English 235
Has the American Disability Act Accomplished its Goals?
This paper deals with the important information about the Americans with Disabilities Act. From July until the present time, the Act deals with the question of equality in the society of disabled people. There were a lot of attempts to bring the Act to the life. Civil Rights Act of 1964, didn’t include the problem of disability, but only prohibited discrimination of religion, race, color, sex and national origin .The offer to include disability to the list was rejected, but later, this question was admitted in Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in section 504. In 1990, the Americans Disability Act changed the minds of every American about disabled people in society. Disability can be compared with discrimination, so ADA works with the areas which are involved in every person’s life. These subjects are employment and education. Both subjects are supported by the ADA in order to help disabled people participate more fully in the community.
It is very important for the society to have such law as the Americans Disability Act. The Act makes lives of mentally and physically challenged people easier. Marilyn J. Field, the editor of the book The Future of Disability in America stated that “it gives them an opportunity to feel adapt for today life in all possible ways (Field and Jette 103). The ADA made employment easier for the handicapped people because all should be in equal conditions. Here we can notice the important effect of ADA. Definitely, it is very good that government provides such a law, which can greatly facilitate lives of people. There are a lot of examples where people without this law would live with their problems without solving it. On the example of deaf and dumb, we can see notable results in favor of disabled. A deaf woman, who worked for 10 years as a Child Social Worker, was refused in the job position. She was compensated $45000 because of the discrimination. Also, the Country of Ventura, where the woman applied for a position, was forced to do all necessary possibilities for disabled. Also, Baltimore Country was fined because of deprivation of individuals with Type I diabetes mellitus. Baltimore paid $475,000 for such behavior. Observing these situations, we understand that such vulnerable segments of the population have firm support. I doubt that these individuals can attain truth without the Act. The ADA law helps them to seek justice with positive results. The Americans Disability Act brings the understanding that all people are equal despite on health problem. Such real- life situations force people to realize that disabled people are worthy of respect. Moreover, in my opinion, this act does a great job of helping people in troubles and it really accomplishes its goal.
The second important area is the education for the disabled children, which is improved in order to make them feel comfortable among healthy pupils. When children are deprived because of their disability, it hurts them more and more. Deprivation is a trigger for destroying child’s psychology. The Act helps these children in all possible ways. It proposes appropriate and free education. The law intends disabled children be in the same environment with healthy one with all needed support. It includes Individualized Education Program and communication technology and recreation facilities. School buildings are constructed according to the needs of children with a developmental disorder. Kaela Parks, one of the authors of the book Beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act: Inclusive Policy and Practice for Higher Education stated that “they also are supplied with all possible devices and materials for their better education” (Vance, Lipzits and Parks 83). By doing this, students are ensured to achieve their targets in further life. I think that it is another great example of how American Disability Act helps people who are in need. The Nobel Learning Communities signed an agreement in order to prevent disabled children from discrimination. Also, children who suffer from school discrimination were compensated $215,000 for each family. On the example with sexually deprived student on a school bus, the law forces the country to provide security for all disabled student using the school buses. Harassed students were paid 1.4 million dollars for such assault. The Americans Disability Act really helps adults and children with health problems to survive in this cruel world. It is even not about survival, it is about feeling equal with the other people. In my opinion, it is very important in modern society that people feel equal. People with disabilities also have the right to live a normal life without being discriminated. The Justice Department and organizations signed an assignment realized under the ADA that protects people with disabilities. The ADA helps not only people who have physical or mental problems. Reading the examples above, where disordered people suffer from healthy persons, one can think over this situation. Clear facts showed that these people are protected by the ADA and other organization, so handicapped should be appreciated without any deprivations. They are the same people as we are, so, first of all, we should consider them as normal Americans. Again, American Disability Act has indeed accomplished its goal. It succeeds in helping different people with disabilities and it makes their lives easier. Thanks to this act, people with disabilities can live a normal life and feel themselves be equal with other people. As for me, the US government should create similar acts, which also will help different people to cope with their problems.
Works Cited
Field, Marilyn J., and Alan M. Jette. Future Of Disability In America. Washington: National Academy Press, 2007. Print.
Vance, Marry Lee, Neal Lipzits, and Kaela Parks. Beyond The Americans With Disabilities Act: Inclusive Policy And Practice For Higher Education. Washington: National Academies Press, 2014. Print.
