The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law seventeen years ago today. I’ve lived in a post-ADA world for half my lifetime. People with disabilities in my generation came of age just as the ADA was enacted and we have tested the law’s promises against the realities of our own experiences. Under its auspices, growing numbers of us have sought out higher education. But relatively few of us manage to find gainful employment. The local cinemas and shopping malls are usually accessible, but some courthouses still are not. Don’t get me wrong; the ADA is landmark legislation and it has certainly improved my life in innumerable ways both grand and small. But as our predecessors in the civil rights know so well, we must remember to keep our eyes on the prize. The ADA points the way to a more equal society, but we still have a long march ahead of us.
As far as accessibility is concerned, one might as well hope wheelchairs get a lot better, so that they take any kind of step and move easily over any surface. Technology must and will finally make this possible.
The Independence iBot 4000 Mobility System, though not yet perfect, is already a giant leap forwards.