This month marks the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I’m proud to say the Stavros staff was present for the signing. It was a blistering day in Washington D.C. The act was a long hard battle which was built on the shoulders of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires the federal government as well as federal contractors to actively hire and promote workers with disabilities. The regulations for this law require the federal government to provide equal access to training and promotion opportunities, and reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities.

The ADA expanded the same language in The Rehabilitation Act to be used in the private sector. It not only included anti-discrimination for hiring and reasonable accommodations for federal entities, the ADA included state and public entities, public accommodations, transportation, and communication. Much of this language which was adopted from the Rehabilitation Act is still being played out in the courts. Access to areas of employment and state guidelines have yet to be clearly defined. However the battle continues; the important fact is now disability advocates have some leverage within the community to demand access into their town hall, the local shops, websites, and local transportation.

Twenty-four years ago disability advocates saw nothing but darkness to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. Today we see light. We are proud to say many town halls and school systems have become accessible, many shops are beginning to become accessible, and transportation such as the PVTA buses are equipped with lifts to accommodate people with mobility problems. Is it the end of the discrimination against people with disabilities? – No! But it’s a beginning. And Stavros will continue to fight for the rights for people with disabilities until there is community integration wherever it’s reasonable.

Joe Tringali, Stavros advocate

Amherst

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