Written by YBe anything other than 1's self?
ADA
"AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT"
Don't Tread on my disability!
You might not know me and I might not know you, but it does not give you or anyone the right to judge me for being the way that I am. "Disabled!" My age is unknown, my looks are unseen, my hurt is unnoticeable but I am you! Maybe not now but somewhere in the future you may become like me, which gives the reason for you to not tread on me and my disability.
In 1990 the Americans With Disability Act was signed into law! Actually it became a law and it is considered a civil rights law at that. Which means that "no one" can discriminate against anyone with a disability. Not in the store, the courts, the hospital, on your job, in government, in the political arena, your schools, on a public transportation, at your home, in a apartment complex, and according to this law, "public or private places that are open to the general public!"
My husband and I live in a very prominent apartment complex considered to be like private homes even though they have so many units per building. In these complex there are some handicap sign for those who need them. When we moved in the apartment that we occupy, there were only two handicap spots which were taken when we came to the complex. Even though we need a place up close to the apartment, we respected the tenants that were there before us, so we didn't park in those two spots.
What we decided to do and which is covered under the law was to request another handicap sign to be erected just for us. We did that and of course people did not respect that newly placed sign which said "reserved parking handicap." Even the people that used the other two signs repetitiously decided they were going to take our spot!
I begun to knock on doors and asked them to move their car because it was a handicap signs and that my husband and I had requested that sign and that spot. We even paid for a pole for it to be on, because the complex was having a time putting the sign up, claiming that they could not find a proper pole. I went to Home Depot and purchased a pole. It cost us $30.00. I emphasize that to the people when I asked them to move their vehicle. I told them we paid for that sign, literally. We paid for that sign not only with purchasing the pole but also with our service to the workforce. We worked and earn the right to have the benefits that come with being diagnose with a disability.
What I think baffled the people where we lived was that we might have not looked disable to them because we take care of ourselves the best we can. We are blessed to not necessary look the part of being disable and that is where the law protects disabled people. Today's world thinks you are suppose to be totally incapacitated, which there are many people that are. But there is that category where there are many people that have disabilities that might not be noticeable but have been awarded their disability not only through the disability/Social Security office, but also through the courts. Their cases were reviewed, judged and awarded. They became a recipient under the ADA. That means you can't tread on me or my disabilities that I have.
I finally got people to stop parking in my spot and letting their visitors to do the same. The apartment complex like a lot of complexes do not enforce that handicap law, not realizing that they could be sued if they do not provide accommodation for the handicapped and disable under the ADA law. A year later the people that preoccupied the two handicap spots moved. Now anyone and everyone parks in those two spots, even though no one else in our building needs them. It Is Still Against The Law!!!
Another incident was in the same complex in the front part of where we live. There was actually a woman that was wheel chair bound and this man that had a humongous truck would always part in her spot. He just didn't give a hoot about this disabled woman in a wheelchair. The manager would tell him to stop it, but he still would do it. Finally the law was called on him and he found out the "fine" was greater than his disrespect.
You see the sole purpose of this ADA act was signed into law to make sure that anyone like me with a disability has the same rights, protections and opportunities as anyone else. If this didn't happen, we would get treaded on constantly.
In this world, because people just don't care anymore, there have been violations of the law in public facilities, on peoples jobs, from all sectors of government that provide services, state and local, even in radio and television and social media. This created a need to amend the ADA to the "Americans With Disabilities Act Amendment Act" ADAAA. You would think that there would be no need to do this because most people knew or had someone that was disabled! It was signed into law in 2008 but was effective in 2009.
There were great changes which pertain to a division of the ADA Act into five titles or sections of the Act, will list but not put emphasizes on them except for one "title 5"of the act, you can look up that Amendment Act of the ADA and these titles. This law was to help with clarity the scope of different areas of public life including private entities that operated or were located in the public and were classified under public places of accommodation.
There were great changes which pertain to a division of the ADA Act into five titles or sections of the Act, will list but not put emphasizes on them except for one "title 5"of the act, you can look up that Amendment Act of the ADA and these titles. This law was to help with clarity the scope of different areas of public life including private entities that operated or were located in the public and were classified under public places of accommodation.
- Title 1 (Employment)
- Title 11 (State and Local Government)
- Title 111 (Public Accommodations)
- Title VI (Telecommunications)
- Title V (Miscellaneous Provisions) This one sticks out because it will cover everything else that is not included in the four titles above. This final title contains a wide range of provisions that relate to the ADA. It provides a connection to other laws creating a relationship, state immunity, its impact on insurance providers and benefits, prohibition against retaliation and coercion, illegal use of drugs, and attorney’s fees. There are also certain conditions under this title that are accepted as disabilities. Please research and check out all the titles.
The conclusion is that there are laws for those that are disabled and it applies to everyone. From government to private business operating in public. There also are exclusion that you need to go read. Below are a few sites to check out.
I would like to mention one last thing, to all those who are taking advantage of the disabled, the time will come when you will be held accountable for your ignorance of the law, which is no excuse and this is to all corporations big and small and any individual or groups that feel they can tread on our disabilities!
* side note: Disability has categories such as, Theory and Models, Education, Therapy, Societal Implications, Personal Assistance, Socioeconomic Assistance, Groups - Organizations, Disabled Sports and Culture.
YBe anything other than 1's self?
