This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark piece of civil rights legislation. As we reflect on this milestone, we find ourselves at a symbolic juncture—not an end, but a powerful point in a much longer journey toward full equity and inclusion for people with disabilities in the United States.
While the number 35 may not carry universal significance in global culture, its meaning deepens when we explore it through various lenses. In numerology, for instance, 35 symbolizes a fusion of creativity and pragmatic ambition, often interpreted as a sign of personal and professional growth. It can also signify a midpoint in life’s journey—a time for reflection. For the ADA, 35 represents not a completed mission, but a reminder of the work that remains. It is a call to action to push forward with renewed purpose.
Since its passage, the ADA has profoundly changed American life. It outlawed discrimination based on disability in employment, public accommodations, transportation, and more. Curb cuts, accessible public transportation, captioned media, and workplace accommodations—things that are now seen as standard—were all made possible or greatly expanded by this law. These changes have enabled millions of people with disabilities to participate more fully in society.
The ADA has also inspired a broader cultural shift. Disability, once hidden or misunderstood, is increasingly recognized as a vital part of the human experience. From classrooms to boardrooms, from art galleries to political offices, the presence of people with disabilities is growing, and so too is the recognition of their rights, talents, and contributions.
July, recognized as Disability Pride Month, is more than just a commemoration the ADA. It’s a celebration of disability culture, history, and the vibrant diversity within the community. It’s a time to honor the resilience, creativity, and power of disabled people, and to challenge the pervasive stereotypes and stigmas that continue to limit opportunity.
Disability Pride Month is about visibility and truth-telling. It’s about asserting that disability is not something to be ashamed of or hidden away. Celebrating Disability Pride means uplifting the stories, art, advocacy, and brilliance of a community that has long been marginalized, but never silenced.
Despite the progress of the past 35 years, people with disabilities still face persistent barriers. Systemic ableism continues to limit access to healthcare, education, employment, housing, and civic engagement. Ableist beliefs remain deeply embedded in our institutions and cultural attitudes, compounded by racism, sexism, poverty, and other forms of discrimination that intersect with disability.
Moreover, many aspects of modern life still fail to account fully for the needs of people with disabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored how easily the needs of this community can be overlooked in times of crisis, with inaccessible information, medical rationing, and disproportionate impacts.
But there is hope, and there has been progress. The change achieved since the ADA’s passage did not happen by chance. It has been won through the tireless efforts of disability rights activists, advocates, and allies. Leaders like Judy Heumann, Ed Roberts, and countless others fought hard, often at great personal cost, to make disability rights a civil rights issue.
Today’s advocates carry that torch forward. They are building inclusive technologies, organizing for equitable education, demanding accessible elections, and reimagining what true inclusion looks like in every facet of life. They are not just asking for access; they are demanding justice, dignity, and recognition.
So, as we honor 35 years of the ADA, we must see this moment not as a resting point, but as a recommitment. The ADA opened doors, but full inclusion requires more than access. It requires dismantling the systems and beliefs that continue to marginalize disabled people. It requires centering disabled voices, funding inclusive programs, and embedding accessibility into the fabric of everything we do.
The number 35 reminds us that we are in the middle of something transformative. The journey to disability equity is far from over, but we are moving, building, and rising. Because 35 years in, we’re just getting started.
Opinions expressed are solely those of the writer(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Able News at The Viscardi Center and/or The Viscardi Center.