Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

By Sharon Lewis, Principal Deputy Administrator, Administration for Community Living and Jocelyn Samuels, Director, Office for Civil Rights

Twenty five years ago today, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, making clear that people with disabilities should experience equal opportunity, independent living, economic self-sufficiency, and full participation in all aspects of our society. Over the past two and a half decades, our communities have become more accessible and more inclusive – in obvious ways, like curb cuts and accessible buildings, and in sometimes less recognized ways, such as the integration of people with disabilities in our schools, workplaces, businesses, and neighborhoods.