Commentary: 30 years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act changed our world — but more accessibility is needed
By Dr. Janet P. Szlyk
As published in the Chicago Tribune | Jul 23, 2020 at 1:04 PM
For more than 60 million Americans, July 26, 1990, is a second Independence Day. On that day, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law, guaranteeing protections for people with disabilities. So, while most Americans celebrated independence earlier in July, for those living with disabilities, this Sunday will mark the day 30 years ago that freedom was born from a declarative commitment to equality.
As CEO of The Chicago Lighthouse, I work closely with people who are blind, visually impaired and disabled. For this community, the ADA marked the beginning of a transformation in the public sphere. Without a doubt, we have made incredible strides to make our public spaces more accessible to people with all types of disabilities.
We have seen advancements in education, safety and overall inclusion for people with disabilities. People in wheelchairs can use public walkways thanks to sloped curb cutouts on every corner, and those with visual impairments can know when they are reaching the sidewalk through the change in texture underfoot provided by “truncated domes.”
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot last year announced that the city would add up to 100 new accessible pedestrian signals, which incorporate audible tones and vibrotactile surfaces for users who are both deaf and blind. The arts have become more accessible, with many performance companies and theaters offering audio description kits, captioning equipment, assistive listening systems and touch tours prior to performances.
Yet, one of the ADA’s stated purposes was “to assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.” We are not quite there.
The workplace is the next frontier for accessibility. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 19% of people with disabilities were employed in 2019, compared with 66% of those without disabilities. People with disabilities are also more likely to live in poverty and have lower median household incomes than people who have no disabilities. Despite the protection and noble intention of the ADA, advancement for equality in the workplace has stalled.
Every day, I see the value of workplace equality. Nearly one-third of The Chicago Lighthouse’s workforce are people with disabilities. I have seen the power a paycheck can bring, and I know how having a job with meaning and purpose builds confidence. As one of our employees recently told Sen. Dick Durbin, a noted champion of disability rights: “I want to work. I want to pay taxes. I want to contribute.”
Increased access to assistive technology can make workplaces more accessible. In the 30 years since the ADA’s passage, technology has fueled monumental change all over the world. Smartphone applications, voice-enabled assistants, and other specialized devices (such as screen readers for those with visual impairments) have already provided methods for people with disabilities to become more independent and confident.
The next wave of technology may truly level the playing field for people with low vision, especially in the workplace. In partnership with OrCam Technologies, we recently outfitted 18 employees who are blind or visually impaired with the company’s cutting-edge technology. The discreet device uses artificial intelligence to “read” printed and screen-based text. It also stores a library of faces familiar to the user that “recognizes” those in view and speaks their name into an earbud, or directly to the user’s ear. Recent upgrades, such as Smart Reading, offer new capabilities for even greater reading independence. This type of workplace accommodation provides a new level of independence for employees. Though the pilot is still underway, we have already seen the devices contribute to greater productivity and job satisfaction.
Unfortunately, the cost of such technologies is a roadblock for many. This is why I have encouraged policymakers to consider programs and policies to make assistive technologies more accessible and affordable for every American.
Both federal and state assistance for assistive tech will help make these devices mainstream. My hope is that as more assistive technologies enter the mainstream consciousness, costs will, in turn, come down — making them even more available.
In the 30 years since the ADA’s passage, we have witnessed monumental societal change. With continued support and acceptance, I believe that 2050 will be a world of accessibility. Driven by advanced technologies, our workforce will be integrated to the point where one’s “disability” will no longer be considered a factor in predicting whether someone can make great contributions. As we celebrate the advances made by this landmark legislation, our lawmakers and business leaders must take steps to ensure assistive technology that levels the playing field and is accessible and affordable. By taking action today, we can guarantee that people with disabilities experience true independence in the future.
