ADA 20th Anniversary: How the Disability-Rights Law Impacts Lives
Marking the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), DiversityInc surveyed corporate leaders and human-rights activists to find out how this landmark law has changed their lives—and what else is needed.
Disability Factoids: Employment
13.3 million
Number of 16- to 64-year-olds who reported difficulty finding a job or remaining employed because of a health condition.
46%
Percentage of employed people ages 21 to 64 who have some type of disability. The employment rate ranged from 75 percent of those with a non-severe disability to 31 percent with a severe disability. For those without a disability, the employment rate is 84 percent for the same period.
59%
Percent of employed people ages 21 to 64 who have difficulty hearing. The corresponding percentage for those with visual disabilities was 41 percent.
48%
Percentage of people ages 21 to 64 with a non-severe disability who work full time. This compares with 63 percent without a disability and 16 percent with a severe disability.
6%
Percentage of workers with disabilities ages 16 and older who used public transportation to commute to work. In addition, 69 percent of people with a disability drove alone, 13 percent carpooled, 4 percent walked and 3 percent used a taxicab, motorcycle, bicycle or other means.
21%
Percentage of workers with disabilities ages 16 and older who worked in the educational services, healthcare and social-assistance industries.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey
Here are their responses:
“I had the honor and privilege of playing a small role in the passage of ADA and was present at the signing of the bill on the South Lawn of the White House 20 years ago. I am pleased with the progress made in housing, transportation and public accommodations. I am dismayed that so little progress has been made with respect to access to meaningful employment. We have so much more to do.”
—Deborah Dagit, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Merck & Co. (No. 15 on The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list)
“As the number of Americans with disabilities climbs toward the 100-million mark, so too shall the realization that this relatively unseen demographic will emerge in the 21st century as THE powerful voice for the protection and furtherance of human and civil rights.”
—Former Army Capt. Luis Carlos Montalván (with service dog, Tuesday)
“The ADA has impacted many people by providing opportunities for college graduates with disabilities to find a career of their choice. The personal impact is that I now have a second career to assist these individuals, which has been personally fulfilling and rewarding.”
—Alan D. Muir, Executive Director, Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities (COSD)
“To me, the ADA is a promise that’s not yet fully realized. It says we recognize the worth of every individual whatever their physical or cognitive abilities and our society has a responsibility to ensure every person can fully participate in and contributeto all aspects of life.”
—Lori Beck Golden, Associate Director, Inclusiveness, and AccessAbilities Leader, Ernst & Young (No. 5 in the DiversityInc Top 50)
“When President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law, our country laid an important foundation toward creating equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency for all people with disabilities. While we’ve come a long way, we need to use this anniversary as an opportunity to re-commit ourselves to continue to work together to overcome attitudinal barriers.”
—Jill Houghton, Deputy Executive Director, US Business Leadership Network (USBLN)
“Passage of the ADA in 1990 marked a watershed moment for people with disabilities. For many, the true impact of this landmark law has yet to be fully realized. However, I am confident that the foundation of humane, community-based services established by the ADA will impact very positively on the lives of people living with mental illness in years ahead.”
—Mike Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
