ARIZONA NEWS

Arizona disability advocates celebrate ADA’s 29th anniversary

Jul 26, 2019, 5:15 AM | Updated: 8:50 am

(Photo courtesy Ability360)...

(Photo courtesy Ability360)

(Photo courtesy Ability360)

PHOENIX — Friday marks the 29th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act and local advocates are celebrating.

Phoenix based disability advocacy group Ability360 normally celebrates with the ADA with a small party each year. However, this year, they tossed aside the cake and candles and upgraded to a digital celebration.

Loren Worthington, Vice President of Communication and Marketing for Ability 360, said they’ve been highlighting all positive impacts the ADA has made by using the hashtag #ThanksToTheADA. He said this serves as a reminder of how far the state and the country has come in terms of accessibility.

“Speaking for myself, I’ve had a disability for the last 35 years, so much has changed in Phoenix, and across the country, of course, with respect to have curb cuts, that not only do people with disabilities enjoy but so does everyone who has a stroller or a big cooler,” Worthington said. “Having public transportation that we get to enjoy, lifts and ramps and things that make it so we can independently get around, that’s been a big change that I’ve seen over the last 29 years in Phoenix.”

He said that prior to the ADA, accessibility requests were commonly met with resistance and rejection but now basic accessibility has become mostly commonplace.

“For example, lifts that allow us to get in and out of pools,” Worthington said. “When we fought for the right to have pool lifts at hotels and anywhere that was a public pool, that was met with resistance. Now it’s become commonplace that everybody can book a room at a hotel and know, ‘bring your swimsuit,’ because we are going to have access to the pools.”

Ability360 also created a short video series highlighting disability advocates and organizations that strive to make their facilities not only accessible but enjoyable.

Some of the more notable features include Arizona State University’s Peter Fischer, the university’s Accessibility Compliance Coordinator. He was a student at ASU when the ADA first became law.

In the video series, he said that over the past few decades since the ADA was passed, the campus has upgraded from just curbs and ramps.

“Now there are open plazas for everyone to use equally,” he said.

Arizona’s pro sports teams are also no slouch when it come to making baseball and basketball accessible for all.

Nanette Odell is the ADA Coordinator and Disability Services Manager for the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks. Even prior to the upcoming multi-million dollar renovation, Talking Stick Resort Arena has made small adjustments to make their arena more accessible.

For example, Odell said they modified the suites to allow for more comfortable accommodations and expanded private bathrooms to make wheelchair transfers easier.

The videos featured other state entities and disability advocates who explained the impact of the nearly three decades old legislation.

Worthington summed up the impact in just one word: independence.

“What the ADA has done is make it so that we have the ability to express what we want accomplish, how we want to be independent and know that the federal government has some laws in place that we can use to then enforce what we are trying to accomplish.”

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

(Photo courtesy Ability360) (Photo courtesy Ability360) (Photo courtesy Ability360) (Photo courtesy Ability360) (Photo courtesy Ability360) (Photo courtesy Ability360)

Arizona News

(AP File Photo)...

KTAR.com

Northbound lanes on Interstate 17 near Black Canyon City reopen after crash

A crash closed the northbound lanes of Interstate 17 near Black Canyon City. ADOT advised motorists to seek an alternate route.

5 hours ago

mugshot of Street after he turned himself in at the Casa Grande facility and image of teenage Haile...

KTAR.com

2 more people arrested in connection to Casa Grande teen’s death

Two more people, both juveniles, have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a teenage girl on Nov. 26. 

7 hours ago

Police said that the teen admitted to detectives that he sent the bomb threat message. (Facebook Ph...

KTAR.com

Casa Grande teen arrested for allegedly sending bomb threat to Ottawa University in Surprise

A 17-year-old from Casa Grande was arrested Thursday after allegedly sending a bomb threat to Ottawa University's Arizona campus in Surprise.

8 hours ago

A man was taken into custody early Friday morning after threatening a rideshare driver with a gun. ...

KTAR.com

Ride-share customer arrested after allegedly pulling gun on driver in Glendale

A ride-share customer was arrested after allegedly pulling gun on a driver early Friday morning, according to Glendale police. 

9 hours ago

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering up to a $1,500 reward for information lea...

KTAR.com

Ohio police searching for Goodyear man wanted in murder case

Authorities are searching for a Goodyear man who allegedly drove to Ohio to kill a woman last month. He is wanted for aggravated murder. 

12 hours ago

Four were arrested and vehicles were seized by authorities after detectives uncovered a criminal en...

KTAR.com

Crime syndicate busted for allegedly manipulating diesel fuel pumps across Valley

Four men were arrested this week for allegedly participating in a scheme that siphoned thousands of dollars' worth of diesel fuel from Valley gas stations.

17 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Follow @KTAR923...

The best ways to honor our heroes on Veterans Day and give back to the community

Veterans Day is fast approaching and there's no better way to support our veterans than to donate to the Military Assistance Mission.

Follow @KTAR923...

West Hunsaker at Morris Hall supports Make-A-Wish Foundation in Arizona

KTAR's Community Spotlight this month focuses on Morris Hall and its commitment to supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Arizona.

...

DAY & NIGHT AIR CONDITIONING, HEATING AND PLUMBING

Importance of AC maintenance after Arizona’s excruciating heat wave

An air conditioning unit in Phoenix is vital to living a comfortable life inside, away from triple-digit heat.

Arizona disability advocates celebrate ADA’s 29th anniversary