Survey Finds the ADA Hasn't Improved Lives

Survey Finds the ADA Hasn't Improved Lives

By Jack Gillum, USA TODAY June 27, 2004

Despite the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was designed to make their lives easier, there is growing pessimism among the disabled, suggests a new survey by an advocacy group.

Increasing numbers don't expect their lives to improve, the survey shows, and many believe that their disability prevents them from reaching their full capacity in life.

"Imagine living your life thinking that your future will never get better," says Mary Dolan, vice president of the National Organization on Disability, the survey sponsor.

The organization isn't pushing specific remedies but is calling for greater understanding of the difficulties faced by people with disabilities. "We're asking for Congress, the media and policy makers to look at these numbers and take them to heart," she says.

About 50 million Americans live with some disability, the U.S. Census Bureau reported in 2003. The new survey, conducted by research group Harris Interactive, tallied responses from more than 2,000 phone and online interviews. Margin of error is 3 percentage points.

Among findings:

"41% of disabled respondents said they didn't expect their quality of life to improve, up from 35% in 2000.

"64% said the Americans with Disabilities Act has made no difference in their lives, up from 58% in 2000.

But that could stem from ignorance of ADA legislation, says Andy Imparato, a lawyer with the American Association of People with Disabilities. Some Americans, he says, "have no clue about what the ADA is or what it's done."

Without the act, signed into law by the first President Bush in 1990, there would be no accessible buses, he says. Or no Braille signs or mandated wheelchair ramps.

Sarah Burke, an office assistant at a Denver brokerage firm, has used a wheelchair since she was 17. She says the ADA has improved her life, but she believes that sometimes disability statutes aren't executed properly.

She recalls times when a ramp was too steep or too narrow for her chair. "I would tip over backwards on a lot of them."

She believes she has been denied promotions because of her disability and says it's hard to change jobs at 56. "If I went into 5 million places and if they saw me in a wheelchair, they'd probably say 'no,' " she says.

"I don't expect any special favors. I want to be treated like everyone else."

Others say there is a need to better understand the laws in place. At 45 and blind from diabetes, Bill McMahon of Framingham, Mass., say he is frustrated when he sifts through ADA literature. Regulation booklets that are "inches thick" make it hard for people to understand the rights of the disabled.

"The majority of Americans want something as quick and easy as possible" to look at, McMahon says.

The sour numbers in the survey also are reflective of today's economics; many disabled people are living in poverty, Imparato says.

the disabled these days when terrorism and the Iraq war weigh on people's minds: "In general, America is less secure, less optimistic," he says.

Jeff Rosen, policy director for the government's National Council on Disability, would like to see better coordination among federal services but points to ADA's successes since its inception 14 years ago. "We're seeing the evolution of people with disabilities," he says. "We've just started our journey."

It's a top-down approach of legislation and understanding, advocates say. "There's much work to be done," Dolan says. "On a daily basis, people with disabilities are not fulfilling their potential. That's something we take very seriously."

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Freedom, Independence Still Out of Reach for Too Many Americans With Disabilities

Easter Seals Petitions the Nation to Take Action This Independence Day

CHICAGO, June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- With every Fourth of July parade, picnic and fireworks show, Americans celebrate their right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Yet 14 years after the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities still miss out on the party -- and even more critical, their Independence Day.

While the ADA addresses fundamental civil rights for people with disabilities, the basics of everyday life are still out of reach for too many Americans with disabilities: going to school, getting a job, accessing health care, finding housing, using transportation, and voting independently.

This July 4th holiday, Easter Seals is launching Full Participation for All at http://www.easterseals.com/sign , a new online petition and campaign to make sure people with disabilities have equal opportunities to be active participants in society. Easter Seals is circulating the petition in communities across the country, increasing awareness of the challenges faced by 54 million Americans with disabilities and encouraging lawmakers to take action on these important issues. The non-profit organization will also share the petition with policy makers at all levels of federal, state and local government.

"Too often, people with disabilities are locked out, left out or overlooked. Critical aspects of daily life -- basic activities that most of us take for granted -- are severely limited," said James E. Williams, Jr., Easter Seals President and Chief Executive Officer. "Without access to a good education, employment, healthcare, housing, transportation, and polling places, the American Dream is far from a reality for too many as we celebrate this Fourth of July holiday."

Today, several barriers keep people with disabilities from fully participating in the community and living satisfied lives:

-- One out of five students with disabilities drops out of high school*

-- Two out of three people with disabilities not working want to, but a lack of opportunities and accessibility issues prevent them*

-- Approximately 8 million of the 41 million uninsured Americans are people with disabilities**

-- People with disabilities are among the poorest in our nation -- twice as likely as people without disabilities to have a household income of $15,000 or less*

-- Approximately 560,000 people with disabilities indicate they never leave home because of transportation difficulties***

-- 84 percent of polling places are not accessible*

-- In general, people with disabilities are less likely to say they are very satisfied with life (only 34 percent) compared to people without disabilities (61 percent) *

"Full Participation for All is one way Easter Seals is working to make the American Dream accessible to people with disabilities," added Williams.

Sign & Share

In this election year, Easter Seals encourages everyone to get involved and help make the American dream accessible to all. Visit http://www.easterseals.com/sign to pledge your support, share the petition with friends and family, and ask lawmakers to lead efforts to:

-- Guarantee access to high quality educational services -- including early intervention and preschool programs for children with disabilities -- to invest in America's future.

-- Employ people with disabilities and help build a stronger economy with more contributing taxpayers, an increased consumer base, and an expanded, diverse workforce.

-- Ensure that people with disabilities get the health care they need to lead full and more productive lives.

-- Create affordable housing options and accessible transportation services to allow people with disabilities to live in and be more active in their communities.

-- Make all polling places accessible so people with disabilities can vote.

About Easter Seals

For 85 years, Easter Seals has been providing services that help children and adults with disabilities gain greater independence. Our primary services -- medical rehabilitation, job training and employment, child care, adult day services, and camping and recreation-benefit more than 1 million individuals with disabilities and their families each year through more than 500 centers nationwide.

* National Organization on Disability (NOD) and NOD/Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities, 2004

** Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities

*** Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2003

SOURCE Easter Seals

Source: USA Today

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Last Updated on 07/26/04 webmaster@namiscc.org

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