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Taking the ADA to the next level

The power of the Americans with Disabilities Act is that it ended up changing my life long before I ever imagined it would.

In 1990, when the ADA was signed into law, I had not yet made my decision to begin ROTC and a career of military service. I had no idea that I would join the Army, become a Blackhawk helicopter pilot and serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. I certainly had no idea that eight months into my deployment a rocket-propelled grenade would tear through the Blackhawk helicopter I was flying, rip off one leg, crush the other and tear my right arm apart.

We are all one medical diagnosis or one car accident away from a serious disability, and the ADA is a commitment that we will continue to stand up for our neighbors' right to live fulfilling lives. The ADA is essential in helping me overcome the obstacles I face as a Wounded Warrior and gives me the opportunity to assist other veterans.

It allows me to be physically active, have my pilot's license and serve in Congress. The ADA gives me and millions of other Americans the opportunity to move forward with our lives.

The ADA allows people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in the world around them. Sidewalks and streets are now accessible because of curb cuts. Football stadiums and movie theaters now have accessible seating. Restrooms and elevators are now usable by people who depend on wheelchairs and walkers. Our courthouses and our government buildings now have ramps so that everyone can enter them to do business.

Our interaction with technology changed as well. Telephones are more accessible because we have video relays that allow those who are deaf to communicate with others. Television and movies are captioned. Our computers have touch screens so that those who have difficulty typing can use a pointer or other devices.

The ADA truly changed the world for all of us, but there is still a long way to go to achieve the four main goals written into this landmark law; equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency.

Only a third of working age people with disabilities are in the workforce, despite the fact that 80 percent want to work.

During the Great Recession of the late 2000s, people with disabilities lost their jobs at a rate 10 times greater than that of people without disabilities, and they have not yet returned to the employment level they had in 2008. This is not only a tragedy for those who can't find work, but also for employers.

Individuals with disabilities represent a tremendous talent pool in this country, and with a retention rate that is far higher than the overall workforce, they are tremendously loyal to employers who give them a chance.

Equally troublesome is the rate of poverty among people with disabilities. Over 26 percent of the disabled population lives below the poverty line.

Without good jobs at fair wages in inclusive settings, economic self-sufficiency will not be achievable. Without reliable transportation or accessible housing, full participation will be unattainable. Without sound education at all levels, equal opportunity to compete for a job will not be a reality.

Our world changed for the better because of the ADA. As we look to the next 25 years of its implementation, it is time to take the next step - to ensure that good jobs, accessible housing, and reliable transportation takes all of us to the next level so that the 56 million Americans with disabilities can fully participate in the American dream.

Tammy Duckworth, a Hoffman Estates Democrat, is Illinois congresswoman representing the 8th District.

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