President George H.W. Bush had signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, also known as ADA, into law on July 26, 1990, addressing concerns the sweeping civil rights law would be ''too vague or costly, or may lead endlessly to litigation.'' Bush then attempted to assure the countrymen that his government and Congress were ''committed to containing the costs that may be incurred.'' Extracting certain parts of President Reagan's Berlin Wall speech from a few years earlier, Bush said, ''Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down.''
After 20 years after the monumental law, Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, an original sponsor of the legislation, introduced a resolution last week, paying tribute to the people who realized the ADA into law. "Twenty years ago, we heard testimony from Americans who had to crawl on their hands and knees to go up a flight of stairs; who couldn't ride on a bus because there wasn't a lift; who couldn't even cross the street in their wheelchairs because there were no curb cuts,'' the resolution said, adding, "The ADA has broken down barriers, created opportunities and transformed lives."
There have been certainly revolutionary changes in the country after the implementation of the act. But the bitter fact is that the sweeping law, which regulates employment practices, federal and local programs, transportation, public accommodations and commercial facilities, ended up mostly in legal tussle and court verdicts. Several times court had to chip in and clarify the rule and its applications.
In the past week, Los Angeles International Airport announced that it had set up five grassy ''relief stations'' for travelers with guide dogs. The facilities include bowls and fake fire hydrants. In Virginia, The Mount Vernon Ladies Association of the Union, which owns and maintains George Washington's estate, assured the Justice Department it will make necessary changes in Mount Vernon's main walkway, like setting up a less steep entry ramp and make exhibitions more useful to deaf, hard of hearing, blind and low-vision visitors.
In the same week, the department also said Blockbuster will impart training to employees to ensure that people with service animals have full and equal access to its more than 3,000 stores. As the anniversary approached, an internet chat board sampling received a number of positive comments but also many critical ones. ''ADA laws have been interpreted, reinterpreted and misinterpreted so many times that unfortunately nobody has a final answer until you end up in court,'' one posting complained.
