I never knew that the ADA was a law until I did some research on it. It never occurred to me that there is a law to protect people who have disabilities. The ADA, or the Americans with Disabilities Act, is divided into five sections relating to different areas of public life: employment, public services, public accommodations, telecommunications and miscellaneous. The act prohibits discrimination against people who have disabilities. You can learn more about the titles of the ADA and what they mean by doing some research on your own. In this blog, I’m going to focus on Title I and Title II, because I think they’re really important.
The first title is of the ADA is regarding employment. This title is designed to help people with disabilities have access to the same employment opportunities and benefits available to people without disabilities. This law is regulated and enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. I like this title because it gives people that have disabilities an opportunity to get a job.
Usually, people with disabilities have difficulties getting a job because they have a disability. People like me go to school to get a degree related to our dream careers. We apply for jobs we want but unfortunately, sometimes we are denied. Today, because of Title I of the ADA, employers cannot decline any employees or applicants who have disabilities.
Most of the time, an able-bodied person doesn’t have problems getting around in public. A person with disabilities, however, may have issues getting around in public. In Title II of the ADA, public transportation has to provide accommodations for people who have disabilities. For example, a person who is in a wheelchair wants to ride the train and needs an accommodation or assistance to do this. Once they request the accommodation or assistance, it cannot be denied.
Another example: if a person with a disability wants their home to be modified for them, no one can deny them. If they are denied for the home modification, they can fight for the home modification to be done.
For me, the ADA means that people with disabilities are respected. I feel like that it is a good law to put out there for all of us.
About Zoe Hernandez: Zoe lives in Meriden, Connecticut. A Quantum® brand ambassador, Zoe attends Abilities Expos and speaks with people about her disability. She is currently enrolled in college and hopes to work in a community one day with people who are just like her. Click here to learn more about Zoe.