Hardly.

Time to buckle up for a(nother) dose of reality on this, the last day of Disability Pride Month 2023. Picture this: Over the weekend, US Senator Duckworth and her daughters were all excited to “Barbie” – they even dressed Barbie’s signature (and my favorite) color – pink! Unfortunately, when they arrived at the theater, the elevator is was of order. Spoiler alert – Senator Duckworth, using a wheelchair, was not able to see the movie there with her daughters. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may be three decades old, but much of our society is still inaccessible, even to people as well known as senators.

But ADA is the law, and –

Yeah, but no. ADA violations like this are way too common, spreading like a virus throughout everyday life. The actual problem is lack of ADA enforcement. People can file complaints, it feels just as helpful to tossing those complaints into a black hole. Thousands of them flood in, and the Department of Justice just can’t seem keep up.

Cost isn’t a factor, right?

Incorrect. First, it’s pretty expensive to make spaces accessible through any kind of private action. It’s also not cheap to hire a lawyer to fight for accessibility rights, especially for folks with disabilities who can’t just throw money around. Additionally, ADA complaints won’t win you any damages, so it’s pretty difficult to find a lawyer to take these cases. It’s almost like playing a lottery that has zero payout – not fun and really what’s the point (I’ll keep my $2, thank you). So, unless you’ve got a money tree growing in the backyard (if so, please send address), accessibility battles come with a hefty price tag and, often, limited results. Oh joy!

At least everyone plays by the same rules, right?

Again, the answer is “no.” Here’s a sad, unfortunate stat – less than 1 percent of housing in America is wheelchair accessible. Less than 1 percent. (To put things in perspective, 1 and 2% of the world’s population has red hair, one the rarest of human traits. So you have a better chance of being a natural redhead than finding wheelchair-accessible housing in the US.) There are tons of public places like stores, restaurants, and movie theaters are a no-go for people with disabilities. But wait, there’s more! Many old buildings get a free pass (literally) and are not required to meet ADA standards until they need major reconstruction. You’d think that’d mean new constructions would be shiny and accessible, but no – while some newer builds are fantastic when it comes to being fully accessible, many are far from even adequate.

Sigh…but we must press on!

As we bid farewell to another Disability Pride Month, Senator Duckworth’s recent accessibility challenge is a good reminder that the fight for accessibility is far from over. If we want equal access, we have to seriously tackle the tough stuff: ADA enforcement that actually works and getting real about compliance. So, let’s accessorize (pink, anyone?) with our megaphones and turn up the volume. We’re shouting for change, and no one’s hitting the mute button on us, because, unlike a malfunctioning radio, we’re disabled and they can’t figure out where our parts are! Watch out, world, we’re rolling in, and we won’t be silenced!♿📣🙂