Creative Building Access Designs One out of every four Americans live with some form of disability, reported the CDC in 2018. These disabilities affect major daily activities, making these 61 million adults supported under the ​Americans with Disabilities Act​ (ADA).
Accessibility is a civil rights issue, and access can heavily be affected by existing features in our surroundings. Every day, millions of people with disabilities across the globe live among people who are otherwise able to enjoy their gifts normally. Though their capabilities are hampered, they have no choice but to adapt to the same environment that may prove unkind to them. But what if it was the other way around? What if the environment can be adapted to suit the needs of persons with disabilities?
In 1990, the ADA was enacted to acknowledge that persons with disabilities have rights to equal access and opportunities. If reasonable accommodations can be made to help everyone avail the same goods and services, the state protects their rights to achieve this.
Through the ADA, the government was able to come up with guidelines after identifying and understanding the needs of individuals with disabilities. For instance, the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design was published by the US Department of Justice ten years prior to instructing owners and planners in drawing plans for facilities that are meant for public use.