NCD and the Americans with Disabilities Act: 15 Years of Progress

This paper discusses the National Council on Disability's role in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the continuing efforts of the Council in evaluating the implementation, effectiveness and impact of the ADA. Since its inception in 1978, the National Council on Disability (NCD) has been at the forefront in advocating for effective policy that establishes equal opportunities for people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 was the watershed event for advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities. The ADA's "clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against people with disabilities" in which sweeping protections were provided in employment, public services, public accommodations and services operated by private entities, transportation and telecommunications has been the impetus for a revolution in the inclusion, integration and empowerment of Americans with disabilities.