EQUAL RIGHTS CENTER: THE ADA TURNS 20
Two Decades of Protecting Disability Rights
The ADA Turns 20
“With today's signing of the landmark Americans for Disabilities Act, every man, woman, and
child with a disability can now pass through once-closed doors into a bright new era of equality,
independence, and freedom.”
–President George H.W. Bush
July 26th, 1990
Letter from the ERC Executive Director
Twenty years ago our nation took a huge stride forward in protecting the civil rights and liberties
of people with disabilities through the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Building upon a movement several decades in the making, the ADA passed with bi-partisan
support and was hailed as the most comprehensive formulation of the rights of the people with
disabilities in the history of the United States.
Originally formed in 1983, the Equal Rights Center has been committed to equal opportunity for
people with disabilities for more than two decades. Expanding its disability rights work through
its merger with the Disability Rights Council (DRC) in 2005, the ERC has utilized the ADA
since its enactment as a powerful tool to protect the rights of those with disabilities.
Our nation now includes more than 60 million people with disabilities, and estimations predict
that by 2050 approximately one in every three households will include a person with a disability.
The protections included in the ADA are invaluable to the every-day life of those with a
disability, and all Americans who value equality.
In the past 20 years, using the ADA, the ERC (DRC) has achieved landmark victories in areas
including access to transportation, health care, government services, voting, restaurants, hotels,
retails stores, grocery stores, financial institutions, and entertainment venues. These
achievements, including small businesses and large international corporations, have caused more
than 40,000 locations in every state and Puerto Rico to be made accessible to people with
disabilities.
Despite 20 years of remarkable progress, the ERC still receives complaints from individuals with
disabilities who are denied an equal opportunity to work, shop, eat, sleep and receive reasonable
services because where they choose because of unnecessary, and illegal, barriers. These
violations of still prohibit many from enjoying the same choices able-bodied people take for
granted each day. Currently pending cases could cause as many as 8,000 new locations be made
accessible.
EQUAL RIGHTS CENTER: THE ADA TURNS 20
All of these successes could not have been possible without the tireless work of the ERC staff,
the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs—which has represented
the ERC in our pursuit of justice, and ERC members. The ERC owes a special thanks to Marc
Fiedler, former Executive Director of the DRC, whose passion and commitment to ending
discrimination against those with disabilities has led to lasting and groundbreaking change for
many individuals.
The ERC is proud to celebrate a generation of American’s with disabilities growing up in an era
where their rights are protected. Many of the ADA’s requirements, which may have seemed
foreign to the much of the public in 1990, are now so common that many people do not even
recognize them as accommodations. We look forward to making even more progress and
improving the lives of the millions of Americans living with disabilities.
Sincerely,
Donald L. Kahl,
Equal Rights Center Executive Director
1990, Americans with Disabilities Act Enacted
The ADA provides comprehensive civil rights protection for people with disabilities. Closely
modeled after the Civil Rights Act and Section 504 of the rehabilitation Act, the law is the most
sweeping disability rights legislation in history. It mandated that local, state and federal
governments and programs be accessible, that businesses with more than 15 employees make
“reasonable accommodations” for disabled workers and that public accommodations such as
restaurants and stores make “reasonable modifications” to ensure access for disabled members of
the public. The act also mandates access in public transportation, communication, and in other
areas of public life.
1997, Victory With Leading International Fast Food Chain
One of the organizations first landmark victories was achieved in July, 1997 through an
agreement with Burger King Corporation. Burger King agreed to ensure all future building plans
would provide full access for individuals with disabilities and modified queue line specifications
to comply with the ADA. As an early agreement in ADA law, this case, featuring one of the
largest international restaurant chains, set the tone for many other large corporations. The ERC
went on to achieve agreements with several other restaurants including a 2007 agreement with
the largest single-brand restaurant chain, Subway. Breaking down barriers to everyday activities
was one of the key objectives of the ADA and this settlement achieved just that for millions of
individuals.
1999, Leading Mid-Atlantic Grocer Made Accessible
In August, 1999, Giant Food, Inc., one of the largest grocery stores in the Mid-Atlantic, agreed to
ensure greater access for persons with disabilities at Giant supermarkets. An early leader in
EQUAL RIGHTS CENTER: THE ADA TURNS 20
accessibility issues, Giant pledged to modify store entrances and checkout aisles to ensure
accessibly and also to retain an expert accessibility consultant to review its plans for new and
remodeled stores to ensure ADA compliance.
2000, Access to Government Services Victory Ensures
Interpreters
In November, 2000, the civil rights of individuals who are deaf were upheld through a settlement
with D.C. Metropolitan Police Department ensuring individuals who are deaf will be promptly
provided with qualified sign language interpreters in all important communications with officers
of the MPD and district police stations will have TTYs to ensure effective telephone accessibility
for deaf individuals. One of the first organizations to address access to government services, the
ERC continues working on this issue and has a case pending today that would require a sign
language interpreter at local ANC meetings and other events.
2001, Landmark Initiative to Ensure Accessible ATMs
In June, 2001, joined by the National Federation of the Blind and Chevy Chase Bank agreed to
ensure full access for blind and low-vision individuals to their more than 500 Chevy Chase Bank
ATMs locations in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. A similar victory for the
community was achieved a year earlier when the ATM Manufacturer, Diebold agreed to develop
a new generation of voice guided ATMs and replaced all ATMs in the D.C. area Rite-Aids.
2002, The Right to Vote is Protected
In August, 2002, a landmark agreement between the ERC (DRC) and the District of Columbia
helped ensure all people with disabilities have the ability to participate in one of the most
fundamental pillars of our democracy; the power to vote. The settlement required the District to
have at least one accessible voting machine in every precinct, and to ensure polling places were
held at accessible locations.
2005, Nationwide Victory Makes Department Stores
Accessible
In May, 2005 an agreement encompassing 42 states and Puerto Rico ensured accessible
emergency exits in all Marshalls clothing stores. This agreement followed an agreement with
May Department Stores, addressing the interior accessibility of its department stores. The ERC
continues working to ensure large retail chains, like Mays and Marshalls, are accessible and
currently has an important case pending against Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
2006, Parking in D.C. Made More Accessible
EQUAL RIGHTS CENTER: THE ADA TURNS 20
July, 2006 marked a groundbreaking settlement with the District to make all of its then 17,000
parking meter accessible. The agreement required the District to ensure the meters met ADA
height requirements and had compliant curb cuts. Alongside this agreement, the D.C. City
Council passed legislation creating reciprocity for out of state placard holders—at the time the
District was the only state-level jurisdiction which refused reciprocity for other states’
placards—and addressed the placard application process which has been found discriminatory
and overly burdensome on people with disabilities.
2008, Monumental Victory with MetroAccess
In May, 2008, the ERC, representing more than 20,000 individuals, reached a $14 million
landmark settlement with MetroAccess, a facet of the Washington Metropolitan Transit
Authority which provides services to people with disabilities. This class action lawsuit, based on
hundreds of complaints, required MetroAccess to improve the safety and reliability of their
service through driver training and an accessibility monitoring system. The ERC continues to
monitor MetroAccess’ compliance and has noted progress and improvement in the services and
treatment of clients with disabilities.
2010, Accessibility Guaranteed at D.C.’s Seat of Government
In January, 2010, the ERC reached an agreement with the District ensuring the John A. Wilson
Building, be made accessible to individuals with disabilities. The agreement also addressed the
cities emergency policies and required the District to ensure all emergency evacuation
procedures be designed to include the needs of people with disabilities. In addition to ensuring
the local government be accessible to all, this agreement demonstrated the District’s recognition
of the importance of ending discrimination against all citizens.
2010, Accessible Health Care Victories Achieved
After several patients with disabilities encountered barriers at a health clinic run by Howard
University Hospital, in March, 2010, the clinic agreed to remove all barriers and acquire the
necessary of accessible medical equipment. This case followed a 2005 landmark settlement with
Washington Hospital Center that was the first of its kind to address access to hospital facilities
and equipment for patients with mobility impairments and other disabilities.
2010, Hilton Hotels to Promote Hotel Accessibility
On the eve of the ADA’s 20th Anniversary the ERC, joined by the American Association of
People with Disabilities (AAPD), reached an agreement with Hilton Worldwide, ensuring all
three D.C. Hilton hotels are made accessible. In addition, Hilton Hotels is making important
strides nationally by agreeing to implement an advertising strategy focused on the accessibility
of their D.C. hotels as well as publish an article highlighting the accessibility campaign in their
Hilton Honors newsletter. This agreement ensures the more than 10 million visitors to the
nation’s capital every year have access to world-class and accessible hotels.
EQUAL RIGHTS CENTER: THE ADA TURNS 20
By the Numbers
Nine victories making nearly 30,000 more restaurants more accessible.
Eight victories involving retail accessibility making more than 10,000 locations accessible; three
cases pending.
Six victories gaining access to government services; three cases still pending.
Four victories that made more than 800 grocery locations accessible.
Four victories making seven hotels accessible.
Three victories with hospitals addressing accessibility; one pending.
Two victories won that made more than 800 ATMs accessible.
Two victories won granting access to transportation.
Two victories making entertainment venues accessible.
The ERC
The Equal Rights Center (ERC) is a national non-profit civil rights organization dedicating to
promoting equal opportunity in housing, employment, public accommodations, and government
services through education, research, testing, counseling, advocacy and enforcement.
Collaborating with national and local civil rights organizations, advocacy groups, universities,
service providers and the religious community, the ERC advances civil rights practices in the
greater Washington D.C. area and across the United States. Today, the ERC stands as one of the
few organizations in the United States which engages in comprehensive civil rights enforcement
for all protected classes.
The ERC helps thousands of individuals each year through counseling, discrimination
investigations, and education and outreach activities. To learn more about the ERC and how you
can help advance civil rights across our country, visit www.equalrightscenter.org
11 Dupont Circle N.W., Suite 450
Washington, D.C. 20036
(Free) 866.719.4372
(Voice) 202.234.3062
(Fax) 202.234.3106
www.equalrightscenter.org