Advocating for inclusivity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act

In a diverse society, it's important to ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities or circumstances, has equal access to public spaces, services, and opportunities. Unfortunately, many individuals with disabilities face significant barriers that prevent them from fully participating in their communities. As concerned citizens, we all have a role in advocating for inclusivity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, and government services. It requires reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access and opportunity for people with physical, sensory, cognitive, or mental disabilities. Some examples include providing ramps and accessible entrances, ensuring accessible restrooms and parking spaces, offering auxiliary aids and communication alternatives for those with hearing or vision impairments, and ensuring accessible public transportation. It also requires allowing trained service animals into public areas.

Some people poke insults at some of the requirements, such as the fact that there is braille on the ATM buttons in pull-up ATMs at local banks and credit unions. But those are there for a reason: why should a vision-impaired person be required to give someone else their PIN if they want to withdraw money from their bank account?

Identifying barriers and violations is the first step in advocating for inclusivity and ADA compliance. This could involve observing public spaces, buildings, and services to assess their accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Look for issues such as lack of ramps or accessible entrances, narrow doorways or hallways, absence of accessible parking or signage, lack of audio or visual aids, and inaccessible public transportation. It's important to consider a wide range of accessibility needs, as not all disabilities are visible.

If you encounter an ADA violation or barrier to accessibility, there are several avenues you can pursue. For issues involving private businesses or public accommodations, always start at the business or facility. Contact the owner or manager to request reasonable accommodations. Scolding staff does nothing, but respectfully sharing suggestions with leadership can go far. If the issue involves a public entity, such as a government building, school, or public transportation system, you can file a complaint with the relevant federal or state agency. But trying to deal with it at the facility level is usually much easier for everybody involved and might even give a good chance for some friendly conversation about the whys and hows.

For violations involving state or local government entities, contact the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. For violations involving private businesses or public accommodations, file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice or, locally, the Disability Law Center of Alaska (DLC). Additionally, seek assistance from non-profit advocacy organizations dedicated to promoting the rights of individuals with disabilities such as Access Alaska and the Alaska Center for Children and Adults.

Beyond reporting violations, there are many ways you can actively advocate for inclusivity and ADA compliance in your community. Attend local government meetings and speak up about accessibility concerns or proposed changes that could impact individuals with disabilities. Volunteer with or support organizations that promote disability rights and accessibility initiatives. Educate yourself and others about the importance of inclusivity and the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. Encourage businesses and public entities to go beyond minimum ADA requirements and strive for universal design principles that benefit everyone. A park can be “ADA compliant” by providing a single ride or feature that is accessible – but a park that is truly inclusive will have many activities that address different ability and restrictions.

When we remove barriers, we empower individuals with disabilities to fully participate in all aspects of society. Be more than neighbors – be advocates!

Christian M. Hartley is a 40-year Alaskan resident with over 25 years of public safety experience and public service. He runs a freelance business, Big Lake Writer, from home in Big Lake that he shares with his wife of 19 years and their three teenage sons.