Does the american disiblities act (ada) really give people the freedom and independance they think they have??

Question

in my opinion i see them ask for more help and not want to be so independent they want.....it seems they want things that looks like the are dependent on the government and other services

something that david petterson said yesterday reminded me to ask this

Answer 1

That stupid law put my brother-in-law out of business.  He was told he had to install a ramp for wheelchair access, with permit fees and builders costs it would have cost more than he made in 2 years so he just closed up shop.

Answer 2

Well you don't obviously talk to that many people with disabilities.  

I know some people who complain constantly about their situation, but most are just about the same as everyone else, they use the act to make sure they have a parking space, get special tests in school etc..  

Answer 3

Yes. It prohibits employers and government agencies from discriminating because a person has a handicap. It does not create any new government handout. What it has done is allow people that can work the right to work.

I am hard of hearing. I don't need great hearing to do my job as we use e-mail and IM. However, if this was 50 years ago, I could never get past an interview because of my "handicap". Now I work as a computer engineer and do very well. As such, instead of living on government handouts and using "other services", I support myself and my family.

Answer 4

It has made life a lot easier for mothers with  young children in strollers, as well as people in wheel chairs which is a side benefit most people over look.  

Answer 5

Its true that some people with disabilities seem to be willing and want the government to take care of everything for them but others do use the ADA to give them a chance to make their lives productive and succesful.  I would love to see a bounty on those who misuse disabled parking stickers or immunity from prosecution for keying cars of those who do that.  I see more and more people who are ambulatory taking up parking spaces that should be saved for those who cannot walk or must use chairs.  But you see people pull up to a store and they are not disabled, or they have their grandmothers in the car but she is not going in the store so they use the spot.  I know a woman who takes her mother in law "for a ride" so she can do just that.  People who are disabled take advantage and those who are not sometimes take advantage of the disabled.  The ADA has opened so many doors for ambitous people and has given them a chance to live life outside of the house.  I think its a great law much like the Civil Rights Act (which was written by Sen Everett Dirksen a conservative Rep Senator from Illinois in the 60's).  

Answer 6

Disabled individuals seldom get any redress through ADA.. It's just a vague do nothing agency which never responds to legitimate complaints.  Thousands of developmentally disabled individuals  have been on waiting lists for services for years.   Many of them have the ability to do simple repetitive work but often wait until they are too disabled to accept employment.  The wait lists are a national disgrace since services are often less than a few thousand dollars when billions are being spent on national medial care for Iraqis.  

Answer 7

As a locksmith at a medium sized university in Texas, I can give you a few insights to the way the act is written.

First of all, it is an act; not a law. Although it has a little bite in court, I cannot be thrown in jail for not abiding by it.

Second... the wording is vague. As long as I am making a reasonable attempt to give you access, I am golden. Don't ask me to define "reasonable", because it changes everyday.

Third... it has become a billion dollar business, selling hardware and signage, all designed to make it more accessible. Unfortunately, university officials were told that the braille on the signs were all wrong, and made no sense.

So, since disabilities are redefined every few years, there is no way they will ever write a standard that would give the act any teeth, like the National Fire Protection Act.