MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on Minnesotans with disabilities are marking the 10th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In South Minneapolis, nearly a thousand people visited the Anne Sullivan School to take part in a day long celebration of the signing of the legislation. Disability rights activists say the ADA literally opened doors and businesses to millions of Americans, but they say more needs to be done.
TOM SCHECK: When most Americans think of America's civil rights legislation, they probably imagine landmark legislation guaranteeing the rights of African-American citizens. But a quarter century after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act forced employers and businesses to drop barriers preventing access to disabled citizens.
LINDA WOLFORD: This important legislation affirmed us as citizens of the United States with equal rights.
TOM SCHECK: Linda Wolford works for the Courage Center, a medical rehabilitation facility serving people with physical disabilities. Wolford uses a wheelchair. For years, she says disabled Americans had to live in the shadows, ignored by the government and corporate America. But she says the Americans with Disabilities Act gave disabled people a tool to fight discrimination.
LINDA WOLFORD: People with disabilities have become more visible. I think we're really an invisible minority. Even though we're the largest minority group in America, we oftentimes were not very visible. And part of the reason we weren't very visible is that places were inaccessible. Kids with disabilities weren't mainstreamed.
TOM SCHECK: Despite the effectiveness of the ADA, Wolford says the legislation has not changed America's view of the disabled. She says people still see her as a person in a wheelchair rather than a person. And officials with the Minnesota State Council on Disabilities agree. The organization's director, Margot Imdieke Cross, says 70% of the people with disabilities are unemployed.
MARGOT IMDIEKE CROSS: Many of us have moved into the culture of disability pride. But there are a lot of people who aren't there and there are a lot of people who have been made to feel bad throughout their lives that they have a disability. And there are people who are ashamed of the fact because they look at having a disability as a deficit, not as something that could in fact enrich their lives.
TOM SCHECK: Imdieke Cross says the next goal for disability rights activists is to have people look at the disabled as people with something to offer, rather than people with an affliction.
[CHATTER, BALL BOUNCING]
One way disabled Americans are working towards that goal is by showing that they are no different than other citizens. At the Sullivan School, disabled athletes participate in a game of wheelchair basketball in front of a small crowd. Imdieke Cross says sports and more cerebral efforts showcase the talents of people with disabilities.
A Disability Institute study has found that most Americans believe that the 54 million Americans with disabilities spend a large part of their day thinking about a cure. In fact, the same survey found a majority of the people with disabilities are more concerned with their quality of life. I'm Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio.
Views and opinions expressed in the content do not represent the opinions of APMG. APMG is not responsible for objectionable content and language represented on the site. Please use the "Contact Us" button if you'd like to report a piece of content. Thank you.
Transcriptions provided are machine generated, and while APMG makes the best effort for accuracy, mistakes will happen. Please excuse these errors and use the "Contact Us" button if you'd like to report an error. Thank you.