July 26, 2026, marks the 36th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA.
About the Americans with Disabilities Act
July 26 marks the 36th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. This landmark civil rights legislation improves the lives of all Americans, not just people with disabilities. The ADA is all about access, inclusion and creating a world where people of all abilities are free to contribute their talents to our community.
Recognizing the Many Forms of Disability
The range of disability is as broad as the variety of people themselves and includes everything from a physical or sensory disability to a developmental disability to a mental health diagnosis and more. If you think about it, all of us have strengths and weaknesses, and ability/ disability is just another way to express that diverse continuum. Did you know? One in five of us has a disability, whether we are born with it or acquire it during our lives due to accident, illness or aging. The ADA protects us all by guaranteeing access to public spaces, voting access, requiring supports to allow people to live in their communities, and prohibiting discrimination by employers based upon disability. The ADA built upon existing legislation such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, effective in 1975, which guarantees a free appropriate public education to children with disabilities.
An Accessible World Benefits Everyone
Think about curb cuts that help people pushing strollers, riding bicycles or using wheelchairs. Think about kneeling buses that allow petite riders, children, older adults or people using wheelchairs to get on board. Think about touchless doors, faucets and paper towel dispensers designed to assist people with limited mobility and how much we all appreciated them during the pandemic. Think about simple accommodations in the workplace – adjustments to workstations, lighting, or screens – that make all workers healthier.
So, as you celebrate this July summer, take a moment to celebrate a law that protects all of us as our abilities change over our lives.
Bousquet Holstein's commitment to the highest standards of service to its clients and community aligns with the ideals of the ADA. Our attorneys help people navigate complex issues related to disability, whether it is estate planning, guardianship and supported decision-making, discrimination claims, or ADA compliance.
Tania S. Anderson
Tania focuses her legal practice on trusts and estates, elder law, and disability-related planning. As the mother of a daughter with a disability, she brings professional expertise and deeply personal insight to her work. She is especially passionate about helping families navigate the complex and often emotional process of establishing supplemental needs trusts and other planning tools for long-term care and financial security.
A Syracuse native, Tania has dedicated her career to public service, giving back to her community and enriching disability services in Central New York.
Learn more about Tania >>>
tanderson@bhlawpllc.com | 315-701-6495
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult with an attorney regarding their circumstances.