As the ADA turns 35, the HLAA’s struggle for accessibility continues

Honoring the legacy of access

July 26 marks the 35th anniversary of the founding Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)– The landmark civil rights law that changed the lives of millions of people in the United States. Signed into law on July 26, 1990 by President George H.W. Bush, this groundbreaking legislation prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and mandates accessibility of workplaces, transportation, public accommodations, and more.

Four months ago in March, a group of passionate activists with physical disabilities, including many in wheelchairs, crawled up the steps of the U.S. Capitol. As shown in the powerful image above, the historic “Capitol March” dramatically brought the disability rights movement into the public arena and accelerated the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

to American Hearing Loss Association (HLAA), this event also symbolizes our role in the movement: fighting to ensure that people with hearing loss are not left out.

HLAA Impact: Adding communications accessibility to the ADA

At the time the Americans with Disabilities Act was discussed, the initial focus was on the barriers of the physical world. So sensory disabilities like hearing loss haven’t always been at the forefront of public conversations. Curb cuts and wheelchair ramps were clear signs of change, but what about captions, scripts, hearing loops, and American Sign Language (ASL)? A dedicated group of advocates, including HLAA founder Howard “Rocky” Stone, recognized this gap and took action.

Rocky had founded HLAA 11 years earlier, in 1979, and was originally named Self-Help for the Hearing-Hard (SHHH). As a prominent voice in Washington, D.C., he was invited to serve on the Accessibility Board that wrote the ADA regulations guiding communications for people with hearing loss, along with leaders in the community for people who identify as deaf.

His strong advocacy helped ensure communications access was incorporated into the final ADA legislation. The law recognized the need for “reasonable accommodation” for people with hearing loss, paving the way for access to a range of services. Hearing assistive technology Options beyond interpreting American Sign Language, such as:

• Caption In a wide range of environments and technologies
• Assistive listening systems (Like Hearing Rings and now Auracast)
• Compatible with amplified, suspension and acoustic speakers Phones
• Written materials and texts
• Visual and tactile alarms

This breakthrough means that hearing loss – although often invisible – is finally visible in the eyes of the law.

Why is the ADA still important?

For people with hearing loss, the battle for hearing access did not end on July 26, 1990. It was just beginning. Many public places still do not provide effective communication access, or accommodations are limited to American Sign Language, which is only used by 2.8% of adults With hearing loss.

After decades, The ADA continues to evolve. Technology has changed and expectations have increased, but so have the challenges. New developments often did not take accessibility into account and had to be forcibly modified to accommodate people with disabilities. Over the past 35 years, the HLAA has continued to fight for ADA rights by demanding accessibility as a starting point for technological innovation.

Today, our national community continues to fight for the rights of the 50 million Americans with hearing loss, advocating for expanded access options — along with affordable hearing healthcare and treatment options — at the federal, state and local levels:

Join us in honoring and continuing the work

The ADA anniversary is not just a date on the calendar – it is a reminder that inclusion must include access to communications. Accessibility and equality is something our society fights 365 days a year. Welcome We are proud of our history In crafting this legislation, among other things, we are committed to making sure its promise is kept.

This month and throughout the year, we invite you to:

Let’s keep fighting for access – together!