• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Skip to Main content
  • A
  • A
  • A
  • Login
  • Register

Disabled Parenting Project

An online community by and for parents and prospective parents with disabilities

The Disabled Parenting Project is part of the:

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission Statement
    • The Team
    • FAQs
  • Directory
    • Submit a Listing
  • Library
    • Submit a Resource
    • Resources
    • Disabled Parents in the News
    • Podcasts
  • Community
    • Blog
    • DPP Blogger Guidelines
    • Twitter Chats
    • Interviews of Parents with Disabilities
    • How to Videos and Photos
  • Marketplace
    • Product Reviews
    • Adaptive Parenting Products
    • Buy, Sell & Trade
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Blog / Disabled Parenting / As the ADA Turns 30, It’s Time to Give It Wheels

As the ADA Turns 30, It’s Time to Give It Wheels

July 27, 2020 by Carla Charter Leave a Comment

Celebrate the ADA30 (1990-2020) Americans with Disabilities Act - July 26, 2020

Credit: ADA National Network (adata.org)

This year the ADA, which was designed to give equal access to the disabled, turns 30. Yet still, we live in a segregated society. As a person with a disability, where I live is not decided by my choice as an American but instead by the state and federal government when they decide which communities are given transportation funding. In many states, these decisions are made based on urban and rural transportation needs.

With the larger disabled population living in urban areas, those who choose to live in rural areas are often left behind. If their smaller town does not have transportation funding, the ADA is rendered useless. You cannot become a productive, useful member of society if you cannot get to the larger society.

How can the rural disabled voice be heard, if they can not get to meetings to use that voice? Yes, there is Zoom, and you can send in your opinion in writing, but in my mind, that voice is even more powerful when it is in front of you loudly demanding to be heard. And what of those who can not get to the polling place which tends to be further away in rural areas. It kind of makes those accessible voting booths useless, doesn’t it?

I can move, I agree, but why should I have to. To me, having to live in an area the government deems deserves transportation is another form of segregation. It is the government saying you may live here and have transportation or you may live there and be homebound, your choice.

Except its not a choice. By the government restricting the disabled to living in areas where they deem should have transportation, they are not only robbing the disabled person from their choices but are robbing these smaller communities of desperately needed citizens who could benefit their communities as well.

It is time. The ADA needs wheels NOW! It needs to guarantee transportation to the disabled no matter where we live. It is the only way to drive us all in a society with full equality.

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Print
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Skype

Filed Under: Disabled Parenting Tagged With: ADA, disabled mom, policy, transportation

Carla Charter

About Carla Charter

Carla Charter is a freelance writer as well as a disability related legislative advocate. She lives in Phillipston, MA. and is married with three (almost adult) children. Since becoming disabled herself, she has become passionate about making the world more accessible for everyone.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • I Fried an Egg
  • As the ADA Turns 30, It’s Time to Give It Wheels
  • The ADA, Parenthood, and Empowerment
  • Growing up with the ADA
  • Missing my Daughter: Reflections from a Disabled Dad During the Coronavirus

Tags

ableism accessibility ADA adapting adult child advocacy amputee baby babywearing blind blind mom breastfeeding carrie ann lucas children Contest cooking daughter disability disabled child disabled dad disabled mom family friends help holiday holidays home household infant life muscular dystrophy personal care attendant play playground potty training reflections school school age child shopping society son thanks toddler wheelchair working mom

Footer

Additional Links

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Medical and Legal Disclaimer

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Connect With Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

© 2021 · Disabled Parenting Project ·

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.