title III

Title IV focuses on telephone and internet companies. It requires them to make their services accessible to people with speech or hearing disabilities. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) regulates this part of the ADA.

Title V provides more insight into the other Titles. It lays out how the ADA relates to other laws, how much attorneys can charge, and lists conditions that aren’t considered disabilities.

Why The ADA Matters

We often take being able to do mundane activities for granted. When we enter a restaurant, we assume we’ll be able to read the menu. When we receive mail from our bank or doctor, we expect to be able to read it. But what if we couldn’t? How would we get the information we need?

Many people with visual disabilities have had to rely on sighted people to read things to them. However, this isn’t always appropriate. In a restaurant, a person with blindness may need the waiter or a friend to read the menu if no braille menu is available. They may also need someone to read their financial statements or medical information if their bank and doctors don’t provide accessible formats. So, at best, having someone read out information to a person with a visual impairment can be time-consuming and make the person with a visual disability feel awkward. At worst, it is an invasion of their privacy.

The removal of communication barriers improves the civil rights of people with disabilities. This is just one example of why the ADA matters.

You Can Make a Difference

Accessibility is here to stay, and your customers’ experience is essential.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 1 in 4 American adults live with a disability. That means your organization likely reaches people who benefit from the ADA.

Being proactive in your organization’s accessibility efforts has a positive impact on your customers. But it’s important to remember that people have different needs. Offering various accessibility options allows your organization to meet people’s needs more quickly.

For example, providing accessible document formats, such as braille, large print, audio, and accessible PDF, ensures your customers with visual disabilities receive information they can read.

The Americans with Disabilities Act marked significant progress for the civil rights of people with disabilities. That’s why we say, “Happy birthday, ADA!” Being ADA compliant is more than checking a box. It affirms that your organization cares about its customers and wants to provide the best possible experience. Together, we are Making The World A More Readable Place™.