Our guest author today is Ellen Terrell, Business Reference Specialist.
According to the U.S. Census in their report Americans with Disabilities: 2005, there are roughly 54 million Americans with a disability. 11 million people age 6 and older need personal assistance with everyday activities and 46% of the people ages 21 to 64 having some type of disability who were employed.* So today is a milestone.
On this date in 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act, Public Law No: 101-336 (42 U.S. Code Chapter 126) was signed into law (view video of the signing ceremony) by George H.W. Bush. The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications.
Want to know more? The Library of Congress has many items in its collection on People with disabilities and Discrimination against people with disabilities for those wanting to do research. You can also visit the page maintained by the Justice Department or go to Disability.gov and read their blog postings on 100 Days to the ADA which is a countdown to the 20th anniversary.