Blog | Tag: Accessibility (P20)

When President Ford signed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142), later known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), in 1975, all children were given access to the public school system to receive a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. From that time forward, students with disabilities had the right to receive an education with their non-disabled peers with all the same resources, teachers, and classrooms.

While there are still times when a dedicated assistive technology (AT) device is necessary or recommended, the rise of the smartphone and tablet age has changed the way we look at AT. Often there is an app for less than $100 that can do the same or similar job as a multi-thousand-dollar dedicated device, which makes approvals and delays much less of a factor. And one device, such as a $500 tablet, can provide a number of functions that would have taken several dedicated devices to accomplish in the past.

I do not refer to employment as “the road less traveled” because I think that people with disabilities are intentionally not seeking employment. Nothing could be further from the truth, because people with disabilities want to work and seek work daily. Rather, it is the road less traveled due to low expectations, stigma, and systems that limit employment potential through arbitrary limits on income which can constitute a choice between working and literally living.

Olivia Babis discusses her personal connection with the ADA and how her life has changed over the years since its inception.

Disability Rights Florida staff member Victor Panoff shares his thoughts about the ADA on the eve of its 30th anniversary.